Monthly Archives: April 2014

Which Commercial Dishwasher Is Right for My Restaurant?

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Door Type Dishwasher

Door Type Dishwasher

Choosing the right commercial dishwasher for your restaurant could make a big difference in the efficiency of your kitchen.  If you get something too small that can’t keep up with your washing, you will quickly run out of dishes.  If you get something too large, you may take up valuable space in the line and be wasting energy and money.  Here are some suggestions to better answer the question: Which commercial dishwasher is right for my restaurant?

Under Counter Dishwashers

As the name suggests under counter dishwashers fit underneath a counter. They are small, low-setting dishwashers that are closely related to traditional home dishwashers. Under counter dishwashers are great for saving space, but they are not effective for large-volume needs.

  • Best Use: Bars, small nursing homes, daycares, churches, and community centers
  • Capacity: Up to 35 small dishwasher racks per hour

Door-Type Dishwashers

Door-type dishwashers are loaded from the front, and most of them have a side door to pass the racks through when they are finished. These are great space savers because they fit into the corner of most dishwashing areas, with dish tables on both sides for efficiency. They work well for small establishments that need more than an under counter dishwasher.

  • Best Use: Small restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, and schools that serve up to 250 meals during breakfast, lunch, or dinner
  • Capacity: Up to 80 dish racks an hour

Conveyor Dishwashers

Conveyor dishwashers are some of the largest models in the industry. They work much like an assembly line, where dishes come in the front dirty and come out of the back clean. While there are differences in size based on capacity, most conveyor dishwashers are large and best suited for big kitchens.

  • Best Use: Hospitals, large restaurants, university dining halls, large cafeterias, and other establishments serving 250-1500 meals in peak hours
  • Capacity: Up to 400 dishwasher racks per hour

How to Pick the Best Commercial Dishwasher

Consider the size of your kitchen and the overall needs of your establishment. If you only serve 50 meals during your peak hours, you would have no reason to buy a conveyor dishwasher. If you need to wash dishes for a buffet-style restaurant, an under counter machine will not be enough for you. When you want the best fit for your commercial kitchen, you will find the best commercial dishwasher at Oswalt.  Come into our showroom or call to talk to our experts!

Choosing The Right Dinnerware For Your Menu

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Some restaurant owners choose their dinnerware based on looks alone, but doing that could be detrimental to your establishment.  Select dishes that function well AND make your food look appetizing and pleasing.  This may be the most important decision you make for your restaurant.  Here are some tips for choosing the right dinnerware for your menu.

Size

The size of your dinnerware will determine how big or small your food looks.  If you have a tiny plate for a large meal, the food will look overbearing.  If you have a large plate for a small meal, people may think your portions are off.  Perhaps the easiest way to determine the size of dishes you need is to prepare a menu item like usual and present it on a large, flat surface.  Measure how much space the food occupies and then find dinnerware the fits proportionally.

Shape

The shape of your dinnerware should reflect the overall theme of your restaurant.  Modern restaurants often use square and rectangular dinnerware because that looks updated and sleek. Traditional or “home-cooked” establishments may prefer round and oval dishes, much like what a person may use at home.

When deciding the shape of the dinnerware, also think about how you present your menu items. A pot pie for instance, would look better in a round dish because it is round on its own. You want the food to look like it belongs in the dish it is placed.

Color

Most restaurants choose white dinnerware because it creates a crisp, clean presentation.  White is also easy to clean because it highlights any residue that may be left after washing.  If you want to have a pop of color in your dinnerware, you might reserve it for the glasses or saucers you put out on the table.  Everything else is often best left white.

Quick Tips

When you go to choose your dinnerware, keep the following in mind:

  • How sturdy should your dishes be?
  • What kind of people do you expect to eat at your restaurant?
  • Do you have specific meals that require specific types of dishes?
  • How will your dinnerware look when it is presented together?
  • How easy will it be to wash your dishes?

Oswalt has hundreds of plates, platters and bowls to choose from with many that can be shipped today!  When you consider your needs and presentation together, you will come up with the perfect dinnerware!