Your Essential Full-Service Restaurant Equipment Checklist

Thinking of opening a new restaurant? Check out this essential restaurant equipment buying guide for a full-service restaurant.

This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal, employment, or tax advice. For specific advice applicable to your business, please contact a professional.

Opening a new restaurant requires a great deal of thought about what may feel like a million things at once — and there is no one-size-fits-all solution as each restaurant has its own unique needs.

However, one of the most important factors for all new restaurants is kitchen equipment. While different food outlets will have varying requirements, there is certain essential equipment that every new restaurateur should consider to get cooking.

Creating a list of equipment that meets the needs of your restaurant’s menu ensures everything will be in place ahead of opening day.

Restaurant equipment checklist

Ovens and grills

There are many kinds of ovens and grills to choose from, but the best fit will depend on the style of food you will serve.

A flat-top grill is a good all-rounder that can be used for almost anything. A convection oven heats up quickly, while brick ovens offer an authentic cooking style in a pizza restaurant. Commercial ovens and grills typically have a long lifespan, so buying second-hand is always an option for entrepreneurs on a budget.

Stovetops and ventilation

Gas stoves have higher daily operational costs than electric ones; however, they are typically more durable and more affordable to fix if anything goes wrong.
Having adequate ventilation is crucial for meeting safety criteria to remove cooking fumes at the source and provide enough air in the work environment.

Fridges and freezers

Fridges and freezers are necessary to keep food fresh and meet health and safety regulations. Fridges and freezers help you store food properly, ensuring proper temperature control for ingredients. Investing in the highest quality affordable fridges and freezers is always a good decision.

Cookware

The catalogue of cookware required will depend on your menu and the available space in your kitchen. A basic starter combination will include a set of pans in various shapes and sizes, baking trays and cake tins, tongs, spatulas, ladles, whisks, spoons, cutting boards, and a quality set of knives.

Food processors and blenders

An industrial food processor with comprehensive attachments can make your dreams come true in a busy kitchen environment. You can use food processors to speed up many daily processes, such as grating cheese. Blenders are also a handy tool and essential for restaurants intending to include soup on the menu.

Sinks and washing equipment

A full-service restaurant kitchen should have separate sinks dedicated to hand-washing and equipment washing. Most will also need a third sink for food preparation and cleaning. You should use each sink only for its designated purpose — and it typically needs to be quite large.

Microwave

Even gourmet restaurants will sometimes find a microwave handy, particularly when the stovetop is full. They can also help to ensure all food is piping hot ahead of service. Commercial microwaves have higher power than domestic microwaves, so do your research.

Food preparation areas

Food preparation areas need to be large enough for your purpose and at a height that allows chefs to work comfortably. There should be enough room to separate high-risk food categories, such as raw meat and fish, ideally with a dedicated service pass separate to the preparation zones.

Shelving and storage

Having plenty of shelving and storage is essential when complying with health and safety protocols.

Tableware and cutlery

No matter the style of the restaurant, having the appropriate style and quantity of tableware and cutlery is vital. The maximum number of potential customers will dictate the volume required. Breakages should also be accounted for, which is almost unavoidable in a bustling restaurant environment.

Back-office basics

When you’re starting out and focused on fine-tuning your restaurant, it can be easy to forget about basics such as WiFi, a computer, cleaning supplies, and a break room for staff. But planning will help your operations run smoothly while avoiding surprise expenses.

The right hardware for your restaurant

Once you have ticked off your restaurant kitchen equipment list, hardware is the next concern. The primary hardware component for any restaurant is a payment system that facilitates streamlined service.

Restaurant POS software offers a range of benefits over and above the traditional cash register. Restaurant owners can easily take payments in person and online with an integrated Square payment system. The system can also help manage inventory, plan seating at busy times, monitor stock levels, send orders to the kitchen and even coordinate deliveries and collections.

Various options are available to suit restaurants of all shapes and sizes.

• Square Stand is compatible with iPads and includes a card reader and dock to provide smooth transactions for customers.
• Square Terminal can be integrated into any payment system and allows contactless and chip-and-pin payments on site.