A hospitality veteran shares how smallwares and patio essentials can help broadcast your establishment’s quality and brand.
In restaurants, it’s easy to train your sights on the big stuff: the location, food prep and cooking equipment, the menu, hiring and training staff. The list is endless, especially for a new opening or long-awaited refresh.
What doesn’t always get the attention it deserves? The small details. The glassware to match a themed menu. The flatware that communicates quality without a word. The plates that set a tone the moment a meal hits the table.
As a United Trimen Business Development Specialist who’s spent most of his life in hospitality, Joel himself said that it can feel a little wild that “selling forks” can be heartwarming work. But hearing the stories his clients share about a smooth opening with just the right details in place tells a different story.
Whether they need the works: plates, glassware, cutlery, or are looking to find a table setting that fits their redesign, Joel takes his role in their success seriously.
Here’s Joel’s insight on setting the tone with intentional smallware design.
Flatware
Sharing a story about a restaurant owner who fell in love with their specific line of cutlery, Joel explained that even years later, he’s still raving about “those knives” and how they “make everything.” Flatware is an essential on every opening order, but many may consider the style choice to be pretty insignificant.
Choosing Intentional Flatware:
● A flimsy fork can cheapen a customer’s experience, while a weighty one might feel awkward in hand. Striking the right balance between substance and heft can subtly impact the perception of quality.
● Flatware can help communicate the style and brand of your establishment. You wouldn’t choose a cheap steak knife for an upscale chophouse. Likewise, quality flatware can help elevate an otherwise understated place setting.
Glassware & Drinkware
A carefully chosen glass should match the drinks being served and can even wink at the restaurant’s vibe in its shape and design. Joel discussed some differences between indoor and outdoor drinkware. “For a busy patio, you want to lean toward plastic drinkware for durability.”
He shared an example, “Mistakes happen all the time. Glasses roll off tables or trays. It’s not a big deal, but durable pieces make less of a moment of it.” Joel explained that the aftermath and cost of replacing a broken glass are far different from those of a plastic cup that simply bounced into the bushes and is easily retrieved.
Thoughtful Drinkware Decisions:
● Good glass & drinkware walks a line between aesthetics and practicality, beauty and functionality.
● Whatever the setting, drinkware needs to hold up to the task at hand. Think, elevated glass for indoor use and durable plastic for the patio.
Patio Presentation
Speaking of patio-appropriate drinkware, Joel underscored the value of an appealing patio set up to help draw guests in. He talked about the moment when a couple passes by, hungry, phone in hand, scrolling through nearby restaurants, and thinks. “Oh, that place looks nice. Let’s go there.”
Perks of an Attractive Patio:
● A cohesive patio set acts as a living billboard that broadcasts your restaurant’s vibe
● It serves as extra seating during your busiest season, drawing in parched patrons for a quick drink that turns into a dinner date.
Attractive tables, sturdy, weather-resistant umbrellas, and comfortable seating can act as a siren song to customers looking for an escape from the sun, while still enjoying the weather. The seating arrangement is another important consideration. Whether a patio is a sprawling, dedicated courtyard space or a slim stretch of sidewalk just outside the front door, clear pathways and smart table spacing keep customers comfortable and your staff happy
Plates and Place Settings
Table settings serve as the stage for your main presentation. And a poorly set stage can compromise the most well-crafted performance. Although somewhat unassuming at times, the right plate can help make your dish pop… or flop. For an establishment trying to capture a certain vision, say, a hotel restaurant that’s renovating into a Victorian-style property, little details come together to bring a specific ambiance to life.
The Victorian-style property? That’s a real client that Joel helped to accomplish their vision. Even though he hasn’t seen the dining room in person, Joel felt the excitement of the operator who watched individual products layer together into a Victorian dream.
Plates and Place Settings That Tell a Story:
● The shape, colour, and finish of a plate should be tailored to what’s served on it, yet versatile enough to accommodate an evolving menu.
● Overlapping elements, like dinner plates stacked on perfectly coordinated chargers, add depth and style to a fine dining experience.
The Heart Behind The Hardware
Patio sets, forks, and glasses might seem like just necessities, but putting intention into your selection can be a simple way to bring your restaurant’s concept together. These details are a big part of putting the chef’s vision in front of customers in a tangible way. They’re how a family’s dream restaurant becomes the place people drive an hour to visit.
Joel understands that an operator’s budget might not match a full overhaul. He points out that you don’t have to redo everything at once. Small, bite-size upgrades — better patio chairs, refreshed glassware, replacing tired cutlery — can immediately change how guests feel about your space.
Wanting to change something but not sure where to start? Try looking at your restaurant with fresh eyes. Sit down and take a glass in your hand to see how it feels. Pick up a knife and actually try sawing through a steak. Does it cut smoothly, or does it take a lot of effort? When you walk by the patio, does it look inviting or a little cramped and dingy? Put yourself in the customer’s shoes, and it might help you identify which small changes you can tackle first.
In hospitality, the little things really aren’t so small; they’re the details that make guests say yes
United Trimen’s team of specialists is ready to help you build the right smallwares package for your operation — whether you’re opening your first restaurant or refreshing an existing kitchen.
Contact us at sales@unitedtrimen.com or call 800-461-0000.
