With today’s ever changing foodservice environment, being nimble pays off. As a result, providing versatile equipment enables restaurant operators to adjust service and offerings as needed.
In the front of house, providing self-serve options or manned food stations provides the ability to easily expand food options with a weekend brunch, extensive salad or hot bar or enticing action stations. Space-saving serving stations can make this happen more seamlessly.
During and following the pandemic, expanded outdoor dining has become the norm for an increasing number of restaurants. This makes sense, since by expanding seating capacity and adding more customers, revenue also increases. According to a 2021 report by the Washington, D.C.-based National Restaurant Association, 35% of operators that offer outdoor seating say it accounts for more than 40% of average daily sales; 15% say it accounts for 70% of daily sales. For most, this means creating an aesthetically pleasing and comfortable outdoor dining area will provide a good return on investment.
Having modular enclosures and barricades helps segregate the exterior while also providing decorative elements that add to the ambiance. Planters are ideal for these areas and can either be incorporated into the barricade or serve as additional barriers to give diners more privacy. Along with seating and tables, including sturdy table umbrellas will provide shade and protection from the elements.
Whether used indoors or out, durability is a key requirement for flexible dining components to ensure these hold up to the restaurant’s volume as well as the outdoors.
Taking Self-Serve Vertical
It can be difficult to maximize space in a salad bar setting since space is at a premium as the number of offerings increase. But what if there is an innovative solution that can solve the space conundrum?
Ideal for schools, business and industry, and healthcare applications, Vollrath’s new SerVue™ touchless refrigerated slide-in provides space-saving vertical dispensing for as many as 30 different toppings.
“This is our take on enhancing the salad bar,” says Tyler Eilenfeldt, Vollrath product manager. “While traditional salad bars are horizontal, this vertical unit offers benefits others don’t have.”
Touchless sensors automatically dispense ingredients reducing food waste.
Not only can customers view food in the see-through containers, verifying its freshness, but with SerVue’s dispensing method, salads are not cross contaminated with other ingredients or serving utensils. Infrared sensors located near the bottom of each canister detect the presence of a bowl or plate and dispense ingredients accordingly.
“Because all ingredients are in individual canisters, there is no unintentional mixing of ingredients,” Eilenfeldt says. “Also, with people more hesitant to share serving utensils like in a traditional salad bar format, SerVue circumvents that with its touchless dispensing method.”
Along with providing the theater of food visibility, added safety and utmost sanitation, the total cost of ownership is another benefit of Vollrath’s SerVue line.
“Total cost of ownership is lower for several reasons,” Eilenfeldt says. “SerVue requires less upkeep than a traditional salad bar and reduces food waste thanks to the refrigerated ingredients staying fresher longer. And it can take an hour to clean a traditional food bar, but now operators can skip this step and reallocate employees.”
Also, SerVue does not require pricey breath guards, since food is safely contained until distributed.”
In addition, operators can choose portion sizes for distribution, from extra small to extra-large, which not only provides added versatility but also reduces waste.
SerVue has two canister sizes that are both the same height. The small canister holds 5.4 qts equivalent to a half-size long 4” deep food pan while the large accommodates 9 ½ qts equivalent to a full-size 2.5 ” deep food pan.
Because this unit is refrigerated and enclosed, it doesn’t have to be disassembled or cleared out at the end of the day, which equals even more labor savings and reduced food waste.
The verticality of SerVue allows designers to maximize the space while showcasing the foods freshness and streamlining the serving process.
Each unit is equipped with eight interchangeable containers giving flexibility to the operator. For larger volume operations multiple units can be placed back to back or adjacent depending on the footprint and available space. Measuring just 21 inches deep and 51 inches wide, the unit can be easily retrofitted into an existing space.
“It also speeds up the salad bar, taking just about 20 seconds to dispense down the line compared with a minute or more with a traditional salad bar.
Vollrath is currently testing multiple SerVue pilots in the field — including one in a major tech firm’s foodservice operation and one with an upscale independent grocer.
“SerVue is the result of continuous improvement from our engineering team, and we see great potential for it in the future,” Eilenfeldt says.
Flexibility is Our Greatest Strength™
Imagine a company that manufactures innovative, contemporary and traditional umbrellas for chain and independent restaurants, country clubs and hotel dining. A manufacturer of commercial-grade, hospitality-focused designs that encourages customers to customize their orders with valances, multiple fabrics and logos. A company with a catalog filled with center pole models, cantilever styles, large-scale shade products and aluminum, steel and concrete bases. And one that produces high-quality, comfortable cushions to coordinate with your umbrellas. That company is FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions.
For 23 years, FiberBuilt has been the leading manufacturer of fiberglass ribbed umbrellas. The flexible ribs have the strength and resilience to bend without losing their shape. Properties in locations prone to gusty winds appreciate how important that is. But FiberBuilt didn’t stop there. It introduced FiberTeak™ poles, which provide the look and feel of simulated wood, bamboo and coconut palms over a heavy gauge aluminum core. The Wattsun model has a solar panel in the finial and a pole-mounted charging station with two USB ports.
Each order is made to the customer’s particular needs. Customized canopies can have alternating fabrics, double vents for wind management, single or double scalloped valances, fringe or silk-screened logos. FiberBuilt’s new LED Lighting kit has three settings, attaches to eight umbrella ribs and creates the perfect ambience for guests to enjoy their dining experience after the sun has set.
All of FiberBuilt’s fashionable and durable shade products are built for comfort and built to last. Its custom capabilities ensure that you’ll find a product to fit your décor and budget.
Creating Flexible Outdoor Spaces
Maggie Kavan, Co-Founder and Owner of MODSTREET
What are key considerations for creating flexible spaces in restaurants?
Maggie Kavan: To remain not only flexible, but viable in the current and future environment, restaurants need to offer safe and attractive on-premise open air dining.
What solutions does MODSTREET offer to accomplish this?
MK: We offer modular steel parklets that assemble without tools or equipment and typically in less than one hour. No construction means no downtime, and you are able to serve your customers the same day. Our parklets are beautiful and strong enough to withstand a collision up to 30 mph, making our products the safest on the market.
What are the biggest benefits?
MK:
The biggest benefit of expanding seating capacity outdoors is capturing all revenue opportunities. By creating a safe and inviting outdoor space you are growing your brand and matching the aesthetic of your restaurant. This also presents new opportunities to incorporate new trends such as display cooking, which adds a fun element to your customer experience.
What are the options with this product line?
MK: We have different sizes of parklets to accommodate any configuration. Our parklets have removable decking for easy access underneath. We also offer barricade planters that beautify an outdoor space while adding an extra layer of customer safety. Other accessories include string light posts for ambiance, and bar tops, benches and coverings such as shade sails or roofs. For year round patio use, we also provide full enclosures.