A restaurant that is all set to make a grand entry into the world of foodies needs to be ready with everything. From irresistible cuisine to the impeccable interiors, there is nothing that you have neglected. Everything is in place and you are nervous, yet excited to start with your new restaurant and glide into the ocean of sweet success. Are you sure you have paid attention to every single aspect? What about the Cutlery for Restaurant?
Well, most restaurateurs, especially first-timers, tend to miss out on one of the most crucial aspects of their business – the cutlery. It probably sounds like a ‘no big deal’ affair but the wrong kind of cutlery has the ability to drive people and business right out of that door. To avoid that, let’s figure out what all you need to bear in mind when buying cutlery for your restaurant.
1. Say no to limited edition cutlery
Although a limited edition stock by premium brands looks tempting enough for you to reach right into your pocket, stop right there. Anything that says ‘limited edition’ is just that, limited. After a few months or years, the knives go blunt and the spoons look scratched.
When you go right back to that store to get the same set, you will be reminded of its ‘limited’ status and this will spell trouble. You will have to replace your entire cutlery, because who wants to see two different spoons and knives in the same restaurant? So, skip it.
2. What’s on their plate?
A fork, knife and spoon are mandatory almost everywhere. However, if you also serve desserts, you will need dessert spoons as well. Then there are seafood knives, steak and butter knives, cutlery for oysters and soup spoons. There is no ‘one knife for all’ when it comes to cutlery. Every cuisine demands the use of different cutlery. Don’t be lazy. Figure out all cutlery requirements for your restaurant before you go on that purchasing spree.
3. Don’t play stingy
You and your bank are bogged down because of heavy expenditure incurred while trying to set up this restaurant. Let it happen this one last time because you trying to save a couple of bucks while purchasing cutlery could cost you a fortune. Cheap quality cutlery will need to be replaced more often than you think. A one-time expenditure on durable cutlery will save you a lot of money in the future.
4. Maintenance issues
Go for stainless steel, the easiest to maintain and clean. The commonest grade most restaurants use is 18/10 simply meaning 18 parts of nickel and 10 parts of chromium. Since stainless steel is stain and scratch resistant, it is very durable and easy to clean in a dishwasher.
5. What’s the theme of your restaurant?
When it comes to style, you will find plenty of options to choose from. Whether your restaurant has a vintage appeal or is contemporary and vibrant, you need to find cutlery that matches the ethos of your space. It needs to be in sync with your dinnerware and furniture as well. Don’t go overboard with something that is too ornate. It will be difficult to clean.
6. Heavy or light?
You must have noticed fine dining restaurants having heavy cutlery. This is the most durable European-style cutlery that lasts years and hardly goes missing. Then there is light cutlery which is cheaper but is not durable. It is not advisable to choose lightweight cutlery as there are high chances of it going missing as well. Heavy-duty cutlery is the most common. It is lighter than the European-style cutlery while heavier than the light ones. It is hard and durable and not very heavy on the pocket either.
7. Thick or thin
Even though cutlery is shaped similarly throughout, you will notice some forks and spoons have slender necks while others are very broad. You can go for either of these, depending on your choice, but make sure it is comfortable to handle and eat with. Your customers will not want to eat with something they are unable to hold properly and this might irk them.
8. Try it
You can never buy cutlery in bulk before trying it yourself. Do not commit this blunder. What if it isn’t comfortable to eat with? Buy one set for yourself and use it for a couple of days. If you are unhappy with it, go for something else. After all, it is the question of your restaurant’s reputation.
9. Something for the kids
The same heavy stainless steel cutlery is impossible for small kids to eat with. Keeping the young ones in mind, get something colourful and light for them. This is a great way to impress your customers by showing that you care for their kids too. Brownie points served right there on a platter!
10. Extras
If you are to buy about a hundred pieces of each, buy two hundred instead. This is simply to keep stock, just in case something breaks or goes missing. You need to be ready for such mishaps and not run to the store last minute to buy just one fork or knife.
Everything about a restaurant business may seem chaotic at the start but by making the right choices and using good restaurant software, it will become easy to manage. When you can list everything and store your restaurant’s data in one place, you will know when even one thing goes missing! So that solves your cutlery problems right there.
Well, so your food is delicious. Then why not let the tools to devour it be just as good! It is not always in the ‘what’, but also in the ‘how’ that the whole experience is defined!
