Restaurant & Bar Insurance
What Insurance Does a Restaurant Need?
A restaurant typically needs general liability, commercial property covering buildout and kitchen equipment, business income, equipment breakdown, spoilage coverage, and workers’ compensation for staff — plus liquor liability if it sells or serves alcohol, since general liability usually excludes alcohol-related claims. Delivery or catering adds commercial auto. The exact mix depends on your menu, your alcohol share, and whether you own or lease the building. We build the program around your restaurant and shop 6 carriers for it.
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Quick Answer
A restaurant typically needs general liability, commercial property covering buildout and kitchen equipment, business income, equipment breakdown, spoilage coverage, and workers’ compensation for staff — plus liquor liability if it sells or serves alcohol, since general liability usually excludes alcohol-related claims. Delivery or catering adds commercial auto. The exact mix depends on your menu, your alcohol share, and whether you own or lease the building. We build the program around your restaurant and shop 6 carriers for it.
Coverage Types
Core Coverages a Restaurant Usually Needs
| Coverage |
What it protects |
| General liability |
Customer slip-and-fall and injury claims on your premises. |
| Liquor liability |
Alcohol-related claims, which general liability commonly excludes for businesses that serve. |
| Commercial property |
Buildout, kitchen equipment, furniture, POS, and inventory against fire and other covered loss. |
| Business income |
Lost revenue while you’re closed after a covered event — a kitchen fire can mean months. |
| Equipment breakdown |
Walk-in coolers, refrigeration, and HVAC failure — not covered by standard property. |
| Spoilage |
Food inventory lost when refrigeration goes down. |
| Workers’ compensation |
Burns, cuts, slips, and strains — a kitchen is one of the higher-injury workplaces in retail. |
| Commercial auto |
Required once you deliver or cater off-premises using vehicles. |
Key Factors
What Really Drives the Decision
Alcohol changes the program
The moment you serve alcohol you need liquor liability as a separate coverage. This is the single most common gap we find on restaurant policies written by generalist agents.
The kitchen is the fire risk
Grease, fryers, and open flame make kitchen fire the defining property exposure. Your suppression system and its inspection record matter to both eligibility and price.
Downtime is the hidden cost
Rebuilding after a fire takes months. Business income coverage is what keeps rent and payroll paid while you’re closed — and it’s routinely underbought.
Your buildout is worth more than you think
Hoods, walk-ins, line equipment, and finish-out add up fast. Insuring at actual replacement cost is what prevents a shortfall at claim time.
What Coverage to Review
Make Sure These Are in Place
✓
General liability sized to your customer traffic.
✓
Liquor liability if you sell or serve alcohol — confirm it is actually in force.
✓
Property at full replacement cost including tenant improvements.
✓
Business income with enough months to actually rebuild.
✓
Equipment breakdown for refrigeration and HVAC.
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Spoilage for inventory loss.
✓
Workers’ comp for kitchen and service staff.
✓
Commercial auto if you deliver or cater.
✓
Umbrella / excess for catastrophic claims.
Checklist
Have This Ready for a Fast Quote
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Confirm liquor liability is included — not assumed under general liability
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Insure tenant improvements and kitchen equipment at replacement cost
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Set business income to a realistic rebuild timeline
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Add equipment breakdown for walk-ins and HVAC
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Add spoilage coverage for inventory
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Carry workers’ comp for all staff
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Disclose delivery and catering operations
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Keep your hood-and-suppression inspection current
Our Carrier Partners
We Shop All 6. You Get the Best Deal.
Independent means we work for you — not the carriers.
Hartford
Travelers
Lloyd’s of London
Hiscox
Progressive
Guard
Quick Questions
Does general liability cover alcohol-related claims?
Usually not. General liability policies commonly carry a liquor liability exclusion for businesses that sell or serve alcohol, so a separate liquor liability coverage is what responds to those claims.
Is general liability enough on its own?
No. General liability handles customer injury, but it won’t cover alcohol-related claims, your buildout and equipment, lost income during a closure, or a refrigeration failure. A restaurant needs a combined program.
Do I need equipment breakdown if I already have property coverage?
Usually yes. Standard property responds to fire and similar perils, but a compressor or HVAC failure is mechanical breakdown — a separate coverage that also picks up the spoiled inventory behind it.
Do you work with multiple carriers?
Yes. We’re independent and shop Hartford, Travelers, Lloyd’s of London, Hiscox, Progressive, and Guard so you get the best available terms.
How fast can I get a quote?
Often same-day. Submit the form or call (469) 983-2600 and we respond within one business hour.
Get a Restaurant Insurance Quote
Free, no-obligation quote. We respond within one business hour.
✓20+ years commercial insurance experience
✓Independent — we shop 6 top carriers for you
✓Restaurant & Bar Specialists
📞 (469) 983-2600
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