Having a successful business in the fast-paced restaurant world is a hard feat. With the onslaught of very demanding customers and the burgeoning competition looming every-which-way from surrounding businesses, it can seem almost impossible for a small, new restaurant to survive long-term. Having state of the art restaurant equipment and supplies can transform a good restaurant into a great one, and eradicate any further stress that the restaurant world is infamous for.

GatorChef, a family-owned and operated restaurant supply company located in Illinois, caters to every level of restaurant in order to satisfy every level of consumer. From both new and used restaurant equipment to restaurant furniture, GatorChef fulfills every need that a restaurant could have at great price points. Chicago, a city teeming with state of the art restaurants, deserves an outstanding supply company – which is exactly what GatorChef is.

When utilizing GatorChef’s expansive website, a consumer can easily discover why they are the restaurant supply Chicago  needs. To begin, GatorChef provides restaurants with several options to obtain the restaurant equipment that they ultimately desire. First option is for a restaurant to simply purchase the piece of equipment brand new at an astoundingly affordable price. A second option is for a restaurant to purchase a used piece of equipment they need. GatorChef’s inventory of used products is comprehensive – restaurants looking for used products can find anything from used bakery and ice-cream cases to used stainless steel equipment. Lastly, the third option for restaurants looking to purchase a piece of restaurant equipment from GatorChef is leasing the equipment. GatorChef provides restaurants with low cost financing options for leasing a plethora of commercial restaurant equipment and supplies. Furthermore, GatorChef offers financing plans for restaurants ranging from 13 to 60 months. Leasing gives new restaurants a method to create a cost efficient financial plan that frees up their cash, while also giving the restaurant dependable fixed-payments.

Being a restaurant supply Chicago based company, it only makes sense that GatorChef provides local customers with a showroom, conveniently located right outside the hustle and bustle of Chicago, teeming with both new and used restaurant equipment at great prices. The showroom inventory is updated daily, so if you do not find equipment of interest on your first visit, simply try again another day and you are bound to find an expanded selection of equipment never before seen. If you are a restaurant with equipment to spare, GatorChef’s showroom allows restaurants to both sell and trade restaurant equipment.

GatorChef, a company with the best customer service since 1982, takes pride in knowing that each and every customer is satisfied with every purchase made. Each GatorChef representative has a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the food industry, and can, therefore, provide each customer with advice only experienced chefs, owners, commercial kitchen designers, and equipment technicians would have.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact GatorChef through either: (1) Live Chat located on GatorChef.com, (2) Telephone: (888) 944-2867, or (3) Email: info@gatorchef.com. They’re always happy to help!

Running a restaurant involves a lot of skills. Not only are food knowledge and business savvy necessary, but it’s also important to have forethought when planning out how your restaurant is going to operate. The kitchen is the most important part of any restaurant; it’s where the magic happens. Having a well-planned kitchen can make all the difference in maintaining a smoothly operating kitchen. GatorChef is a provider of commercial restaurant equipment. They’ve built a strong business on providing quality equipment at an affordable price. They have a variety of supplies so that no matter what kind of restaurant you run, you’ll be able to find the equipment you need. GatorChef is operated by people who’ve worked closely with this equipment before: restaurateurs, chefs, equipment maintenance workers and more. If you choose to work with GatorChef, you’ll be working with experts who can help you find the best equipment for your specific food service needs.

One of the best ways to save money without cutting corners is by buying used equipment. GatorChef offers used commercial kitchen equipment  at a discounted rate. This way, you can access all the necessary equipment without having to worry about going over budget. GatorChef has all kinds of used equipment available, such as refrigerators, cooking equipment, bakery cases, prep tables, serving equipment, beverage equipment, furniture and more. These kinds of restaurant supplies can be pretty expensive when bought new. With GatorChef, however, you’ll get to access to some of the best used equipment you can find while also having the satisfaction of getting the best deal you can hope for. Even though they’ve been used, each product has been tested and cleaned by professionals to make sure they are in good-as-new condition. When you’re looking for any kind of restaurant equipment, be sure to look into GatorChef’s selection of used commercial kitchen equipment to find the most cost-effective way to obtain all of the high quality equipment you’ll need in your restaurant.

It’s pretty obvious that the kitchen is the heart of a restaurant. After all, the food is the brand. It’s the product around which you’ve built a business. By keeping your cooks well-equipped, you’re investing in the quality of the food they’re making. In the restaurant industry, it’s important to provide your kitchen staff with the necessary tools and space while also being careful to stick to a budget. With GatorChef, you’ll be able to do both. This industry requires mindfulness and preparation. GatorChef has all the equipment you need to keep your kitchen staff prepared without spending unnecessary amounts of money. Whether you’re operating a high-volume hot spot, a small and intimate bistro, or an upscale restaurant with full dinner service, GatorChef has what you need. The people at GatorChef take pride in their expertise. Their combined experiences in food service is as diverse as the products in their showroom. Whether you’re looking for work tables, meat slicers, restaurant furniture and more, GatorChef is sure to satisfy all of your needs. Their stainless steel equipment is both top quality and easy to clean. Start preparing your kitchen for greatness with key pieces of equipment at reasonable prices. Start preparing your kitchen with GatorChef today!

Being the owner or manager of a restaurant is difficult. Whether you are working somewhere that has had the same regulars come in for years or are cutting the ribbon at a new location, it is absolutely necessary to have a well functioning commercial kitchen. Once you find the staff to create your vision, the rest is just having the equipment needed to make the masterpieces possible. GatorChef has the best and most up to date equipment you’ll need to accomplish every task from cleaning in a commercial hand sink  to creating fabulous desserts in an ice cream machine. All of these needed items can be found at great prices at GatorChef.com. GatorChef can get you everything you need to keep your kitchen running smoothly.

Some people may think all you need to keep a kitchen running is a refrigerator and a stove. Anyone that has ever worked in any sort of food industry knows that this is far from the truth. Just like it takes a team of people with different skills to keep a restaurant in business, the same can be said for the tools and equipment needed. A great chef relies heavily on their cutlery, so it is important to have some high quality and versatile knives. Once all of your ingredients are prepped and ready, having the proper storage to contain it all is essential. And with food storage containers, it is also important to have a walk in refrigerator in which to keep everything. Once you have everything you need for your kitchen, you will then need something to keep your dishes clean. GatorChef has dishwashers and commercial hand sink options that are easy to clean and will help you keep everything nice and tidy. Having proper equipment every step of the way is the only way to really line yourself up for success.

Buying all of this may seem like it would completely demolish your budget. However with GatorChef, this is not necessarily the case. They offer many options to give anything you need at prices that work for your business. If you are looking to buy very large and technical equipment, it is the perfect place to search. People are so often afraid of buying things that would greatly increase their profits because they initially a large investment. GatorChef, however, offers used and refurbished equipment at a fraction of the cost, despite the fact that they have all been maintained by experts to above and beyond manufacturer’s standards. They make sure you can keep everything in working order without breaking the bank.

Keeping everything in a restaurant running smoothly relies on so many factors, it may sometimes seem like you have nowhere to turn to for help. To help relieve some of the stress, let GatorChef help you get all of the best equipment at a cost that works for you. From commercial sinks to large commercial kitchen equipment, accessories and more, find exactly what you are missing to create the best dishes you can dream up with the products available at GatorChef. Help can be on the way with just a click of a button.

Impress vendors with the superior quality of your commercial steam table settings using steam table pans  from GatorChef! Often otherwise referred to as fractional pans, gastronorm pans, hotel pans, and stainless steel pans, our GatorChef steam table pans are available in a wide variety of types and sizes. As stainless steel has proven to be dependable, economical, resilient, and efficient, buyers of our stainless steel pans can be confident in the provision of a secure, durable, appealing food display on any steam table.

Our steam table pans are NSF listed and can be purchased in a number of sizes and types that will combine together in various ways to fit the conventional commercial steam, buffet, event, or other restaurant table. As a result, buyers will be able to utilize a range of diverse accommodations for food items, meals and ingredients, all the while maximizing the space and appearance of the steam table in use. Our GatorChef wares include standard weight pans, perforated pans, and anti-jam style food pans. The benefits of differing styles of table pans may vary. Perforated pans aid food liquids in draining and assist in keeping foods from becoming soggy, mushy, or otherwise distasteful, while other pans are designed to prevent damaging the customer’s pan-to-plate experience by ensuring that steam table menu items do not congeal or stick to pans.

At GatorChef, we aim to make certain that you are able to find the specific type and size pan that will suit your distinctive menu item, food preparation, and food service needs. The variety of options available to you at GatorChef makes for an accommodating, multipurpose steam table operation. If you a desire a radiant, polished presentation at your next food based showing, be sure to explore our GatorChef stainless steel pans and, while you’re there, make sure to get a glimpse of our accessories as well!

A variety of pan accessories are presented to aid in progressing the quality and appearance of your food item layout for your restaurant.

At GatorChef, our table pans can be paired with cover accessories, such as the GatorChef Full Size Notched Cover for Full Stainless Steel Steam Table, the Flexsil-Lid High-Temp Silicone Lid for Steam Table Pans, the GatorChef Deep Anti-Jam Stainless Steel Steam Table Pan, the Winco Full Size Electric Water Pan for Buffet Chafers, and the Thunder Group Aluminum Full Size Steam Table Spillage/Water Pan.

Carry, cover, present, and heat your food at proper temperatures with an elegant display using GatorChef stainless steel pans and accessories. If you want to save money by reducing plastic and foil wrap usage, or reduce food spoilage, GatorChef steam table products are perfect for you. Providing easy to clean solutions and efficient storage options tailored to your menu items and display preferences, GatorChef is your go-to place for all your food and steam table presentation needs. Visit us online or in showroom today to find the top quality items you need for your restaurant!

As a restaurant owner or manager, the most refreshing sight you can find is a well organized kitchen. You need the right commercial cooking equipment  to make sure that your service runs smoothly and quickly and you need to make sure you are as efficient as possible. The right stoves, ovens, knives, ventilation and dishwashing machines make everything better and make your life much, much easier. Having the right commercial cooking equipment saves you money too by letting you operate fast and painlessly, serving more customers and preventing waste. The right equipment improves the quality of your food as well. Time saving products are essential in a kitchen that sees a high volume, like a pizza restaurant or a bakery. Every second is precious when it comes down to your bottom line. In addition, if you are working in a large scale kitchen, you can save money as well by using equipment to automate tasks that will ensure perfect results every time.

A great and easy solution for many kitchen owners is to buy great food processing machines. These can be ribbon blenders or vertical blenders. Ribbon blenders are great for when you need your food product to have a uniform consistency and they work very well with foods that have a short lifespan like cooked vegetables, for example. Vertical blenders are best used for combining dry ingredients into ready-to-go supplies you can use for pastries and doughs. As you know, the better your preparation is, the better your success will be in the kitchen. Both vertical and ribbon blenders can save you time and money by getting your products mixed fast and ready for service or for cooking or baking in no time.

So when it comes to your commercial kitchen, another important thing to think about is space. Space is very critical for any kitchen, but especially small ones where every inch counts. If you can find products that combine functions or get processes done in a fraction of the time they normally do now, you are in great shape for success. Space saving items are essential for almost any kitchen. You need something that can get multiple items cooked, baked or processed quickly so that your staff can serve more people and you can make all your guests happy.

As well, you need to make sure you are investing in quality products that will last you a long time. When kitchen equipment breaks, it can cause big pains for owners and staff. If it breaks in the middle of service, this can be even worse in that you may not be able to fix or replace it quickly enough to salvage the day’s service. Every minute you go without being able to offer a food product or use your kitchen to it’s maximum potential is money down the drain. Make sure that you buy only quality products so that you can keep working and growing your business.

At Gator Chef, we have everything a commercial kitchen needs. Visit us online now and get started.

If you have ever cooked a lovely meal from the comfort of your own home, you may have had the thought cross your mind that you would make a wonderful chef in a big restaurant. As any professional chef will tell you, there are some pretty major differences. The biggest of these differences being the commercial kitchen supplies that you have to be trained to use. With food safety regulations and massive complicated equipment, you need to make sure your restaurant has everything it needs to safely create some of the most beautiful and delicious food possible. All of this can be accomplished with the commercial kitchen supply  from GatorChef.

One of the biggest things you learn when you become a chef in a professional kitchen is all of the food safety regulations that need to be followed to keep all of your practices safe. The necessary equipment for these practices is crucial to the process. If your restaurant is lacking these pieces of equipment, you should look to GatorChef for all of your restuarant kitchen supplies. If your walk-in freezer is not kept at the right temperature, you could be faced with unsafe ingredients or even lose some of your stock, which is more money out of your pocket everyday. In this case, you should purchase a new refrigeration unit from GatorChef. They have a variety of different types and sizes to fit in perfectly with whatever your kitchen needs and can handle. In addition to storage spaces, GatorChef also has a variety of tools that are used in commercial kitchens every day. If you are preparing various meats, fruits, and vegetables, you know you have to separate them prior to cooking in order to avoid cross contamination. They can help you with this, using color coded cutting boards and serving utensils. GatorChef also offers all the necessary cleaning equipment to tidy up after a long day of prep and cooking. When you return to your kitchen the following day, you will know without a shadow of a doubt that your spaces are clean and sanitary, and you are ready to make some quality foods.

In addition to keeping your ingredients safe, you need to make sure you are safely using the right commercial kitchen supply. With the number of huge machines involved in a large-scale kitchen, you need to make sure everything is in proper working order and everyone on your staff is properly trained. While Gator Chef may not be able to assist in training your new staff, they certainly can help you replace broken stove tops or preparation stations. Your chefs will never have to struggle to get your oven to heat up to the right temperature with a brand new piece of equipment, which means your dishes will get out faster and your customers will keep coming back.

Keeping a kitchen in tip-top shape is incredibly important to its success. Using the correct equipment and safety practices are the first step in this process. Get all of your commercial kitchen supplies from GatorChef and you will never worry about lacking in all of the proper equipment!

Everyone who has ever opened a restaurant has the same thought at one point or another. What is the best restaurant supply store near me ? When you need to buy new ovens, stoves, tools like knives and ladles, and anything else you might need to make your restaurant a success, you need to know this important information. Making sure your kitchen is set up properly is a great way to ensure that your food service comes out on time, hot and fresh, exactly how and when you need it. So when you ask, “Where’s the best restaurant supply store near me?” it is not just a matter of finding any place that sells knives. You need to know that what you are buying is of high-quality and that it will be durable and last a long time.

Have you considered that the best restaurant equipment store might be online? Where else can you be sure you are browsing through all of the available products, and not just what your local store has in stock on that particular day? You need to know that you are getting the best prices for your cookware and that you have made the best possible choice in selecting your equipment. After all, your kitchen’s success depends on the gear you use. Choose products that will keep your kitchen staff productive and that you will be able to get the most life out of for the longest time.

Making the most of your kitchen comes down to buying efficient products that do not break down easily. Every kitchen struggles with space and it can seem, to most restaurant owners, that there are really never enough places to put everything you wish to purchase, so some sacrifices need to be made. A great tip to get the most out of your limited space is to choose products with multiple functions. This way, the same product can be used for a number of dishes and processes that your restaurant needs to get done. You need to make sure, as well, that your kitchen has proper ventilation and a great method for waste disposal. Commercial kitchens are notoriously messy and produce a lot of steam, smoke and smells that need a way out of your space. Consult an HVAC specialist to make sure your system meets the standards for your local area and that excess heat and air are filtered out of your kitchen properly. Not only is this important for efficiency, but for safety as well. If your kitchen is too hot, you could have problems when your staff overheat. They will be less productive and may even suffer an injury, leaving you open to lawsuits, not to mention causing needless pain and suffering for your staff.

At Gator Chef, we pride ourselves on our vast knowledge and years of experience that give us the cutting edge when it comes to commercial restaurant equipment. Whether it’s a new set of pepper mills or a whole new kitchen makeover, our mission is to connect you with the products you need to make your restaurant a success. Contact us today!

When you’re throwing a party, event, or get together, the food you serve will say a lot about you and be remembered by your guests. Partygoers often remember when food is particularly good or bad at an event they attend and they know the difference between great catering and poor catering. So if you are choosing a caterer, you need to make sure every detail is perfect, from the hotel pans  they use to the plates your food is served on. A great caterer will pay close attention to detail to ensure that every part of their service is absolutely on point.

So how should you go about finding a great caterer? It can be intimidating but first ask yourself what kind of event you will be throwing. Is this a birthday party or a family celebration? Is it a corporate party to celebrate a workplace achievement? Do your guests have certain food preferences or dietary restrictions? Special care must be taken to ensure that all of your guests get exactly what they need.

When you picture great caterer, you might imagine an array of hotel pans set up in a beautiful display of offerings as guests move up a line and great dishes are added to their plate. While this style of buffet service is among the most popular, it is not the only option.

Consider the type of event you are putting on when choosing the style of catering. If your guests will be relatively stationary or if this is a traditional celebration like a wedding or bar mitzvah, buffet style catering is completely appropriate. But if this will be an event where guests will spend most of their time doing activities or dancing, you might want to consider a catering style that compliments that. Passed hors d'oeuvres are a great alternative to traditional catering and they are the perfect style for a party of this kind. You will minimally interrupt your guests while they drink and dance but still be able to serve delicious food.

Also think about the kind of cuisine you will offer. If this is work event during the workday, perhaps a breakfast catering option is the right way to go. Make your employees and coworkers feel at home as you serve them breakfast to celebrate a milestone. If this is a birthday, consider who the main guests will be. Are these people into health and fitness? A well-balanced healthy menu would be the right choice. Is this a more traditional celebration for a family affair? Food options from your family’s culture might be the best way to go.

Whatever you choose, finding the right caterer takes work. At GatorChef, our mission is to connect you with all the right equipment your caterer needs to keep your guests satisfied. We have products from all of the top brands and our years of experience make us great guides to help you find what you need. Visit us online and get started now.

As a chef working in a restaurant, the most important thing you will learn is food safety. Not only does it keep all of the ingredients at their freshest, but it ensures that everyone eating the food you worked so hard to prepare will enjoy every bit of their experience with you. To keep everything safely contained at all times, it is important to have the proper equipment for refrigeration. GatorChef is the commercial refrigerator supplier  that will help you get whatever equipment you need for your specific business. If you need a refrigeration unit with a workspace, one that you can use on the floor of your restaurant to display food items, or if you just want to get a new ice cream machine, they have the items to keep your business up and running.

Often in a commercial kitchen, space is a big issue. With GatorChef as your commercial refrigerator supplier you can purchase a refrigeration unit which has its own work space, so you get two important parts of your kitchen with one piece of equipment. Using these can not only consolidate space, but it saves you time as well, and we all know time is money. Instead of having to walk back and forth from the walk-in refrigerator to your work station, all of your ingredients are right in front of you, readily available. This way you can focus much more on the process of making the food and less about organizing everything prior to the beginning of this process.

If you have a restaurant that specializes in prepared foods, you should also get a deli case to proudly display all of your inventory. With glass cases ranging from 11.8 cubic feet all the way to 46 cubic feet you can buy one that will fit any space you have open on the floor. This will make your restaurant look much more professional. It will also make it much easier for guests to see everything that is available to them, so they can make their selection quicker and give you a faster turnover rate.

Dessert is often the most anticipated part of a wonderful meal. What is the best thing to top your desserts with? Well, ice cream of course! What better way to up the value of your desserts than to have your very own homemade ice cream. GatorChef offers a variety of different ice cream machines with one or two flavor capabilities. They have a range of different size capacities so depending on what sort of volume you are looking for, they can offer you whatever machine works best for you. This way you can make a batch of one flavor and store it so you can have multiple batches of other flavors to go with your versatile desserts.

No matter what type of restaurant you run, you need the right commercial refrigerator supplier. With GatorChef, you can choose from a wide selection of different types of equipment to perfectly fit your business. With this you will know your food is safe and always kept as fresh as can be.