open kitchen or closed kitchen

[Andrew563]

Okay what does everyone prefer open or closed. One where the only way you see the dining room and the guests is when the double doors open and you get a quick peek, or when its all wide open for everyone to see. I myself prefer an open kitchen. I love the rapport I get with the guests when they come in and leave. The sparkle in their eye when they have had an awesome experience.

[castironchef]

Open. Of course, one has to watch one's language. A small price . . . .

[tripps11]

Open, But that is only if one has control of their kitchen. If it is crazy with people running around looking like chickens with their heads cut off, you don't want the customers to see that, then again what good chef doesn't have control of his/her kitchen.

[even stephen]

I have always prefered an open kitchen. It promotes uniformity in
kitchen staff dress code. It also promotes a sense of pride and an
added need for self control in respect to line cooks. Probably the
most import thing is the proximity to the dining room. There are virtually
never any heat lamps to speak of on an expo line. The food is that
much closer to the customer. Because of appearances the line cooks
have to produce food in union. Never one dish far ahead of the rest.
The communication with the guests can also be pleasant, to a point.

Then there is the down side. I have had a gas explosion from a fryer
on an expo line. I have also had a police chase ending up with a
Ford F150 in the restaurant dining room. You also will eventually
end up with cooks that stare at customers or you may even get
a new cook one day who picks his nose or ears inadvertently. In
restaurants it is always a mixed bag of nuts!!!

[kuan]

Originally Posted by even stephen

I have also had a police chase ending up with a Ford F150 in the restaurant dining room.

That's a good one.

[Mikeb]

I prefer a closed kitchen. All too many times I've had a dozen or more tickets in my window and then the customers decide that's the perfect time to strike up a conversation with the kitchen. Open kitchens are fun sometimes - on slower nights when customers want to watch you cook you can put on a little show, but I still prefer a closed kitchen.

[gus20]

Well, i think an open and a closed kitchen has good and bad things. Maybe it can sounds silly but im in the beggining.

When i was in open kitchen i had to say "good morning" ,, "thanks for coming",, i had to smile all day (it was an obligation), it wasnt bad,,, but many time customers came and asked me, i want some butter,, i want some napkins,,,(we had to say ask to ur waiter please) , but it was difficult to work with some much people asking u everytime. A good thing was my boss couldnt shout me, im a little sensitive maybe but when someone shouts me i feel angry and very sad for long days, it makes me feel very bad. Well in a closed kitchen i feel more confortable for cooking, nobody is checking if im smiling or not, hehe,, thats it

Gus

[shroomgirl]

Open if I'm the diner....even Waffle House holds an attraction for me, love the way they have a system for each menu item.

Closed if I'm cooking...unless it's the open stage of the market when I work at my speed.....last Christmas I was cooking for a dinner and behind the eight ball, the rental company left out the clamps for the S table skirting and it backed up the event....guests coming through to tour the kitchen during preparations....it was one of my least favorite parties of all time.

[Botanique]

[quote=shroomgirl]Open if I'm the diner....

I agree with you there. If I'm on the eating end, I like to watch. But I think that is possibly a bit selfish of me, because I have been on the other side.

When I was in the kitchen, they were closed, and I liked it that way because I could focus and get things done.

What do I like most about having a view of or access to the kitchen? I can thank the cooks when I leave for working so hard, and wink at them during prep so they know I appreciate them ;-).

[FatChef]

I have the open. Great when none of your cooks speak enough English to be able to offend people!

[LWP]

I like closed. I prefer not having to interrupt what I'm doing while somebody tells me how the Iron Chef made that same dish using platypus liver instead of lamb.

[Andrew563]

I don't know, maybe I just like the ego boost. I absolutely love display/open kitdhens. yeah, you got to watch your language, you have to be neater and cleaner about everything. But, dang, its like a show on the food net work only live! And you are the star! I really think the dining public love it also. They want the flames of the pans, the smoke from the broiler. Seeing all of us moving at 120 miles an hour. Dining is not just about going out to a very formal setting. Its becoming a performing art. And we are the actors. I love it!

[general]

I have worked as a waiter in both (yes, I know, you all hate me now and will ignore my post ) and I prefer the open. There are many benefits to it and I'm sure that you could design things to minimize the drawbacks. First, it is a great show. It doesn't have to be the focus of what you're doing, but it is always nice for the guests to be able to see things going on. Second, it really gives people confidence in what they are eating. If they don't know your establishment, they can take a peek at the kitchen and see how clean and well organized I hope you are. It also creates a culture to the place. People can see/hear what goes on in a real kitchen. It can be a marketing point in that you can use space for a kitchen table or counterspace that would otherwise be dead space in your restaurant.

I don't recall many times anyone on the hot line being bothered for anything. I would suggest keeping the open kitchen away from the flow of traffic around the restaurant. Also, you want to be sure that people can't just walk up onto the line or can bother the chefs so you need to keep it spaced out properly.

[vertigo]

so far ive only ever worked in closed kitchens and while i would like to work in an open one sometime i think it would get old fast. im nervous enough when trying to finish a dish with an overzealous runner glaring at me, let alone a dining room full of customers. i mean it is a great show for the diners but id rather not be part of the focus. not to mention, i cant imagine having to behave myself on the line.

[abefroman]

Closed, ur gonna give out your secret recipe?