Essential Restaurant Supply Tips for Fort Worth Business Owners

Opening and operating a successful restaurant in Fort Worth requires careful planning and preparation. From the food and drinks to serve to the supplies and equipment needed, restaurant owners have many important decisions to make. Choosing the right restaurant supplies can impact everything from food quality and service efficiency to profit margins and operational costs.

This guide provides crucial tips for Fort Worth restaurant owners on selecting, buying, and managing essential restaurant supplies. Whether opening a new restaurant or upgrading old and outdated supplies, this advice will help business owners make the best purchasing choices.

Selecting a Reliable Restaurant Supply Distributor

One of the first steps is choosing a high-quality distributor for all your restaurant supply fort worth needs. In Fort Worth, owners can find suppliers that offer:

• Extensive inventory of food service equipment, dishes, glassware, utensils, janitorial items, and more

• High-quality commercial-grade products designed for heavy use

• Ordering convenience through online catalogs, mobile apps, and sales reps

• Fast, reliable shipping and delivery

• Custom fabrication services for stainless steel equipment

• Equipment installation, maintenance, and repair

Comparing several distributors on product selection, ordering ease, customer service, and prices helps owners find the best value. Building strong relationships with distributors also ensures access to the best supplies and services.

Buying Commercial Cooking Equipment

The cooking equipment used in a commercial kitchen significantly impacts the quality, speed, and cost of preparing menu items. Investing in high-performance commercial appliances designed for restaurant use is essential.

Key types of cooking equipment Fort Worth restaurants need include:

Ranges and Cooktops

Open-burner commercial ranges provide high heat output for fast cooking and searing. Griddles allow fast cooking of burgers, eggs, pancakes, and more. Cooktops offer flexible stove-top cooking across multiple burners.

Ovens

Deck ovens bake consistent, high-volume baked goods and entrees. Convection ovens cook quickly and evenly with circulating hot air. Rapid-cook ovens provide very fast baking and roasting, ideal for quick-service operations.

Grills and Charbroilers

Restaurant grills sear tasty char-grill marks on steaks, chops, burgers, and more. Charbroilers deliver high-heat grilling across a large surface, and lava rock charbroilers add a smoky flavor.

Fryers

Deep fryers cook foods like french fries, chicken, fish, and more at preset temperatures. High-efficiency fryers save on oil costs. Infrared fryers heat up faster and recover temperature rapidly.

Choosing the right mix of ranges, grills, ovens, and other cooking equipment allows restaurants to produce their specific menu items efficiently.

Purchasing Sturdy Stainless Steel Work Tables

Every commercial kitchen needs high-quality stainless steel work tables for food prep and cooking support. When evaluating work tables, owners should look for the following:

• Durable all-welded construction with corrosion-resistant stainless steel

• Thick steel gauges from 14 to 16 gauge for maximum sturdiness

• Sound-deadening design for quiet operation

• Adjustable feet to stabilize on uneven floors

• Tables sized properly for the kitchen space

Owners can select prep tables, wall-mounted shelving units, ingredient bins, and other specialty stainless steel work tables to efficiently outfit their back of the house.

Investing in a Commercial Refrigeration System

Professional refrigeration keeps ingredients, prepped foods, and beverages properly chilled for safety and optimal flavor. Key refrigeration equipment for Fort Worth restaurants includes:

Walk-In Refrigerators and Freezers

Large walk-in units efficiently hold refrigerated and frozen ingredients. They allow tight temperature control and have foamed-in-place insulation for efficiency.

Commercial Reach-In Refrigerators and Freezers

Reach-ins provide easy access to chilled storage for the front and back of the house, and under-counter units fit tight spaces.

Commercial Ice Machines

These produce ice for beverages and food preservation. Units with large ice production and storage capacity are suitable for high-volume restaurants.

Commercial Beverage Coolers

Air-cooled and glycol-cooled beverage coolers keep bottled and canned drinks ice cold. Dual-zone beverage coolers allow for the adjustment of different temperature zones.

Commercial Beer Dispensers

Beer dispensers, kegerators, and direct-draw beer systems pour chilled draft beer using pressurized CO2 or nitrogen.

Investing in new, energy-efficient commercial refrigeration units reduces product loss and keeps the health department happy.

Purchasing Sturdy Steel Storage Racks

Commercial kitchens need a lot of secure storage space. Stainless steel wire shelving units, solid shelving racks, and steel dunnage racks provide adjustable, heavy-duty storage.

Key tips when buying restaurant storage racks:

• Choose appropriate dimensions to maximize existing space

• Get NSF-certified steel racks made for commercial use

• SelectChrome or epoxy-coated racks resist corrosion in wet areas

• Look for racks with reinforced edges and welded joints for durability

• Use stationary racks for permanent storage, rolling racks to flexibly move items

Properly designed storage racks keep ingredients and supplies organized and safely off the floor.

Buying Reliable Bar and Beverage Equipment

Stocking bars with the right equipment for crafting drinks is essential for restaurants with bustling happy hour and late-night drinking crowds. Smart purchases include:

Commercial Glassware Washers

• Fast glassware washers clean dirty beer mugs, cocktail glasses, wine glasses, and pipettes sparkling clean.

Ice Bins and Beverage Dispensers

• Ice bins conveniently hold ice for drinks. Beverage dispensers portion mixers, juices, and sodas.

Cocktail Stations

• Cocktail stations allow bartenders to mix drinks with speed rails, blenders and ice quickly.

Underbar Equipment

• Underbar chillers, sinks, and speedwells boost bartending efficiency.

Beer Tapping Equipment

• From kegerators to beer taps and cooling lines, quality beer-tapping equipment pours smooth brews.

Investing in reliable bar equipment helps restaurants pour consistent drinks quickly all night long.

Buying Bakery Equipment for Food Production

Bakeries and restaurants selling freshly baked bread, cakes, pastries, and desserts need specialty bakery equipment. Smart buys include:

• Deck ovens, roller ovens, and revolving ovens to bake high volumes fast

• Spiral mixers with powerful motors to properly knead the dough

• Planetary mixers that thoroughly mix batters with little effort

• Proofers that accurately proof dough for consistent recipes

• Sheeters, dividers, and molders that shape dough

• Food dehydrators that create fruit leathers and beef jerky

• Display cases that showcase tantalizing baked goods

With the right bakery equipment, restaurants can delight customers with high-quality fresh baked goods daily.

Purchasing Quality Cookware and Bakeware

Every commercial kitchen needs durable pots, pans, baking sheets, and other cookware to handle daily cooking demands. When evaluating cookware and bakeware, look for:

• Heavy gauge metals like aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steel for even faster heating

• Reinforced nonstick coatings that are commercial grade, not household

• Riveted handles that are securely attached

• Lids that fit pots and pans properly

• Flat baking sheets, pizza pans, muffin tins, and cake pans made for commercial ovens

Investing in quality cookware and bakeware prevents burnt food and uneven cooking headaches.

Buying Sturdy Commercial Dishwashers

Restaurant dishwashers require heavy-duty operation to thoroughly clean and sanitize high volumes of dishes and glassware. Choose a commercial dishwasher that:

• Meets NSF and ETL sanitation certifications

• Has built-in booster heaters to maintain required wash temperatures

• Uses less water and detergent than home dishwashers

• Has dual tanks for clean and dirty water separation

• Features scrap trays and soil catchers to filter out food debris

• Can connect to grease trap systems to meet plumbing codes

• Fits standard dish racks from your current vendor

With a quality commercial dishwasher, staff can wash dishes rapidly and consistently for non-stop service.

Purchasing Bus Boxes, Bussing Carts, and Janitor Carts

Efficiently cleaning tables and keeping the front of the house presentable requires the right cleaning tools. Smart choices include:

• Stackable bus boxes in multiple sizes to clear tables

• Heavy-duty bussing carts with soiled dish racks and garbage bags

• Janitor carts equipped with cleaning supplies, tools, and trash bags

• Mobile cleaning caddies for quick cleanups during service

• Color-coded cleaning supplies to prevent cross-contamination

Having sufficient and efficient bus boxes, bussing carts, and janitor carts minimizes customer wait times between seatings.

Conclusion

Equipping your Fort Worth restaurant with the right supplies is crucial for operational success and customer satisfaction. By considering factors such as quality, efficiency, and local sourcing, you can ensure your establishment thrives in a competitive market. Texas Restaurant Supply stands out as a valuable partner in this journey, offering a wide range of high-quality equipment and supplies tailored to meet the unique needs of Fort Worth business owners. With their expertise and reliable service, you can confidently create an inviting dining experience that keeps your customers coming back.