NAICS UNIVERSITY · Free research for insurance agents
Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets
NAICS 722514 · United States · 2022 edition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments, known as cafeterias, grill buffets, or buffets, primarily engaged in preparing and serving meals for immediate consumption using cafeteria-style or buffet serving equipment, such as steam tables, refrigerated areas, display grills, and self-service nonalcoholic beverage dispensing equipment. Patrons select from food and drink items on display in a continuous cafeteria line or from buffet stations.
Food service can create losses beyond the dining room.
For Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets, review food preparation and alcohol service alongside customer access. Ask about catering, delivery, packaged products and other services; the full mix must be disclosed to the underwriter.
Questions to ask
- Is this a single location or part of a multi-location operation under common ownership?
- Is alcohol served — beer, wine, or spirits — alongside the buffet or cafeteria service?
- What types of proteins are served, and are any raw or undercooked items (oysters, sushi, rare meats) offered?
- Is this a freestanding operation or a cafeteria embedded within a larger facility like a hospital, school, or corporate campus — and if so, who holds the lease and how is liability allocated?
- What is the approximate daily patron count and annual revenue?
- Are there any delivery, catering, or off-site food service operations in addition to on-premises buffet service?
- What is the age and condition of major kitchen equipment, particularly refrigeration and cooking lines?
- Any prior food safety incidents, health department actions, or significant liability or workers' comp claims?
Activities described by this code
Other activities to examine
- Providing food services to patrons who order and are served while seated and pay after eating: 722511 — Full-Service Restaurants
- Providing food services where patrons generally order or select items and pay before eating, other than mobile food services, cafeterias, grill buffets, buffets, and snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars: 722513 — Limited-Service Restaurants;
- Selling a specialty snack (e.g., ice cream, frozen yogurt, cookies, popcorn) or nonalcoholic beverage, except from mobile vehicles, for consumption on or near the premises: 722515 — Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
Census classification reference
For educational purposes only. AI-generated insurance research and automated logic can contain errors. Independently verify classification and coverage decisions.
Compare another operationInsurance operations research — draft
Cafeterias, grill buffets, and buffets prepare and serve food for immediate on-premises consumption using self-service formats — patrons select items from steam tables, refrigerated displays, carving stations, or buffet lines and typically pay before or after serving themselves. Operations generally involve a full commercial kitchen, high daily patron counts, and continuous food replenishment throughout service periods.
Questions to investigate
- Is this a single location or part of a multi-location operation under common ownership?
- Is alcohol served — beer, wine, or spirits — alongside the buffet or cafeteria service?
- What types of proteins are served, and are any raw or undercooked items (oysters, sushi, rare meats) offered?
- Is this a freestanding operation or a cafeteria embedded within a larger facility like a hospital, school, or corporate campus — and if so, who holds the lease and how is liability allocated?
This insurance research was generated in April 2026. It has not received a complete human review. The October 12, 2026 audit checked codes and titles only, not descriptions or coverage assertions.