Insights
Restaurant Opening Equipment Checklist
A practical checklist to work through before opening day, covering every area of a new restaurant and the items buyers most often forget.
23 September 2026 · HospiSourcing
A restaurant opening equipment checklist should cover six areas: the kitchen, refrigeration and storage, warewashing, the bar, the dining room, and back-of-house essentials. Working through it area by area, with quantities and a delivery date for each line, prevents the last-minute panic buying that undermines an opening.
Kitchen and cooking
- Ranges, ovens, combi steamers and grills
- Fryers, griddles and holding equipment
- Preparation tables, sinks and hand-wash units
- Extraction and ventilation
- Food processors, mixers and small equipment
Refrigeration and storage
- Reach-in and undercounter refrigeration
- Cold room or walk-in if volumes require it
- Freezer space and blast chilling
- Shelving, racks and dry-store storage
- Temperature monitoring
Warewashing
- Dishwasher and glass washer
- Pot wash and pre-rinse
- Drainers and clean dish storage
- Waste and recycling bins
Bar and beverage
- Back-bar refrigeration and glass storage
- Ice machine and ice storage
- Coffee equipment, if served
- Glassware, tools and bar smallwares
Dining room and front of house
- Tables, chairs and any fixed seating
- Tableware, cutlery and glassware
- Service stations and waiter stations
- Lighting and decorative items
- Signage and reservations equipment
Back of house and easy-to-forget items
- Staff lockers, uniforms and changing
- Cleaning equipment and chemicals
- Safety equipment, first aid and fire items
- Linen and laundry arrangements
- Office, EPOS and back-office equipment
Sourcing in this area? See commercial kitchen equipment or request a quote.
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Related guides
More on sourcing and procurement for hospitality businesses.
How to Source Commercial Kitchen Equipment for a New Restaurant
A step-by-step approach to specifying and sourcing a commercial kitchen without overbuying, undersizing or missing the opening date.
How to Request a Quote for Restaurant Equipment (RFQ Template)
The information suppliers need to quote accurately, and how to structure a request so the offers you get back can actually be compared.
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