Today I learned you can drop into a Restaurant Depot without a membership. I never tried to check one out as none are near us but this one is next door to the Joong Boo Market warehouse that we had just visited. Apparently there are 6 RD's in the Chicagoland area. As an individual non-member shopper, they will give you a one day pass if you want to buy something here but there are some restrictions like no shellfish purchases allowed and such. To be an actual Restaurant Depot member, you need to have an Illinois business license. It's a huge warehouse and most customers are wholesalers or restaurant businesses. Shoppers walk around with large carts because they are typically buying large quantities! So it's all about bulk purchases, and much bigger bulk than say at Costco. Like as displayed at the entrance, you could buy a giant 50 lb bag of potatoes for $12.80! So, the store can be handy if you have the need as well as the storage space for such big bulk purchases. read more

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I have been meaning to come here to check it out. I don't have a restaurant business but they give a public day pass. I thought they would have what I was looking for: rectangular grater - there's a few types; chopping block - the wooden thick block I like was incredibly expensive; cous cous - 3 different kinds but none are organic. In fact there aren't much non-gmo or organic stuff here. I had high expectations I suppose. I also found a large bucket of tahini. read more

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watch out the discount meat. It is bad and spoil. they are not taken back. can not tell when is frozen. they are not taken return. The restaurant depot on 2166 Mannheim Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018 (847) 827-5511 restaurantdepot.com read more

The combination of unprofessional behavior and shady pricing practices makes this place a total headache. Save yourself the frustration and spend your money elsewhere. read more

01/01/21 - Restaurant Depot is like a candy store for cooks & foodies. They stock a tremendous amount of food products at a bulk discount rates for restaurants & businesses. Technically a license is required to shop here but the public is allowed to shop here w/a day pass. I was amazed by the merchandise they had stocked here, everything from meats, chicken, fish and produce to canned and bottled goods in bulk quantity @ wholesale price. Realistically unless you own a restaurant or a huge family the quantities are too much. An example is boneless skinless chicken thighs for $0.72/lb great price right? But they come in a box of 40lbs. Unless you have a restaurant, an empty freezer or maybe split it w/Family and/or friends or you really really love boneless skinless chicken. That's a great price $28.80 for 40lbs of boneless chicken thighs. They have a huge selection of meats. Some of the fish & seafood is also below market value so it pays to know your prices. I just bought boneless chicken thighs for $1.29/lb @ Jerry's Fruit Market which is usually much less then the big box grocery stores. That's 56% of the cost @ Jerry's. The only problem is 40lbs is too much for most families. Next time I come back I will make sure that I have room in my freezer, have a list of what I need & get a day pass. read more

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So my brother told me about this place, really interesting if you have a small army to feed or having a block party . Prices are great they sell for the mass quantities and you can buy a few things individually. They sell whole goats a supply of seafood lobster tanks , fresh shrimps clams . I bought Sunkist crab shelled for 8 bucks a pound . Couldn't taste it because I found out I had COVID . They sell dairy blocks of cheese , milk cream vegetarian milk . They have a pretty decent selection of frozen seafoods and frozen meals. A big array of spices Some Mediterranean fry goods small selection of Asian. Dry goods 100 lb bag varieties of rice. Fry goods fresh pasta in the big freezer . Prices are good not on everything but most things. Check it out if you have a big walk-in or eatery . I want to go back when I can start entertains again . read more

Restaurant Depot - Phil S snack 5 lbs of chocolate - Wholesale Stores Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

By law, restaurants have buy their stock from "approved distributors" to assure public safety. Restaurant Depot is such a distributor AND because it is a wholesale outlet, charges no sales tax (since their customers are restaurants and we DO charge sales tax). Therefore, restaurants have little choice but to use RD at least for some things. However, their semi-monopoly is not reflected in the level of service and consideration for customers you will find there. On the contrary, everyone is extremely nice! And helpful! Anyone you ask (and there is plenty of staff on hand everywhere you go inside) will help you find things and explain things to you. Whoever hires the staff must be good at their job. Some of them have been there for the entire 17 years that I have been a customer. And everyone is as friendly as you could want. Yes, you need a tax ID number to shop there! But, the exclusivity does not result in snobbery or stuffiness. Great people! read more

I went today at restaurant depot on 5836 N. Pulaski in Chicago. The manager there (closing) is very rude and unprofessional how to take care a customer at all. I told him I am going to complaint to the customer service and he told me "you can call anyone " The manager was a Latino guy, shortly. Very Rude. I want to return some can of Coconut cream and Pineapple juice and he told me that the company don't accept any food. The can juice and coconut cream is not a food. I am very disappoint with the company. He need to go to school to learn how to handle with customers. read more

I love the location better than Rosemont or North Avenue where there is less traffic and staff are more friendly. Business License IS required to become a member. read more

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Stay away at all cost. Seems that RD only employs very slow and very rude people at their warehouse. They're always backed up. You can show up 3 hours early and they still won't unload you on time. God forbid you've 2nd drop with their other facility in Chicago you'll be late guaranteed and they won't take regardless. read more

I used to work here, and reading the bad reviews brings back all the stressed I indured working for this specific location. I can tell you one thing that spoke true, this place really does have a High School mentality. They don't really care for the customer's, and as long as they make sales, they'll continue to not care. They also like to keep the bad employees over the good one, and that's because they'll push out anyone that won't say yes to do more work outside of what they were hired. Certain employees would give out free meat if they could get away with it, as well as drinking during the job while using heavy machinery. Seafood get stolen on a daily bases, and it wasn't hard to steal since no one in the cashier area would move items to a new cart like they're supposed too. I could tell you a whole story base on my experience from that place. Just know that the short Hispanic man that calls himself a General Manager will push your buttons, and will be very rude. He was my main reason for leaving. read more

This depot is ghetto I really wish I could go to Lombard often. No customer service. The black manager is always angry. I called yesterday to ask a question, they answered, and forgot they answered talking about ASS and playing with each other. Terrible read more

need a membership to get in this is candyland Disneyland for cooks and restaurat bussines in chicago I come here often because I work in the hospitality business good prices read more

Absolute horrible customer service. Super rude employees. I bought 3 of the same item that were 50% off, but she not only purposefully didn't give me the full discount, but when I refunded my item, she also didn't give me the correct amount of money on purpose to be petty. When I asked her to fix her mistakes, she yelled in my face that she didn't want to help me and that I didn't deserve what she owed me. The cashier's name was Courtney. And this is the third time she's behaved this way with me and many others. I called a supervisor and she said she apologizes for the way I was treated because Courtney was in the wrong and she shouldn't be deciding who gets a certain discount and who doesn't, but she still does it. I still have the receipts for proof. Super unpleasant. read more

David in Seafood. This kid just gets it. I got 10 lbs of lobster, 5 lbs of bigeye tuna, 5 lbs of dry packed scallops and 8 lbs of bluefin tuna. He went way over and above to help with special ordering and a lot on his own time. If you ever need good seafood talk to this guy. Great prices and superior product. Thanks David. You'll be a successful young man. Scott read more

No stars do not get a job here it's a horrible place to work too much mess gossip unprofessional managers high school environment and low pay for too much work. The upper management will throw you under the bus to save their own job. Actually that's how the company is structured. I was there a week and most people don't even last a day before quitting. I saw 3 people quit and one get fired for something that was out of her control simply because management was lacking its a waste of time and the lady in HR with the mouth full of rotten teeth that goes to smoke 30 times a day should be brought up on charges for not representing the company in a professional manner. Let's not forget the Mexican lady who does the training for the front end who's been with the company for 17 years. She should not be training anyone she's the main root of the problem and why no one lasts on the front end. I watched a person leave on lunch and never return so to her behavior. The place is a cesspool of unqualified Messy individuals..... don't waste your time on the paperwork. Trust you won't last. read more

Great place for anything you need for events and of course restaurants. Very friendly staff. And amazing selections!!!

This restaurant depot employee are so rude even the manager called Cindy. It seem there was no training or customer service in this store at. I am a restaurant business owner I spend quite amount of money in this store every week. I called the guy to help me get spinach in the cooler because it was far in the back I couldn't reached it. I identified the employee by his uniform but just walked bypassed me like I was invisible then a lady came along reporting the behavior of the other guy.. oh lord she was defensive of the other guy. Then, this guy came back while I was having conversations with the lady which I finally found out she was a manager of the store, both of this employee were swearing and loud at me. The manager Cindy was totally rude. The situation was never resolved even Cindy manager said I shouldn't come back to this store again. This's not the first time or second..this episode just out of context total out of this world. Bad bad employees. read more

I love coming to this RD vs the one on Division. I second all the Yelpers that have stated that this place is well kept, organized, fantastic layout, and most important above all else: CLEAN! Thank you for all the years of tax-relief and helping small businesses/restaurants like mine run smoothly. read more

Restaurant Depot is great for all the reasons Sam's and Costco used to be great - until the general public figured out why they need them and ruined everything. Small businesses and not for profits quickly saw the food stock they needed (yes, we actually do use gallons of condiments thank you very much) quickly replaced with homeowner friendly goods. Which is fine. It's capitalism and the all mighty dollar indicates what gets put on the shelves. And this is where Restaurant Depot comes in. Everything you could possible want to throw a gathering (or soiree if you will), stock your shelves, or simply shop for your own home without the hourdes of oversized shopping carts huddled around free sample stands because people think Costco is way to feed their oversized kid. I digress. Restaurant Depot only applies to those of us with access. And the elitist attitudes stop right there. Customers come in, grab what they need, and get out. If the lines are long, it's probably Monday or Thursday and you came when all other restaurant owners did to restock their shelves. Come towards closing or late morning, and the store is yours. The prices are great. The quality is great. And the customer service is exactly what it needs to be. It's a great place. Except that you probably can't get access unless you have a friend in the business. So...that's a thing. read more

Place is well stacked with a variety of different products some priced at the lower price ,some not . What bags me is that they sell expired products at discounted price . If they are expired they should be pulled of the shelf and not sold to the public. Just keep your eyes open! read more

I prefer this restaurant depot over others, because its always clean, well organized and stocked. Also the layout is easy and there is enough room between shelves. They don't have as much stuff as division location, but have everything I need, so I appreciate it. read more

Had the best experience here finding everything I needed. Our supplier missed a shipment and we needed a ton of stuff ASAP. The people here helped us get everything and were super friendly! read more

This location is a joke when it comes to customer service. I stood there for 20 minutes waiting for a cashier to recount something with a manager while the person at the next register was running 3 transactions for a family. Instead of them checking me out and going back to counting I had to stand and wait. Learn how to manage your time it's not rocket science. read more

Hmm, not sure that these reviews are actually valid and constructive criticisms. I've been a customer for over year at this branch and this been such a relief, since I used to go to their Division branch. Everyone seems helpful when I need or even don't need help, the lines move, and usually catch a quick and friendly chat with the cashiers, when it's not busy of course. read more

I needed chicken breast, but the box was almost 7 days old, so I asked their staff to give me new one which I saw upper shelf. But he gave me chicken thigh instead. I ended up having extra box of thigh. Their staff is not helpful at all. read more