Author Archives: Gayla

Cleaning Metal Chairs

Part of being a responsible business owner is ensuring routine maintenance and cleaning are performed properly to all the equipment under the scope of your operation. While most restaurants have strict systems in place for cleaning the essentials, such as ovens, grills, and floors, some of the more visible parts of a restaurant may not get the cleaning they need. Your furniture is one of the first things your customers see when they enter the door of your business. Dirty chairs can be a real eye-opener for customers and can tarnish your reputation. When it comes to cleaning metal chairs, there are a few simple suggestions to keep in mind for chairs that can really impress your customers.

Cleaning Metal Chairs

One of the most important factors when cleaning metal chairs is to make sure the chairs are not Outdoor Metal Restaurant Furnitureunnecessarily exposed to the elements. While many restaurants employ the use of metal chairs for the inside space, most use them in an outdoor setting because of their durability. Don’t let the intense durability of metal chairs fool you into thinking they can be left without proper care. Make sure chairs are out of heavy rain to avoid rust and receive as much shade as possible to avoid damage. When cleaning chairs, it is easier when they are free from chipped paint or rust. If you have damage of this nature, it is recommended to scrub it with a solution designed to even out these problem areas. If the problem area is too far gone, you may need to have it sandblasted away and repainted.

Always make sure when cleaning metal chairs to use the proper cleaning products. Avoid products with ammonia or trisodium phosphate because they can cause severe damage to metal based furniture. When cleaning metal chairs always remember to allow it to dry thoroughly to avoid accumulation of rust. It is recommended to use a coat of wax similar to those for wood furniture as it can protect from damage.

Keeping a restaurant looking great takes a lot of hard work. With these cleaning suggestions, you can work smarter, not harder!

5 Fabulous Facts About Laminate Restaurant Tables

The next time you visit a restaurant, take a look at the type of restaurant tables they are using.  It is quite likely that the restaurant’s tables may be made of laminate.  Why are laminate tables so popular for restaurant tables?  Laminate table tops are the perfect choice for many types of restaurants as they are one of the most affordable options for many restaurant types, and they also look fantastic.  They are also easy to maintain and are available in many color and design options.  Below are the five fabulous facts regarding using laminate tables in restaurants.

restaurant-furniture-materials

1. Laminate Tables are Affordable

Laminate table tops are fabricated by creating a table top from particle board with a laminate surface applied with glue.  Because laminate table tops are easy to fabricate, they are a very affordable restaurant table top option.  They can be purchased in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.  A small round reversible laminate table top starts at only $22.

2. Laminate Tables are Easy to Maintain

Laminate tables are one of the easiest restaurant table tops to maintain.  Regular cleaning and inspection of laminate table tops is all of the maintenance that is really required.  Simply clean them with warm water, a mild soap, or a mild spray cleaner.  Dry them with a soft cloth and try to wipe up any spills quickly.  These simple steps should keep laminate tables looking great for a long time.

A few time ago, we published a laminate table top guide to know more about laminate table top types, maintenance and laminate table care in a restaurants.

3. Laminate Tables are Available in Many Styles

Different styles of laminate feature a variety of edge designs to meet each restaurant’s specific needs.  Laminate restaurant tables come in a wide variety of styles, such as the T-mold laminate, self-edge laminate, wood-edge laminate, and reversible laminate.

T-mold laminate tables are great for hospitality settings where tables may get bumped and damage may be caused to hard surface edges.  The rubber t-mold edging protects tables from other chips or damage.  Wood edge laminate table tops are extremely durable and feature a solid wood edge which is a very attractive restaurant table top option.  Self-edge laminate table tops use the same laminate color on the top and sides of the table.  This gives the table a clean look that is easy to match to restaurant chairs and barstools.

4. Laminate Tables are Available in Many Sizes

Laminate t-mold tables feature a t-mold edging around a laminate table top surface which protects the tables from chipping and other edge damage.  They are available in round, square and rectangular sizes.  They start at 24” x 24” square and range up to a 42” x 42” to 60” expandable table top. Check out our guide on round table dimensions and seating capacity to find out the perfect round table size for your needs.

Laminate self-edge table tops are tables that can have different edge shapes such as varying the width or shape of the table top sides, like a 3/8” roundover edge or knife edge and are available in just about any size in various shapes like round, square and rectangular sizes.  These tables usually start at 24” x 24” square and range up to a 60” round table top.

Laminate wood-edge table tops use a laminate color and a solid wood edge.  They are available in square and rectangular sizes.  They start at 24” x 24” square and range up to 42” x 42” square.

5. Laminate Tables Matches Many Hospitality Settings

Laminate tables are a great choice because they can be used in a wide variety of restaurant settings.  These tables can be custom made to the size that meets the customer’s needs.  Laminate tables can be customized with just about any color one can imagine.   Laminate table tops work very well as casual dining tables or restaurant work tables.  Laminate tables literally come in hundreds of colors to match any color or design scheme.  No matter the size, color or style of table you require, there will be an option for you in laminate restaurant tables.

Restaurant Patio Furniture: 3 Steps to a Great Restaurant Patio

commercial patio furnitureRestaurant owners want to maximize their investment by creating a great outdoor dining space for their customers. Why do diners want to sit outdoors? There’s just something about dining outdoors al fresco that is relaxing and enjoyable. How do you create an attractive outdoor restaurant patio so you can improve your customers’ dining experience? This blog article covers three steps to creating a great restaurant patio.

1. Choose a good location

Of course, you want to maximize your investment by adding an outdoor dining area to your restaurant. Before starting though, consider whether the space you own or lease is conducive to an outdoor dining space. Many restaurants will just add some restaurant tables and chairs to the sidewalk adjacent to the building and perhaps erect some type of gate or barrier around them. Creating an attractive outdoor dining space requires more consideration. Restaurant owners must consider whether the outdoor dining space is in a high traffic area. Customers won’t like to have their dining interrupted by constant foot traffic through the area. If a restaurant owner is considering using an adjacent sidewalk, it will be necessary to check with the local government, strip mall owner, or leasing company to find out if it’s even possible to set up outdoor dining on a sidewalk. Make sure the outdoor location you are considering is conducive to great outdoor dining.

2. Choose the right restaurant patio furniture

Restaurant owners who are considering buying restaurant chairs, tables and barstools for their outdoor patio must consider more than just whether the furniture is attractive. Restaurants should only consider furniture options that are appropriate for outdoor use and can handle the weather and elements they will be subjected to when placed on a patio or deck. All restaurant patio furniture should be able to withstand the elements and a plan should be in place on how to handle windy or stormy conditions. Restaurant patio chairs and barstools should be lightweight enough to be moved around a lot, as diners tend to rearrange the table and chair sets to accommodate larger or smaller groups. Lightweight furniture also makes it easier for the staff to move and stack it for storage.

It is also necessary for restaurant owners to consider the climate in their specific area of the country when purchasing outdoor restaurant tables.  Is the patio in a very hot and sunny location? If so, granite or stainless steel restaurant tables may not be the best option as they cause glare and get hot if placed in a sunny location. If it’s consistently sunny on a restaurant patio, consider outdoor table options that can be matched to a patio umbrella to shade customers. If buying patio furniture for a location that is cooler in the evenings, a great option to consider would be outdoor sofa style seating with comfortable cushions. There are also granite table options with fire pit inserts, or propane heaters which can extend the outdoor dining season for patios in seasonal or cooler locations.

3. Choose suitable menu options

When creating an outdoor dining space, consider the restaurant menu. Is it appropriate to serve the full restaurant menu that is used for indoor diners? For restaurants with the appropriate amount of staff and the right dining style for outdoor dining, that may work fine. But some dining styles and foods may not be great for outdoor dining. One of the first considerations is the distance of the kitchen to the outdoor dining area. If the kitchen is a long way from the patio, it may be easier on the kitchen and the staff to have a limited menu for outdoor dining.

Also consider the style of food that is appropriate and easier to serve and eat outdoors. If the full service menu features dishes requiring lots of glassware, silverware, serving dishes and linen napkins, remember the restaurant staff will have to deliver all of that to the outdoor diners, and bring it all back in when customers are finished. Cold or hot sandwiches, appetizers and finger foods can be great choices for outdoor dining. They can be served easily in paper lined plastic food baskets or reusable plastic plates. Drinks that can be served in plastic glassware and disposable utensils can also be fantastic for outdoor diners depending upon the type of restaurant. Simple and casual goes a long way to creating successful outdoor patio dining.

 

 

4 Key Considerations When Choosing Restaurant Patio Furniture

Outdoor Metal Restaurant FurnitureFor restaurant owners, it is very important to choose the right type of furniture for their patio, as it will greatly affect their guests’ experience. In a popular blog post last year, Missouri Table & Chair covered four of the most important considerations to keep in mind when making this decision. However, there are even more out-of-the-box ideas and tips that restaurants should consider before making a purchase.

1. Comfort

Restaurants should never overlook comfort. After all, restaurant owners want patrons to actually enjoy sitting on the patio at their restaurant! If the chairs are uncomfortable, customers won’t stay long or won’t come back. Restaurants should choose patio chairs that are designed for sitting for longer than just a few minutes. A couple of helpful, often forgotten tips are to look for furniture that doesn’t get too hot in the sun, and to select table and chair pairings that offer plenty of room for patrons’ legs.

2. Typical Party Size

Restaurant owners should consider a restaurant’s typical party size when choosing outdoor restaurant furniture. For example, is a dining establishment regularly used for romantic, one-on-one dinner dates, or is it a place where people tend to hold large birthday parties? Restaurants should select more small, two-top restaurant granite tables if they cater to the dinner date crowd, or choose to buy long picnic tables with benches attached if parties are a regular occurrence. Selecting patio furniture based upon clientele will ensure any dining establishment can comfortably accommodate as many guests as possible.

3. Security or Storage Requirements

A restaurant’s location or routines may have an impact on the restaurant patio furniture they choose. Restaurants should consider whether their business is located in a safe area where there’s no risk in leaving furniture outside overnight or in a busier urban area where there’s a chance that furniture might be stolen. For places that need to bring patio furniture inside or store it every night, owners should consider purchasing lighter restaurant tables and chairs that can be lifted easily to move into storage.

4. Maintenance

Patio furniture, especially restaurant table tops, can take a beating because of their exposure to the elements. Restaurant owners should choose furniture based on the maintenance routine they plan to implement. It takes a little more time and energy to keep wood furniture looking clean and fresh, while stainless steel furniture is easily wiped down with water and cleaning solution. It is important to consider how much time a staff will be able to devote to upkeep.

 

Tips for Maintaining Restaurant Furniture

Restaurant BoothsBeyond representing a large investment, furnishings say a lot about a restaurant’s character. The relative condition of those furnishings also has an impact on how customers are likely to respond to the dining experience. Although a number of factors impact overall satisfaction, recent studies suggest that cleanliness and agreeable décor are both important considerations diners use to make judgments about safety, good value and the likelihood of becoming repeat customers.

Maintaining furnishings like restaurant tables, chairs, booths, stools and benches in good order should be part of a long term strategy of front of the house quality control. These suggestions will help.

Inspecting Restaurant Furniture

Schedule furniture inspections periodically with specific written tasks:

  • Make sure tables and chairs are stable and assemblies like chair swivels and glides are oiled and working properly.
  • Check chair legs to make sure joints and stretchers are secure and any screws are tight by pressing two hands on the seat of the chair or barstool to see if it wobbles.   Gluing, followed by a drywall screw in the loose joint, is an easy durable fix on wooden chairs.  Metal chairs are a lot less prone to loose joints if they are welded.  However, bolts on metal chairs and barstools may need to be tightened regularly, perhaps by adding a lock washer.
  • Examine table tops for sway by putting two hands on the table top and forcing it to move.  If there is too much movement, check for missing levelers, loose screws that attach the base to the table top, or tighten the base with a wrench or pliers.
  • Check upholstery fabric for tears, rips or split seams.  Sometimes small cuts can be repaired before they get larger.
  • Segregate or discard items that may present a safety hazard or require immediate attention.

Making small, regular adjustments or repairs can extend the useful life of furniture pieces and ensure a better, safer customer experience as well.

Cleaning Restaurant Furniture

Many of the materials used in restaurant furniture are easy to care for, and most manufacturers still publish their preferred methods for cleaning and maintenance. This can be as simple as a daily wipe down with a damp cloth, or involve specific recommendations for treating restaurant table tops made of butcher block or vinyl covered chairs.  Specific materials respond differently to care, and for the best results, it’s always a good idea to review the published recommendations and institute a cleaning plan. This includes training current and new employees in furniture cleaning best practices. The extra time and attention can help avoid damage to materials like: glass, laminates, granite, chrome, brass, mirrored finishes and wood.

Although not exhaustive, these cleaning guidelines provide a generally effective and usually least aggressive approach to cleaning specific surfaces. For first use, test a small, inconspicuous area on the item to be cleaned to insure colorfastness:

  • Aluminum – Clean with mild soap and water.
  • Brass – Treat with brass cleaner or a mixture of vinegar and flour.
  • Fabric – Blot liquid stains with a dry cotton cloth, and vacuum crumbs and dried on messes using a soft bristled brush if necessary.
  • Glass and mirror – Clean with a glass cleaner, and use vinegar on a cloth to remove streaks.
  • Granite – Clean with mild soap and water. Stains may require stronger treatment with special granite cleaner or hydrogen peroxide.
  • Laminates – Clean with mild soap and water.
  • Leather – Apply dry corn starch to absorb grease stains, and use a damp cloth for spot cleaning (Periodic professional cleaning is recommended.)
  • Stainless steel – Clean with mild soap and water.
  • Wood – Clean with a slightly dampened cloth, rubbing lightly with the wood grain. Wipe dry. Many wood products also require periodic wax treatments for added protection