Restaurant Supply Store Serves Up Big Savings

Almost every good bargain shopper knows the location of good restaurant supply stores. One of the best is in the San Fernando Valley: the Dish Factory, which has a huge supply of china, much of it seconds from two major manufacturers--Buffalo and Oneida.

Most dishes are in plain white, and prices generally are based on the purchase of one dozen. But if you want to know the price for a single piece, just divide the dozen price by 10.

One dozen 10-inch dinner plates run from $27.99 to $44.99; if you’re wondering what kind of deal this is, the list price on the highest-quality restaurant supply dishes is $150 a dozen. The 12-inch under liner plates run $41.99 to $61.99 for a dozen and for the bread and butter plates, figure $9.99 to $14.99 a dozen.

The flaws in most of the “seconds” are almost unnoticeable, like a tiny bubble on the bottom. It’s the factory “thirds” that may have cracks or chips, so you might steer away from these. Pasta bowls, which can double as serving bowls, range from $4.99 to $6.99 each or $44.99 to $69.99 for a dozen.

For Fiestaware fans, there’s a large inventory of seconds in all size plates and serving pieces, and they run about the same as the prices on Oneida.

For wine glasses, most of the products at Dish Factory are from Libbey and are first quality. A box of a dozen stemware wine glasses was $35.57, which is $2.79 each. If you buy a case, which is three dozen, you get 25% off.

Stainless steel flatware is always a good buy here. On dinner forks, for instance, prices for a dozen run from $3.69 to $11.99, available in five patterns. Stainless chafing dishes are $59.99 for a complete set. Model 908 of the Hamilton Beach blender is $89.99 instead of the regular retail of $166.70.

Restaurant supply store shopping is not only for saving money, but also for finding industrial cookware, gadgets and the individual ramekins, rarebit dishes, creamers and other items not available in regular stores.

Dish Factory, 18336 Sherman Way, Reseda; (818) 343-8555. Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Master Card and Visa accepted. Other locations: 310 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles. (213) 687-9500; 333 E. Valley Blvd., Colton, (909) 370-4040.