Restaurant & Food-Service Insurance
From the dining room to the walk-in cooler to the bar, we cover the risks that come with feeding people for a living.
Restaurants carry more moving parts than almost any small business — open flame, alcohol, expensive equipment, and a steady flow of guests. The right program bundles the essentials and closes the gaps that trip up owners, especially around alcohol.
What Restaurant Insurance Covers
What’s Not Covered
Every policy has limits. Here’s what to plan for separately — we’ll help you handle each one.
Who Needs Restaurant Insurance
Full-service restaurants
Dine-in operations with a kitchen, staff, and guests on-site.
Bars, breweries & taprooms
Anywhere alcohol is served, liquor liability is essential.
Food trucks & caterers
Mobile and off-site food service has its own coverage needs.
Coverage Options & Add-Ons
Build the policy around your real needs — not a one-size-fits-all package.
Liquor liability
Essential if you serve alcohol — a standard GL policy excludes it.
Equipment breakdown
Covers the walk-in, the oven, and the HVAC when they fail.
Food spoilage
Replaces inventory lost to a covered outage or breakdown.
Assault & battery / hired auto
Add-ons for nightlife and delivery exposures.
Oregon & Washington Considerations
Serving alcohol in Oregon or Washington
Any establishment serving alcohol needs a license from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) or the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) — and here’s the catch most owners miss: your general liability policy specifically excludes alcohol-related claims. If an overserved guest causes harm after leaving, only a separate liquor liability policy responds. If you serve, we make sure that coverage is in place before it’s ever needed.
What Affects Your Cost
Transparency up front — here’s what actually moves your premium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does general liability cover alcohol-related claims?
No — general liability explicitly excludes liquor liability. If you serve alcohol, you need a separate liquor liability policy to be protected against overservice claims.
What if my walk-in cooler fails and I lose inventory?
Equipment breakdown coverage handles the repair and food-spoilage coverage replaces the lost inventory. Both are add-ons we routinely include for restaurants.
Do food trucks need different coverage than a sit-down restaurant?
Yes — a food truck adds vehicle and off-site exposures, so the program looks different. We write both and tailor coverage to how and where you operate.
Is workers’ comp required for my restaurant?
In both Oregon and Washington, having employees generally requires workers’ compensation. Given how injury-prone kitchens are, it’s coverage you want anyway.
Related Coverage
Ready for a free restaurant quote?
A few quick questions and we’ll shop it across our carriers. No obligation, no pressure.