The chef table is the heart of the kitchen. The easier the flow from kitchen to server, the healthier your foodservice operation will be. As the final touchpoint of plates before they are served, a well-planned chef table layout allows kitchen staff to save valuable minutes on ticket times.
Here are some important questions to ask when researching a chef table for your kitchen:
Are my options only off-the-shelf or custom?
In short: no. This is not a this-or-that situation. There are options available that are almost a hybrid between custom and standardized.
For example, the Randell RanChef Intro allows you to create your own “fabricated” chef table without the complexity and cost of customizing from the ground up. The RanChef Intro offers the durability and pleasing aesthetics of a fabricated chef table combined with the convenience of a pre-wired, easy-to-clean frame – all while utilizing your new or existing prep and hot food tables.
A simplified offering of functional counters, the RanChef Intro leverages a vast selection of independent prep tables and hot food holding equipment with drag and drop functionality.
How can I find a chef table that fits my floorplan?
Seemingly every kitchen floorplan is unique. That’s why physical footprint flexibility – the ability to adapt to any kind of space – is critical with chef tables.
The RanChef Intro includes 36 standard modules comprised of the following features – all preassembled at the factory:
- Server-side plate storage
- Double over-shelving
- Integrated chaseways
- Chef-side divider walls
- Pre-wired electrical receptacles
Equipment divider walls are available in 2- or 3-section modules with 9 pre-configured length options, allowing configurations ranging from 7 feet to 24.5 feet.
Considering all of the options, the RanChef Intro has 1,620 different combinations. Whatever your floorplan, there’s achef table for you.
How adaptable is the chef table for in-field additions?
It’s important to find a chef table that doesn’t lock you into a situation the second it’s installed.
For example, an optional breaker panel with the RanChef Intro offers enough capacity to accommodate almost any field addition to the counter.
Is the chef table practical and built to last?
No matter how great a chef table is at first, it’s not worth it if it needs to be replaced early and often.
Heavy-duty construction and high-grade materials help maximize life expectancy of the RanChef Intro to get you more for your investment. The counters are also pre-assembled at the factory, ensuring proper fit and easy reassembly in the field.
With a RanChef Intro, you can roll your equipment in and out for:
- Servicing
- Cleaning
- Operation flow
- Menu changes
No uninstalling over-shelves, worrying about field welding, finding a place for wiring or not being able to clean your equipment properly.
Does the manufacturer have a history in refrigeration?
Typical custom fabricated chef lines are built to spec, but may not have the same background in refrigeration that Randell does. Though any equipment can be rolled into the RanChef Intro frames, bundling with Randell equipment offers unparalleled performance and reliability.
With almost half a century of refrigeration experience, Randell builds prep tables that have been perfected with time and usage, and have been modified and tweaked for superior temperature holding while offering all the right features, configurations, options and accessories – pre-configured for easy selecting.
To learn more about the RanChef Intro or request a quote, contact Randell Product Manager Dave Rademacher at drademacher@unifiedbrands.net or visit the product page at unifiedbrands.net/products/chef-tables/.
