Restaurant serving baskets are a staple of the restaurant and fast food industry, and for good reason. These inexpensive, functional baskets can easily handle everything from finger food and deli style sandwiches to café fare and gourmet selections.

Plastic disposable serving baskets are fairly easy to find, especially if you intend to purchase baskets for serving food in large quantities. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors and designs ranging from classic fast food joint to trendy, upscale gourmet.

1. Determine the size, color and quantity needed of commercial plastic food baskets before you buy.

2. Ask to try out some sample food service baskets before you commit to the purchase.

3. Pay attention to the materials that the baskets are made from, especially if you need them to be microwave and dishwasher safe.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find cheap and easy fast food serving baskets

Look around for vendors that sell fast food serving baskets in the shape, size, style and quantity closest to what you are looking for. Some companies offer the basics but focus on materials while other companies specialize in these baskets and focus on offering a wider selection of styles.

I recommend: You can buy serving baskets at Big Tray and ReStockIt.com. Both of these companies focus on giving you a decent deal on the basics, so if you need basic oval baskets or platters, this is a great place to get what you need fast and easy.

Buy standard fare food serving baskets

Restaurant serving baskets are just another form of tableware. There's enough variety in design to help you find just what you need to make your dishes look their best.

I recommend: D & P Enterprises has the basics when it comes to plastic food service baskets, and if you have some time to browse, Instawares offers a thorough selection of serving baskets. Both of these websites are sturdy options for standard baskets.

Try unique food service serving baskets

Food service serving baskets can become a nice accent to the dining experience, and sometimes it takes awhile to find just the right mix that works with your budget and your brand. If none of what you've seen so far is working, try these next two companies for more unique baskets.

I recommend: Central Products, Inc.'s website, centralrestaurant.com, offers off-the-beaten-path-options, including some very cool conical serving baskets as well as hand woven and even silver-plated baskets. Aplasticplate.com has more avant garde disposable serving baskets in unique colors and designs that can help to differentiate your table from the competition.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Vendors who know your brand standard can cut down time if you are part of a franchise or larger company. If you're a small business, however, consider working with a smaller vendor to find food service baskets that offers perks for smaller businesses.