Tips On Buying Restaurant Supplies
Monday, January 16th, 2012Ordering restaurant supplies, at first glance, may seem overwhelming because of all the choices in products. But, by taking an organized and systematic approach, it can be done quickly without spending a lot of unnecessary money. One important thing to remember is that the kind of food sets the tone for everything used. If Chinese cuisine is served then chop sticks are expected at the table.
One important product to consider is the menu. At it’s most basic, it can be photocopied in large quantities if it’s for a neighborhood kind of diner that only features hamburgers and fries. These kinds can be tossed out as soon as they get any food on them. More upscale restaurants have theirs professionally designed and printed into a large, binder format. The servers remove these menus after taking the order, and keep them wiped down and clean to be reused again.
Other, less expensive items can be handed out to customers as a way to promote the restaurant. Owners of small, independent places that do a lot of “to go” business often have refrigerator magnets next to their cash registers. When employees hand over the order to the customers, they can also hand them a magnet. There are also custom pens, calendars and match books to order. This can be a very inexpensive form of advertising that creates a lot of goodwill with customers. These kinds of items often get passed around between friends and coworkers.
Owners buy portion-control dispensers to make sure that the same quantity of serving is achieved each time at their restaurants. Using the same amount of products when preparing a dish also ensures it tastes the same every time the customer orders it. Employees can use the dispensers to determine the right amount of a product, each and every time.
Everything may seem perfect until the meal is served and the customer has to wait for the eating utensils, because there are not enough. So it is important to keep the right kind on hand. Diners use lightweight tableware, while more upscale establishments use more expensive cutlery. They may also need special items depending on their menu, such as crab crackers or lobster picks. Plastic utensils should always be kept stocked to be used for carry out orders. One utensil, called a spork, is a combination of spoon and fork. It is rounded, with small prongs at the end.
Just like silverware, there are also a wide range of beverage containers. Restaurants can use glasses, plastic cups, mugs or cups with saucers. If alcoholic drinks are also served, most specialty kinds of containers will need to be ordered. Containers with lids for hot and cold drinks should also be stocked to be used with to go orders.
Customers often want to add their own touch to their food by using condiments, such as salt and pepper. Ketchup and mustard are usually kept at the tables in bottles. To keep a tight control on inventory, some food servers only bring a small portion of toppings when the entrees are brought to the table.
Owners have a wide range of options when buying the restaurant supplies they need to keep their customers happy and to help their businesses make money. So it is important for owners to have a system to order the items to make sure everything is ready for customers when they walk in the door. Also, having a coordinated and organized ordering system can help prevent having too much inventory.