Restaurant Depot - What else besides proteins?

vb4677

Going tomorrow to give it a go... What else, besides the ever so glorious proteins, are worth it at RD? Can you get lump there, for instance?

Photo Egg

Some have lump. What they sell varies store to store.
Some have fresh seafood and local grown produce.
Check out their cheese section.
Cooking and prep stuff.
Basic commercial kitchen knives.
Woks and pans.
Just make a walk around and make a list before you grab a cart and start shopping. That would be my biggest suggestion.

HeavyG

Photo Egg said:

...
Just make a walk around and make a list before you grab a cart and start shopping. That would be my biggest suggestion.

Killjoy.

hoosier_egger

I bought 30lbs of crinkle cut fries for 22 bucks when I was there last month.

And 5 lb blocks of cheese 

Thatgrimguy

I love the 5lb food trays. Sam's only has the 2 and 3lbs which are too small to hold much food.  The 5lbs make it really easy for people to hold with one hand and eat with the other. Much better than paper plates.

Nonstick pans are quality enough to work great and cheap enough that you don't feel the need to hold on to them after they are scratched (by my wife)


Don't get tempted by the 50lb bags of rice and flour... It just ends up being in the way and is a pain. I cook for lots of people (75-250) at least once a month and still it's just annoying and ends up being wasted.

They carry knives you can take somewhere and not be heartbroken if you leave it. They hold a great edge. I'm pretty sure you can get Victornix and Dexter Russel.

CTMike

Bring a winter jacket - their walk-in cooler is very cold.

hoosier_egger

I really wish I would have grabbed a 20lb case of jumbo chicken leg the last time I was there. Freezer room said no, but they were something like 69 cents/lb. 

Acn

Thatgrimguy said:

They carry knives you can take somewhere and not be heartbroken if you leave it. They hold a great edge. I'm pretty sure you can get Victornix and Dexter Russel.

The restaurant store we have also has Mercer knives, which I like much better than the Dexter Russell I had.

We also have several sheet pans that are sturdier than any we’ve gotten elsewhere, and at like $5.50 each are a great deal.

JRWhitee

The bratwurst are excellent, white box with red lettering. 19th hole pub mix is my favorite. The seafood in the refrigerated section usually has good specials, same section look at the cheeses, pecorino romano, asiago, cheddar, pepper jack, etc in blocks or wheels are all great prices. Like CTMike said bring a jacket and stay in the freezer a while lots of good stuff.

nealcr1

Carbon Del Sur Lump is at some for around $11 bag.  Good stuff.  Food gloves as well.

tenpenny_05

Their pre cooked pork shanks are awesome if you can find them

Jstroke

Stanislaus canned tomato product. No joke. I’ve cut it against every brand on the market. Night/day. Especially the whole peeled. 

Cochon_Couyon

They have the 15.4# Royal Oak for $12.00 per in Baton Rouge. I mainly go for meat. Love the cheap farmed fish for smokin'

nolaegghead

Bring your own jacket lest you get koodies or worse from the loaner store-jackets.

vb4677

tenpenny_05 said:

Their pre cooked pork shanks are awesome if you can find them

I did see those - didn't buy any... yet.
I am familiar with them as I've gotten to know the gang at Smoke Brewing Co. in Lee's Summit, and they serve them as "Pig Wings".  Def gonna snag a box for this summer's cooks, for sure.

vb4677

So - quick follow up - ended up getting a couple of sheet pans and racks, and the 'score of the day' was 5# of salt !  I use it in my drip pan, so this should last me a while!
Anxious to have an event where I need a lot of meat - some of that beef looked fantastic and very well priced.
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions!  I can't wait to go back!