Tips to Choose the Best Restaurant Supplies in Dallas, TX
Choosing the right restaurant supplies in Dallas, TX, can make or break your business. With the right equipment and products, you'll be able to serve delicious food efficiently and create an exceptional dining experience for your customers. However, finding the best restaurant supply company in a competitive market like Dallas can take time and effort.
This comprehensive guide provides tips and considerations when selecting restaurant supplies in Dallas, TX. Whether you're opening a new restaurant or looking to upgrade old equipment, this article will help you find the best supplies for your needs.
Tip 1: Location Matters - Find a Local Dallas Supplier
One of the first things to consider is finding a restaurant supply company located in the Dallas area. A local supplier has these advantages:
Convenience: Working with a nearby supplier saves you time and money on shipping costs. Local companies can also deliver quicker, and you can easily visit the showroom.
Knowledge of Market: An established Dallas restaurant supplier will be familiar with local regulations, popular menu items, and equipment preferences in the area.
Access to Service: Having a restaurant supply store close by makes it easier to get equipment service, maintenance, and repairs handled quickly. You don't want to wait for parts to ship if a piece of equipment breaks down.
Relationships: Getting to know the staff at a local supplier can help you access volume discounts and other perks over time. You may even get personalized service and recommendations.
Some of the leading restaurant supply companies located right in the Dallas-Fort Worth area include Rapids Wholesale, TriMark United East, Cres Cor Dallas, and C&T Design and Equipment.
Tip 2: Evaluate Your Restaurant Concept & Menu
Before shopping for supplies, think through the type of restaurant you want to open. Your concept and menu will determine the specific equipment needed. Ask yourself:
What cuisine will I serve? Different foods require different cooking tools. For example, a pizza restaurant needs ovens and dough rollers, while a sushi bar needs rice cookers and nori wrappers.
What's my price point? Fine-dining restaurants invest in higher-end plates, glassware, and decor, while casual spots can save with basic metal flatware and Polycarbonate cups.
What's my kitchen size? Measure the available space to ensure equipment can fit and be arranged efficiently.
How many diners can I seat? Look at your floor plan and consider how many place settings you need, from plates to utensils.
What's my decor style? The style of your dishes, furniture, and lighting sets the ambiance.
Once you finalize your concept, make a detailed list of every supply item you will need from major equipment down to aprons and placemats. This will make it easy to search for each item.
Tip 3: Shop for Commercial Grade Equipment
Resist the temptation to cut costs by buying consumer-grade appliances and cookware from big box stores. These won't stand up to the rigorous use in a commercial kitchen. Invest in commercial-grade equipment built for high volume, day-in, day-out use. Here are the most important categories:
Efficient Cookware & Bakeware
Pots and Pans: Look for heavy pans to distribute heat evenly. Stainless steel holds up over time. Match pan size to burners. Get lids for more cooking options.
Baking Sheets and Trays: Choose aluminized steel or aluminum for even heating. Half- and quarter-sheet pans offer flexibility.
Mixing Bowls: Choose stainless steel commercial-grade bowls with rounded corners for easy mixing and cleaning. Choose from different sizes.
Baking Molds: Invest in solid, durable baking molds, such as aluminized steel cake pans, muffin tins, bread pans, and more.
Cutting Boards: Get NSF-approved boards that are knife-friendly, like polyethylene. Choose boards in different sizes and colors to avoid cross-contamination.
Knives: Invest in high-carbon forged steel chef's knives, as well as serrated, paring, boning, and slicer knives. Get knife strips or covers to store them safely.
Efficient Serving Equipment
Plates & Dishes: Choose durable plates like melamine, porcelain, stoneware, or metal that fit your concept. Have different sizes.
Cups & Glasses: Invest in commercial-grade glasses, such as tempered glass or Polycarbonate. You can also have beer mugs, wine glasses, tumblers, and more.
Flatware & Utensils: Stainless steel flatware is durable and dishwasher safe. Have serving utensils like tongs, spoons, and spatulas.
Trays & Racks: Carry dishes efficiently with stainless bus tubs, tray stands, and dish racks. Invest in durable plastic or reinforced trays.
Tabletop Items: Stock baskets for bread, coasters, shakers, toothpicks, and napkin dispensers. Stainless, stoneware, and glass are good options.
Buffet Displays: Have warming trays, salad bar sneeze guards, buffet pans, and chafing dishes for self-serve.
Tip 4: Tip Buy Smallwares in Bulk
Smallwares like kitchen tools, disposables, cleaning items, and more are used in high quantities every day. Buying them in bulk saves money and reduces hassle. Have plenty on hand:
Kitchen Tools: Potato peelers, can openers, whisks, spatulas, portion scoops, thermometers, scales, and more. Stainless steel holds up best.
Disposables: Paper and plastic - napkins, cups, take-out boxes, trash bags, aluminum foil, gloves, aprons, and more. Stock up so you stay supplied.
Cleaning: Dish soap, degreaser, floor cleaner, sanitizer, scrub brushes, dish rags, mops, brooms, towels. Buy commercial grade in bulk.
Storage: Use reusable food containers, wraps, bags, and labels. Choose from a variety of sizes for prepped ingredients.
Serving: Disposable take-out containers, lids, cutlery, bags, cups, and boxes for delivery/take-out orders.
Tip 5: Evaluate Payment Processing Equipment
From cash registers to payment terminals, ensure you have secure and efficient ways to collect payment. Look for:
Cash Registers: Touchscreen POS systems that integrate payment processing, inventory, accounting, and more. Get hardware like receipt printers, cash drawers, and barcode scanners.
Payment Terminals: Accept credit cards securely with EMV chip card readers. Look for contactless and mobile payment options.
Mobile POS: Allow staff to take and process orders with tablets and smartphones linked to your POS. This is great for tableside ordering and payments.
Self-Service Kiosks: Let customers place orders and make payments. Great for quick service and takeout.
Tip 6: Prioritize Safety & Cleaning
A commercial kitchen contains many potential hazards. Make safety a top priority with these supplies:
Fire Safety: Class K fire extinguishers specially designed for kitchen grease fires fire suppression hoods over cooking areas.
Slip Resistance: Nonslip mats, nonslip shoes. Floors should have nonporous surfaces.
Cuts: Use finger guard mandolines and sharp cut-resistant gloves.
Burns: Heat-resistant mitts, sleeves, aprons.
Cleaning: Hand sinks, dish sinks, food-safe dish soap and sanitizers, and cleaning tools like squeegees, mops, brooms, and bins.
Storage: Secure shelving so items don't fall. Store chemicals safely away from food.
Conclusion
Choosing the right restaurant supplies in Dallas, TX, is a crucial step in building a successful food service business. By focusing on local suppliers, evaluating your restaurant’s concept, investing in commercial-grade equipment, and prioritizing safety and cleanliness, you’ll create a well-equipped kitchen and an exceptional dining experience for your customers.
Take the time to plan your purchases, ensuring they align with your menu, kitchen layout, and budget. Partnering with reputable local suppliers like Rapids Wholesale, Cres Cor Dallas, or TriMark United East can also simplify the process by providing tailored recommendations, quick delivery, and quality products.
With the right tools, equipment, and supplies, your restaurant will be well-prepared to thrive in Dallas’ competitive and vibrant dining scene.
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