When my brother was opening his restaurant, he wanted a Wolf brand stove and oven. Our salesman talked him down to a similar set that is generally used in schools and prisons that cost about half of what Wolf did. We got more equipment for the money and similar quality. Hobart mixer? Nope, another institutional brand with the same results.

I've gone back for personal home items like ramekins and Japanese soup spoons, and I've been considering replacing all of my mismatched silverware with a nice restaurant pattern that is similar to and far less expensive than what I'd get online, at Bed Bath & Beyond, or a department store. I could get 12 forks for about $6, but that was a couple years ago; still looking it up at an online restaurant supply store shows under $8.