Restaurants combine nearly every commercial exposure in one building: hot kitchens and grease, expensive equipment, refrigerated inventory, slippery floors, crowds, delivery drivers, card payments, and often alcohol.
We help owners put together the right mix — often a restaurant-friendly BOP, plus workers’ comp and the specialty coverages your concept needs.
A walk-in cooler compressor fails on a holiday weekend and a seafood restaurant loses its entire inventory. Spoilage and equipment breakdown coverage help replace the food and repair the compressor; business income helps with the lost Saturday.
Where we see it locally
Gulf Coast restaurants see dramatic seasonal swings and storm closures, so business income and wind/flood planning matter. Across all 12 states we serve, we also write liquor liability and help with delivery and online-ordering exposures.
What keeps restaurants & food service owners up at night
Kitchen fires
Grease and equipment fires are among the most common causes of restaurant property losses.
Customer slips and food illness
Wet floors and foodborne illness claims.
Spoilage
A power outage or cooler failure can ruin thousands in inventory overnight.
Employee injuries
Burns, cuts, and slips in the kitchen.
Delivery driving
Employees using personal vehicles for deliveries.
Alcohol service
Liability when an over-served guest causes harm.
A typical restaurants & food service insurance program
Every business is different — this is a starting point we tailor to your operations, contracts, and state.
Business Owners Policy (BOP)
Property, business income, and liability in one package for eligible restaurants.
How it worksCommercial Property
Kitchen equipment, build-outs, and spoilage coverage.
How it worksWorkers’ Compensation
Required in most states once you have employees.
How it worksCommercial Auto
Catering vans and food trucks, plus hired & non-owned auto for delivery.
How it worksLiquor Liability
Required by many liquor licenses and landlords if you serve or sell alcohol.
How it worksCyber Liability
Card payments and online ordering create data exposure.
How it worksHard-to-Place & E&S
Bars, late-night venues, and concepts standard carriers avoid.
How it worksHave this handy for a fast quote
- Concept, seating, hours, and whether you have a fryer or open flame
- Annual food and alcohol sales (alcohol as a % of sales)
- Payroll and number of employees
- Building details if you own, or lease requirements if you rent
- Equipment values and refrigeration
- Delivery or catering operations
Restaurants & Food Service insurance questions
Do restaurants need liquor liability insurance?
If you serve or sell alcohol, liquor liability is strongly recommended and often required by your license or landlord. Standard GL typically excludes it for businesses in the alcohol business. We write liquor liability for restaurants, bars, breweries, and caterers. See our liquor liability guide.
Does my policy cover food spoilage?
Only if spoilage (and often equipment breakdown) coverage is included. Many restaurant BOPs offer it as an option.
Are delivery drivers covered?
If employees deliver in their own cars, hired & non-owned auto liability protects the business. Their own car damage stays on their personal policy, which may also restrict delivery use.
What about food trucks?
Food trucks need commercial auto for the vehicle, plus GL and property coverage for equipment. Some carriers have food-truck specific programs.
Does insurance cover closures for hurricanes?
Business income generally requires direct physical damage from a covered peril. Civil authority coverage may apply in limited situations. Flood damage requires flood insurance.
We cover your assets
Insurance for restaurants & food service, without the runaround
Tell us about your business once. We shop multiple carriers, explain the trade-offs in plain English, and handle certificates, audits, and renewals after you bind.
Educational only — not a policy, quote, or coverage guarantee. Coverage, eligibility, and carrier availability vary by state, class of business, and underwriting. Policy language controls. Talk with a licensed Asshield agent about your situation.