RESTAURANT INSURANCE — OHIO
Restaurant insurance in Ohio.
Coverage for the full house.
Restaurants face more liability exposure than almost any other small business in Ohio. Food-borne illness, slip-and-fall, kitchen fires, liquor liability, and workers injuries — the right policy covers all of it. Myers Insurance Group has been insuring Ohio restaurants since 2008.
WHY RESTAURANT INSURANCE IS DIFFERENT
Restaurants carry more liability exposure than most small businesses.
Ohio restaurants deal with a combination of liability exposures that most businesses never face — food safety liability, customer slip-and-fall in a high-traffic environment, kitchen fire risk, employee injury in a physically demanding workplace, and often liquor liability on top of all of it.
A standard Business Owner Policy (BOP) covers the basics — but restaurants need coverage that goes further. Food contamination coverage, equipment breakdown for commercial kitchen equipment, and business interruption coverage that accounts for the specific revenue profile of a restaurant are all critical additions that many restaurant owners discover they're missing only after a loss.
Myers Insurance Group builds restaurant policies that reflect the actual risk profile of the food service industry — not a generic commercial package that leaves you exposed in the areas that matter most.
The gaps that close Ohio restaurants
No food contamination coverage. A single food-borne illness incident can generate customer claims, health department closure, and reputational damage — all at once. Standard GL policies often limit or exclude food contamination.
No equipment breakdown coverage. When your commercial oven, walk-in cooler, or hood system fails, the repair cost and lost inventory can be enormous. Standard property policies exclude equipment breakdown.
Insufficient business interruption coverage. A kitchen fire that closes you for 6 weeks means 6 weeks of lost revenue, payroll obligations, and ongoing fixed costs. Most restaurant owners are dramatically underinsured on BI.
No liquor liability if you serve alcohol. If your restaurant serves beer, wine, or spirits, you need liquor liability — period. It's not included in GL.
WHAT WE COVER
Restaurant insurance coverage in Ohio.
A complete Ohio restaurant insurance package covers far more than a standard BOP. Here's what food service operations actually need.
General Liability
Covers slip-and-fall, customer injury, and property damage. Restaurants are high-traffic environments — GL is the foundation of any food service policy.
Food Contamination / Product Liability
Covers claims from food-borne illness, allergen exposure, and contaminated product. A single outbreak can generate dozens of claims simultaneously — this coverage is non-negotiable.
Liquor Liability
Required if you serve alcohol. Ohio dram shop laws make you liable for patron behavior after they leave. Covers over-service claims, DUI accidents, and alcohol-related injuries.
Commercial Property
Covers your kitchen equipment, dining room furniture, POS systems, signage, and build-out against fire, theft, and covered perils.
Equipment Breakdown
Covers repair and replacement when commercial kitchen equipment fails — ovens, fryers, refrigeration, hood systems. Standard property policies exclude mechanical breakdown.
Business Interruption
Covers lost revenue, ongoing payroll, and fixed costs when a covered loss forces you to close temporarily. Essential for any restaurant — a few weeks of closure can be financially catastrophic.
Workers Compensation
Required in Ohio for employees. Kitchen injuries — burns, cuts, slips — are among the most common workplace accidents. Workers Comp is non-negotiable for any restaurant with staff.
Commercial Auto
Required if you use vehicles for delivery, catering, or food transport. Personal auto policies exclude business use — one delivery accident without commercial auto is a serious problem.
Commercial Umbrella
Adds excess liability protection above your primary coverages. Food-borne illness outbreaks and serious slip-and-fall injuries can generate claims that exceed standard policy limits.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Restaurant insurance in Ohio — what you need to know.
Does my restaurant need liquor liability if I only serve beer and wine?
Yes. Ohio's dram shop laws apply to all alcohol — beer, wine, and spirits. If you serve any alcohol and a patron causes harm after leaving your restaurant, you can be held liable. Liquor liability coverage is required for any Ohio food service operation that serves alcohol, regardless of what type.
What happens if my walk-in cooler fails and I lose all my inventory?
Standard commercial property policies exclude mechanical and electrical breakdown — meaning equipment failure is not covered. Equipment breakdown coverage is a separate endorsement or policy that specifically covers this scenario, including the spoiled inventory and the cost of repair or replacement. Without it, the full cost comes out of your pocket.
A customer claims they got food poisoning at my restaurant. Am I covered?
This is a food contamination or product liability claim. Standard GL policies may limit or exclude food contamination coverage — it depends on your specific policy form. A properly written restaurant insurance policy includes product liability with specific food contamination coverage. If you're not sure whether your current policy covers this, we can review it.
My restaurant uses delivery drivers — do I need commercial auto?
Yes — absolutely. The moment a driver uses their personal vehicle for business delivery, their personal auto policy excludes coverage for that trip. One accident during a delivery without commercial auto coverage can expose your restaurant to significant uninsured liability. Commercial auto coverage is required for any restaurant that delivers.