The Restaurant Equipment Leasing Basics

No matter what type of food you are serving or clientele you are seeking, whether it is fine dining or a greasy spoon, any restaurant is going to require a substantial investment in equipment in order to perform and serve its patrons effectively day in and day out.  Putting together a restaurant is a time consuming process, but one that needs to be followed through on in order to make everything work as it should.  The restaurant equipment needed will of course be based on the type of establishment.

Much of the equipment is basic, although specialty outfits such as Asian, barbeque, and pizzarias will require some unique units, some of which may be very expensive.  It is always wise to check out the laws and codes in your community to ensure that the equipment you are buying falls within the local ordinances.

At the bare minimum, your restaurant will require a stove, refrigerator, oven, and industrial microwave, sink, dishwasher, and an abundance of counter space for food preparation. You may also require heat lamps for keeping food warm until it can be taken out to customers,  and refrigerated display cases to hold desserts in an area where they may be appropriately tempting.

Even the smallest restaurant requires a substantial amount of equipment to operate.

The cookware needed for a restaurant does not have to be aesthetically pleasing, but it should be efficient and effective. Some of the items required for running a restaurant include stock pots, sauce pots, large frying pans, smaller pans for sautéing, flat griddle style pans, casserole dishes, tins for pies and cakes, mixing bowls, large salad bowls, flat baking sheets, serving dishes, and of course the most common kitchen utensils and tools.

Many chefs prefer cast iron cookware primarily because of its ability to distribute heat and its overall durability. Of course any type of cookware, be it stainless steel, copper, nonstick, etc, is perfectly fine as long as it fits the demands that your restaurant operation calls for.

Dining ware is one element that is almost overlooked by many restaurateurs, but important nonetheless since it plays a vital role in the overall presentation of the food.  Most restaurant will require quality plates, silverware, glassware in a number of varieties, napkins, tablecloths, bowls, place settings, and centerpieces. A well coordinated dining ware setup will give your establishment a more professional feel.

Specialized Restaurant Equipment Leasing Needs

Of course dining ware is no good unless you actually have something to put it on, so you will need tables, chairs, a counter, couches or other types of seating for the waiting area, a bar and all the accessories if you are planning to serve alcohol, outdoor seating, kitchen cabinets, pot racks, shelving, and perhaps a chopping block.

Again, depending on the nature of the establishment, you may have to look into deep fryers, grills, and rotisserie ovens. Barbeque restaurants will need smokers, aging rooms, high capacity grills, and/or propane grills.  Pizzarias will need pizza ovens designed for high capacity, and Asian restaurants will need ultra high heat stoves.

As you can see, even the smallest eating establishment will require a great deal of thought and preparation before the first meal is eaten.

LeaseQ is one of the leading providers of commercial kitchen equipment leasing in the United States.