Kitchen Layout for a Small Restaurant | UpMenu (2024)

Designing a small space, like dealing with a small restaurant kitchen design might be a bit challenging, right? How to fit everything that is needed there in such a tiny little space? Where to start when designing a small restaurant kitchen floor plan? We are here to help! If you are looking for some cool kitchen design ideas for a small restaurant, keep on reading this piece!

Inspiration is Everything! Find the Best Kitchen Layout for a Small Restaurant!

There is always hope. Even when you have to squeeze in some kitchen appliances, sinks and working area in one small room. We all know how hard it is to find a spacious place for a restaurant, that will be affordable. Sometimes we need to go on a compromise, get a restaurant space that is not too big, and find some small commercial kitchen design ideas. There is no need to panic! Even if the kitchen space is not too spacious, you can still make it work. There are plenty of designs available online. What is more, make sure to visit those show rooms. You will be surprised how inspiring they can be!

Step by Step, and You Will Get It Right!

When browsing through small commercial kitchen layout ideas, we often come across the idea of being extra organized inside the cabinets. Use up all of the space in a way that everything has its place and stays in order. What is more, when it comes to a small restaurant kitchen plan, the stations that share the same menu components, should be arranged next to each other.

How to Choose the Perfect Kitchen Layout for Your Restaurant?

If there is plenty of space in the kitchen, then we have no problem. But what if we have to come up with a kitchen layout for a small restaurant? It is not easy to find a perfect small commercial kitchen design, especially when we are on a budget, and hiring a professional interior designer is not an option. Remember to browse the internet. There are plenty of news, stories and advice. You can always reach out to people who work or used to work at small commercial kitchens. They might give you some guidelines on how to make it all work. Which elements are crucial, and which are unnecessary?

How to Achieve a Modern Restaurant Kitchen Design?

Let us not forget, we are dealing here with a small kitchen space. But simplicity can be a synonym for modern. Get only those really important components, and try not to clutter the kitchen area too much. A commercial kitchen needs some industrial strength equipment. Fortunately, some foodservice equipment manufacturers came up with many compact and multipurpose appliances, that will help you save up some space for working areas. If you are planning to hire more than one person for the kitchen, consider that they both need to have their own working stations there.

What About the Staff?

Yes, so as we mentioned above – if you need to hire a chef and a chef’s helper, you should remember that those people need some space to move around and some space to chop, stir, fry and mix. Team work will do a lot of good here, but there is also the need to come up with a mini restaurant kitchen design that will be as comfortable for the employees as possible. Do not forget about the safety requirements too. Try to get as much counter space as possible. Yes, it might seem a bit hard at first, but if you try to plan and organize your restaurant kitchen layout well enough, you will be surprised by how much space can be gained.

What About an Island in your Kitchen?

An island in the kitchen is a perfect way to gain more counter space. Let us be honest here though – if the kitchen at your restaurant is rather small, the design of its layout might not include an island. It all depends on its size and shape. No worries! There are other ways to get that extra space to cut the cucumbers and make those delicious meals! Maximize the limits of shelves, so there will be less things on countertops. And if you happen to be able to fit that island there – congratulations! More countertop space and more storages units will be available in your commercial kitchen!

Commercial Kitchen Necessities

Even though, there are some cool layout ideas for a small restaurant kitchen, you still need to take some things under consideration. Even the smallest commercial kitchen requires at least two sinks. Ovens, freezers and refrigerators, safety equipment, mixers, slicers, food processors, ranges and ventilation. Seems a lot, right? And that was just a main list. What about plates and other small accessories? Before you make any arrangements, make a list of items that you need to put and store in your commercial kitchen. When it comes to the storage of those smaller items – sometimes all you need is to possess those good organization skills.

Find That Extra Storage Space!

A good layout design for a small commercial kitchen will definitely include some awesome ideas when it comes to storage units. While some restaurants have that extra room to store some of the kitchen accessories, other eateries need to deal with small space, therefore there is not enough room for some of the excessive things. Try to use up the space above the fridge. Or see if you can add some extra shelves in different areas. Use containers to organize your kitchen items. Good planning will do some good here for sure!

What About the Color?

If you look up some of the restaurant kitchen design ideas, you might see that some designers advise to use brighter colors for an optimum effect. Go with soft tones, like off-white. Lighter colors are good for our well-being and it was proven, that if we work in pleasantly looking office space (in this case – bright kitchen), we tend to be happier and work more effectively. Make sure there is a lot of day light in the kitchen. And if that is not possible – invest in those special bulbs, that imitate the daylight. Your employees will definitely appreciate that!

Look for The Best Price

When you eventually make a list of items for your commercial kitchen, and when you come up with a layout for that small restaurant kitchen, then you will need to go shopping. Before you make any purchases, make sure to compare prices. There are many manufacturers, so the prices should be competitive. Read the product reviews and remember to check all the delivery dates. There is a chance that different commercial kitchen appliances might need some additional time to be delivered.

Try to Find Any Additional Storage Space

Take advantage of an open wall space if possible. It can be a perfect way to store some additional items. Organize things according to the way you will be using them. Throw the less needed ones on top shelves, and put the often-used ones at your fingertips, in more accessible areas, so there will be no unnecessary commotion in the kitchen, while searching for the right items. Keep it organized and keep it simple! It will definitely pay off.

A carefully planned commercial kitchen layout will make your restaurant run effectively. Let your kitchen flow! Remember that the kitchen equipment should be placed strategically. You can also create an energy efficient commercial kitchen, that will definitely help you save up some money. With a bit of a hard work and a dash of imagination, as well as some cool inspirations from the Internet, you will definitely come up with the best commercial kitchen layout idea! And with all that, the success and prosperity of your restaurant is closer than you think!

Kitchen Layout for a Small Restaurant | UpMenu (2024)

FAQs

What kitchen layout is usually used in small restaurant? ›

The galley layout is best for a venue with a small restaurant kitchen layout and few staff, such as a food truck.

How do you arrange a small restaurant? ›

A small restaurant floor plan should include:
  1. Prep areas.
  2. Kitchen.
  3. Entrance areas.
  4. Waiting areas.
  5. Dining and seating areas.
  6. Staff areas, offices, and break rooms.
  7. Cashier stations and your POS system(s)
  8. Restrooms.

What is the average size of a small restaurant kitchen? ›

A small commercial kitchen can range from 200 square feet to 1000 square feet. The average size commercial kitchen is 1051 square feet as reported by RestaurantOwner.com after polling over 700 business owners. The average size of a small kitchen is 25 percent to 30 percent of the total square feet of the facility.

How should a restaurant kitchen be set up? ›

In most circ*mstances, the setup will be circular to allow easy flow and movement. Storage and dishwashing are pushed to the back, if not entirely out of view, whereas the cooking station and prep area are in the open. This is an especially popular option for chefs who use fire and spectacle with their cooking style.

What are the 6 rules for designing a restaurant kitchen? ›

According to the Certified Food Service Professionals handbook, there are six guidelines you should follow when creating a commercial kitchen design:
  • Flexibility and Modularity.
  • Simplicity.
  • Flow of Materials and Personnel.
  • Ease of Sanitation.
  • Ease of Supervision.
  • Space Efficiency.
Oct 9, 2018

Which type of layout is best for restaurant? ›

An assembly line might work better for a long, narrow kitchen, while an island layout could work better in a square space. Your layout also depends on your primary purpose, how many staff you have and what kind of food you'll be preparing.

What is a good size for a small restaurant? ›

A small diner or a smaller, high end establishment can function effectively with anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet of restaurant space . The square footage includes everything from kitchen space to dining and bar space.

How many tables does a small restaurant need? ›

In a small restaurant, keeping in mind the size of the table and its capacity, there are commonly from 8 to 20 tables, accommodating 2 to 4 people per table. In a medium size restaurant, you'll find from 15 to 35 tables, accommodating 2 to 6 people per table.

How many cooks does a small restaurant need? ›

This number can vary depending on the complexity of your restaurant's menu and the size of the kitchen, but the average is four back of house staff members per 50 tables in a casual seated restaurant. This average number of staff members includes chefs and prep cooks in the back of house setting.

How to calculate kitchen area for a restaurant? ›

Determine the available space and layout of the kitchen area. Consider factors such as the shape of the space, entry and exit points, and how different kitchen sections will flow together. Usually, the percentage space allocated for kitchen of the total area is 40% to 60%. 40% for kitchen area and 60% for dining floor.

What size should a menu be for a restaurant? ›

Most menus are built to accommodate the standard paper sizes of 8.5” x 11”. If your menu exceeds 12” x 18”, consider having separate menus for wine, dessert, and kids in order to keep the size manageable. You don't want to overwhelm your guests. To feature dishes, use table tents, menu boards, or chalk boards.

What is the minimum square footage for a restaurant kitchen? ›

Smart kitchen design is essential to efficiency, safety, and revenue. The first rule of kitchen design is to assess your space. Your kitchen should have approximately five square feet of space for every seat in the restaurant. So, if your dining room seats 60, your kitchen should be at least 300 square feet.

What is the most efficient kitchen layout? ›

The U-Shape design is the most versatile layout for both large and small kitchens. It provides storage and countertop space on three walls, which creates an efficient work triangle for food prep.

How should a restaurant be laid out? ›

A restaurant's kitchen should take up 40% of total square footage. The dining area, bar, restrooms, entrance and waiting area should be taken out of the 60% of space allocated to dining. If space is too limited to fit seating in your entrance, consider directing guests to wait for their table at the bar.

What are the 5 types of commercial kitchen layouts? ›

There are five commonly used in most commercial kitchens: assembly line, island, zone-style, galley and open kitchen. Each one has unique benefits depending on the style of restaurant you want to open, the type of food you are cooking and the amount of space your building allows for kitchen space.

What is the best kitchen layout for a small kitchen? ›

The best layout for a small kitchen depends on your space. Consider a U-shaped or galley-style layout for maximum efficiency. Organize your space using the kitchen triangle rule to create a smooth path between the sink, oven (or stovetop), and refrigerator.

What is the standard kitchen area for a restaurant? ›

So, for a restaurant serving 30 people at a time, 150 square feet should suit your needs. Designing a kitchen for a large hotel dining room serving up to 400 guests per sitting? You may want to ensure you have at least 2,000 square feet for the kitchen, or else your staff might not be able to meet demand.

What is the typical layout of a commercial kitchen? ›

What is the typical layout of a commercial kitchen? The typical layout of a commercial kitchen is designed for efficiency and safety, often incorporating sections such as food preparation, cooking, baking, dishwashing, storage (dry, cold, and non-food), and receiving areas.

What is the common kitchen layout? ›

The most popular choice for kitchen layout design is an L-shape. An l-shaped kitchen is two adjoining walls that are perpendicular to each other. They are an ideal option for kitchens located in a corner space, particularly if they open up into another room.

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