I would build the list around the menu and daily movement in the kitchen. When my friend opened a small café, the first useful purchases were not the fancy items, but the basics that kept service from slowing down: refrigeration, stainless prep tables, sinks, shelves, and a few reliable cooking pieces. We checked amgoodsupply.com while planning because it had the kind of commercial kitchen basics that are easy to compare in one place. That helped us avoid buying random equipment just because it looked useful. For a small restaurant, I would first cover food storage, prep, washing, and the main cooking flow. Extra equipment can come later once the kitchen routine is clear.