Shady Gators serves up favorites at their lakeside location in Lake of the Ozarks
In the fast-paced restaurant environment of Shady Gators and Lazy Gators in Lake Ozark, Missouri, JG and his team face a unique challenge: delivering a wide range of consistent, high-quality dishes while minimizing mistakes. When JG discovered XLT Ovens, a game-changer emerged. In a recent discussion, JG shared the journey that led him to the XLT conveyor pizza oven, shedding light on why it’s now their oven of choice.
The XLT Advantage: Consistent Quality Without the Guesswork
Shady Gators initially faced issues with traditional ovens that require careful monitoring—something difficult to manage during peak times. JG highlights that “consistency” was the primary reason they switched to the XLT conveyor oven. Traditional deck ovens might produce authentic flavors, but they come with a risk of human error: pizzas left unattended can easily burn, leading to waste and lost time. With the conveyorized impingement oven from XLT, every pizza is cooked evenly, creating a reliable and efficient process that produces the same results every time. As JG notes, this feature allows Shady Gators to avoid “backups and burnt pizzas.”
Expanding the Menu with Confidence
While pizzas are central to their menu, Shady Gators has expanded its offerings thanks to the versatility of XLT ovens. This conveyorized impingement oven isn’t limited to pizzas alone—it’s perfect for sandwiches, wings, pasta, and even appetizers like spinach artichoke dip and mac and cheese bites. With XLT’s oven, JG and his team confidently add new items to the menu, knowing they’ll come out just right. According to JG, this ability to expand their offerings without sacrificing quality has been crucial to the restaurant’s growth.
Reliability and Durability: Built to Last
In over four years of use, Shady Gators has only had to call XLT once for a minor adjustment. JG emphasizes that XLT ovens are low-maintenance, describing them as the “best piece of machinery” he’s ever owned. Unlike other equipment prone to frequent repairs, XLT’s conveyor ovens have proven highly reliable, requiring minimal upkeep and delivering consistent results every day.
Enhancing Creativity in the Kitchen
One of the unexpected advantages of the XLT impingement oven has been the creativity it has inspired in the kitchen. Troy, one of the chefs at Shady Gators, experiments with new recipes using the oven, from unique pizzas to fun appetizers. JG describes Troy as a “mad scientist,” always looking for new ways to leverage the capabilities of their XLT oven to wow customers.
Why XLT Conveyor Ovens Stand Out for Restaurant Owners
For restaurant owners seeking a dependable, consistent, and flexible oven, XLT conveyor ovens are an ideal choice. With XLT, Shady Gators can manage a high-volume kitchen efficiently, delivering consistent results across their menu. As JG puts it, he would “recommend them [XLT ovens] to anybody” for their quality, reliability, and ability to support a diverse menu.
Conclusion
For restaurants like Shady Gators, where consistency, quality, and speed are paramount, XLT ovens are the ultimate solution. Whether for conveyor pizza ovens or expanding menu items with confidence, XLT has proven itself an invaluable asset in Shady Gators’ kitchen. By using an XLT oven, JG and his team have the freedom to create, expand, and serve with confidence, knowing every dish will meet their high standards.
