One of the many décor subtleties customers notice in a restaurant is their choice of salt and pepper shaker. Often overlooked, these items can do wonders for a restaurant’s ambiance as well as serving their utilitarian purpose. Salt and pepper shakers do more than just provide table side spicing; they also make a statement about your establishment.
There are many types of shakers to choose from that used throughout the restaurant industry. Plastic is the least expensive material used. But, it is also the least elegant of the bunch. Despite its lack of elegance though, these types of salt and pepper shakers have their time and place in many restaurants. Nowadays, plastic has become rare because of how relatively inexpensive glass has gotten for the commercial buyer. Glass also has a much more stylish appeal. It is also very convenient and easier on your wait staff as part of a chrome-plated sugar rack. With glass shakers, you have the option of several different designs which affect its appeal. More cylindrical and plain shakers have a much less graceful look than the more ornate and classical-looking shakers. Porcelain and stainless steel are much more contemporary and chic choices when looking for new shakers. These particular items can really leave an impression on patrons. They are also more expensive. But, like much of your tableware, going cheap can leave a bad taste in the mouth of your customers.
Regardless of whether you operate an expansive catering business or run a small breakfast deli, your choice of salt and pepper shakers is not to be taken lightly. Firstly, you want to make an honest assessment of what kind of operation you are running. You would never want to downplay your business’ level of professionalism and class by choosing sub-par or unattractive salt and pepper shakers. On the flip-side of this, you don’t want to have tableware that isn’t appropriate for the environment. Each restaurant has its own look and feel and the choice of salt and pepper shakers must be right for it. If you run a catering company, you would want to consider the weight and vulnerability of your tableware. It would be a heavy burden to be using delicate salt and pepper shakers considering the speed some catering businesses require. However, if you are catering for a wedding, you would need to find a look that’s more formal. If running an upscale restaurant, a more fitting look would require porcelain (shakers) or stainless steel shakers. Wooden salt and pepper shakers are rarer and could be costly to you but could be fitting for a more homely feel such as a barbecue restaurant.
Lastly, you may want to consider a pepper mill, either brought around or available on table for your customers. It is no question that pepper crushed out of a pepper mill just tastes better than regular pepper from a shaker. As a plus, it creates a unique bond between customer and server as the customer sees effort put into his or her meal by the serving staff. There are many different types of mills to choose from with the wooden variant being the most common. Most of them however, can fit comfortably into any restaurant. Just make sure you don’t choose cheaply because these grinders can take a lot of abuse when a high volume of pepper is crushed. Keep in mind ease of use, design and size as well.
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