How Much Does It Cost To Build A Restaurant Kitchen?

catering kitchen design

Whether you’re moving to a new restaurant venue or renovating an old restaurant building, you will need to make a cost-effective plan before you get started. It will completely depend on a range of factors when judging and accurately predicting the cost of your new restaurant. For example, if the venue needs building work, this will be an extra cost. Most restaurant kitchens will need the basic equipment fitted, including ovens, hobs and other cooking fundamentals. There are options to design a commercial kitchen with professionals and this will provide the most efficient outcome; it’s worth investing in advice and getting it right the first time. It can be even more expensive if you have to go back and make changes to your restaurant kitchen further down the line.

What costs need to be considered before starting building work?

The cost of building a restaurant kitchen can vary widely depending on several factors, such as the size of the space, the type of equipment and materials used, and the location of the restaurant.
On average, it can cost roughly from £11,000 to £75,000 to build smaller commercial kitchens but for larger kitchens, it can cost anywhere between £190,000 to £400,000, especially if you’re building and kitting out a full-size restaurant kitchen. These costs will include the installation of ventilation systems, plumbing, electric wiring and the purchase and installation of equipment, including ovens, refrigerators, fryers and dishwashers. There are many costs to take into consideration when calculating how much does it cost to build a restaurant kitchen.
We can never be completely certain of the overall cost of your specific restaurant kitchen as it will depend on factors like brands of goods and the size of the goods etc. The numbers are a general estimate and it will all depend on the requirements, such as type of cuisine, number of seats in the restaurant, and the level of automation that can all impact the costs of building a restaurant kitchen.

Are some restaurant kitchens more expensive than others?

When building a restaurant kitchen you will need to ensure you consider the cost of the equipment you will need, as well as the building work. Some restaurant kitchens will already have cooking furniture fitted, whilst others will need to invest.

Consider the type of food you will be serving

Of course, it’s essential to consider the kind of food you will be serving in your restaurant and how often you will be changing the menu. If you’re planning to often change the food served, you should ensure you buy all the right cooking equipment at the beginning before you even hire the chefs. For example, if you’re an oriental restaurant, you might need chopsticks and different cooking utensils compared to a pizzeria, where you need pizza cutters and perhaps wooden serving boards. Sourcing a range of reliable equipment can be difficult and this is why using kitchen consultants can be beneficial.

What exactly will I need to buy for the restaurant kitchen?

The equipment needed for a restaurant kitchen can vary depending on a range of variables but once you have a list of everything in order, it will be more simple to predict the overall cost. Here are some equipment ideas that should be considered when writing your list of equipment for the restaurant kitchen:

Cooking equipment – ovens, stoves, grills, fryers, steamers.
Refrigeration equipment – refrigerators, freezers, walk-in coolers, and ice machines.
Food preparation tools – mixers, slices, food processors, blenders.
Washing equipment – dishwashers, sinks, drying racks.
Serving equipment – plates, glasses, trays, cutlery.
Storage equipment – shelving units, containers, jars or pots.
Sales systems – registers, card readers, tracking software for orders, inventory.
Basic furniture – tables, chairs, booths, bar stools.
Kitchen tools – pots, pans, utensils, knives, food preparation machines.
Safety equipment – fire systems, first aid kits, safety signs.

Other costs might also crop up in the future, so it’s best to be organised for day one and set aside some surplus money when considering how much does it cost to build a restaurant kitchen. Hiring a consultant or advisor for your commercial kitchen design is the best way to get started and keep the building of your restaurant kitchen in order.