A product conveying and coating system (2) includes at least first and second, sequentially arranged conveyor belts (12,63), with at least the second conveyor belt (63) being a solid belt. Interposed in a gap (151) between the first and second belts (12,63) is a dispenser head (164) of a coating manifold (157). The dispenser head (164) spans the gap (151) between upper surface portions (21,73) of the first and second conveyor belts (12,63), with an elongated side wall outlet portion (173) of the dispenser head (164) being exposed, in a downstream direction of the overall conveyor unit (9), to the upper surface (73) of the second conveyor belt (63). The system (2) provides for dispensing of coating material (180) directly onto the second, solid conveyor belt (63) and enrobing at least bottom and partial side portions (47,50,51) of food products (45) upon the solid belt (63). Provisions are made for scraping from the solid belt (63), removing from the coated food products (298) and recycling excess coating material (180).
