Outdoor Kitchen Restaurant Layout Guide: Choosing the Best Location
While the grill may be the focal point of an outdoor kitchen restaurant, the placement of the kitchen itself is much more important in terms of creating a functional space. The location must allow for adequate flow of food, be able to have patrons sitting comfortably nearby, keep smoke away from patrons, and allow the staff to move about in a straight line rather than in circles all night long. Simple enough, but most patio projects go awry at this very point.
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Why Does Location Matter for an Outdoor Kitchen Restaurant?
The location of your outdoor kitchen is far more important than how your new outdoor kitchen will look. The actual location will greatly determine how you go about your daily routine as well as how fast you can get back and forth to cook and then return to your guests. Additionally the outdoor kitchen location will affect the degree of comfort your guests will have as well as the life of your products. An effective patio kitchen can function as a service area – and not just a nice outdoor cooking location with a BBQ at the corner of the patio.
Customer Comfort
People don’t want to smell smoke wafting through the air while they are dining and also they don’t want to sit too close to hot foods and pans during summer time. Position your cooking area so that people can watch and enjoy clean air, plenty of shade and space to move about.
Staff Workflow
When staff are required to perform functions of preparation, cooking, serving and cleaning in an outdoor kitchen environment, the routes between these functions should be of the shortest length. If storage is placed too far from the points where items are picked up for use, each missing plate, each missing utensil will take a minute. In dinner service this becomes apparent very quickly.
Safety and Cleaning
Plan the ‘dangers of foodservice’ – heat, grease, water and patron traffic, and position hot, greasy, wet items away from plants, curtains, wood, tight passages and keep adequate clearance for wiping work surfaces, moving around oil tanks, and accessing back cabinets.
Where Should You Place the Patio Kitchen?
The patio kitchen should be in a location where it can be utilized daily. A beautiful location is not always the best location for your patio kitchen. Before you decide on a final location, take into account the distance to your indoor kitchen as well as the wind direction, amount of shade, drainage and guest paths.
Near the Main Building
In most cases this will be your easiest option, water, power, storage and staff access being closer. Allowing quick movement of food from indoor preparation to outdoor cooking areas.
Under a Covered Patio
A covered area will protect your outdoor kitchen from sun and rain and enable you to use your kitchen all year round. For restaurants this is crucial as no restaurant can afford to lose too much business due to bad weather.
Beside the Dining Area
Seeing and smelling the grilled food can be very fascinating to your guests. Having enough space between tables and the hot zone is always important and with a little distance the overall setting is even better.
What Layout Works Best for an Outdoor Kitchen Restaurant?
To develop a layout you have to think about the size of the area and the kind of service. A small narrow outside area will need a completely different plan to a large resort garden. So also is important if you want to serve full meals, just drinks, BBQ or light snacks from the outdoor kitchen/restaurant.
Straight-Line Layout
A straight-line layout approach is best for very small patios or narrow walls where space is limited. A simple layout is very easy to follow. This layout would work well for a simple setup such as a grill, a small counter and basic storage.
L-Shaped Layout
An L-shaped patio kitchen design maximizes your counter space while maintaining a proportionate sized outdoor kitchen area. This design feature enables you to have adequate prep space removed from cooking thereby efficiently meeting demands of peak service hours.
U-Shaped Layout
A U-shaped layout can work well for a restaurant with a large patio as it provides enough room for preparation, cooking, plating and storage. As long as staff work within the zone and customers remain outside of it, then this layout can work effectively.
Island Layout
An island based layout offers a very open and social space. Suited for a Resort, Rooftop bar or Garden party, an island would require good width sidewalks on all sides to access the spaces on the island.
What Should You Check Before Installing Outdoor Kitchen Products?
As outdoor kitchen products are exposed to heat, rain, grease etc. and used on a daily basis, the ground, wall and utility setup prior to the arrival of products on site needs to be checked. It is cheaper to put right these areas prior to installation rather than after.
Water and Drainage
Be sure to set up the sink to drain properly. Wet floors near service paths can quickly become a problem. Keep your wet zone area small and very functional for easy clean up.
Gas and Electricity
Make sure that gas and electrical points are readily accessible and are positioned in such a way that there is no risk of pipes or cables being walked over by staff or visitors. The boring detail of routing pipes and cables is very important.
Materials and Storage
Products are grouped in a product center: barbecues, garden heating, outdoor furniture and shading products. As an example for a kitchen planning we take the Mesola Steel Outdoor Kitchen Set. The set consists of a countertop, of storage cabinets and of shelves. This set is described as waterproof and as rustproof. It is very suitable for use in outdoor areas like yards, patios, backyards and porches. It can be cleaned with a wet cloth and it is recommended to store the articles indoor or under a cover when not in use.
How Can Weather Affect the Patio Kitchen Location?
The weather has a big impact on how often you can use your patio kitchen. The sun, wind, rain and damp air all affect your comfort level and the maintenance products need. A good location will try to reduce these aspects as much as possible and not make them worse.
Sun Exposure
A strong sun beating down on work counters can cause enormous heat as well as tired staff. Provide your cooking area with some protection from the sun using a number of items such as parasols, gazebos, awnings or shade sails.
Wind Direction
Where does the smoke go in normal weather? Place your grill so that the smoke does not go to diners, entries, etc. nor to nearby buildings.
Rain Protection
Keeping your outdoor kitchen restaurant open for business in the rain is as important as protecting your outdoor kitchen products in between use from the elements to ensure that they last longer with the use of such items as covers for appliances and a roof or smart storage for pots and pans.
FAQ
Q1: Where Is the Best Place to Put an Outdoor Kitchen Restaurant?
A: Close to the location of all the necessary utilities, in a spot that is not too busy, and offers protection from strong sunshine, rain, and harsh wind.
Q2: Is the Patio Kitchen Better Near the Building?
A: Yes, usually. This location has easier access to water, power, storage, etc. for the Patio kitchen especially during peak service times when running back and forth to the main building can waste a lot of time for staff.
Q3: What types of outdoor kitchen products require specific consideration for placement?
A: Grills, sinks, refrigerators, storage cabinets, countertops and heaters all require specific consideration for safe and functional use.
Q4. What are the possible designs for a small Outdoor Kitchen Restaurant?
A:A straight-line or L-shaped setup is best. They save space and encourage efficient circulation.
Q5: How Do You Protect the Patio Kitchen From Weather?
A: Use shade, breathable covers, covered roofing, good drainage, and store products properly when not in use.
