Best Work Attire - Restaurant Uniform Ideas

Uniform Vest image courtesy of amazon.com

Since your restaurant staff will be those employees that first greet and take care of your customers, it's a great and important idea to make sure they are wearing the best work attire so today we share these restaurant uniform ideas to show off your staff. If you're just getting started opening a restaurant, you'll want
to take some time to determine the best look that you want so your customers will recognize who's who in your business and will also realize that you're serious about business. You've probably been to a restaurant and have seen the staff in baseball caps or tee shirts and jeans - that's not the professional image you probably want to project. Oftentimes, restaurant staff tends to be a younger crowd and they not only need your help in determining a standard uniform for your company but, they'll appreciate it too when they know what to wear and what you expect.

From smart uniforms for hosts and hostesses to waitress outfits and chef coats and pants to uniforms for the bus person and food runner, there are some key pieces that each staff person should be wearing and it's not that hard to get everyone on board.

When your staff wears business attire, customers appreciate knowing you're serious about your business as well as it's much easier for customers to find a staff member when they need help. We'll help you find the right uniforms for your staff and it won't break the bank.

We've always, always chosen a uniform that is easy for our staff to find with a couple key pieces that we buy and allow them to use and return when they leave our employment - we'll help you decide what works best for your restaurant with these ideas.

One of the best ways to find your own style for your restaurant is to allow your staff to wear classic black or navy slacks or skirts and white shirts OR khaki slacks and white or black shirts. That way, everyone looks the part and buys their own clothing and you simply add the classic uniform pieces that help everyone be in uniform and have the pieces they need as tools of the trade. These are our favorites:

Uniform Vests are one of the smartest and easiest ways to outfit your wait staff. Check out our favorite work vest in twenty awesome colors to coordinate your look. It's stain resistant, heavy duty material of a cotton/polyester blend and easy to wash and keep clean.  A uniform vest helps to unite your entire staff and everyone in the front of the house looks more professional and well groomed. Get them for your bartenders, waiters, waitresses, hosts, bussers and food runners. Even the coat check person should be in uniform.
     * Buy one for each staff member and make them sign a receipt of uniform. When they leave your employment, they must return the uniform. You'll be able to launder it and then pass it on to the next employee. 
     * Uniforms are a tax deduction for your business so an added benefit to making sure your staff is wearing it.

Waitress Outfits can easily be distinguished from the other staff when they wear the classic waiter or waitress apron. We chose that short three pocket apron since it can hold the order book, pens, cash tips and money for a change bank or even extra tea bags or sugars for customers. We also love that it's unisex for all the guys or gals, it's short so won't interfere with bending, it's safer than longer aprons and it's available in a range of colors. Choose classic black uniform apron or why not add a pop of color to the uniform that will help you and your business stand out from the others. You'll appreciate the great price on this waitress apron too and can make your staff sign that they received it and will return on their leaving your company. Make sure to always have some extra work aprons on hand if someone forgets theirs or if they start to wear out (which happens to your long standing staff members - they get used daily).

Classic Chef Coats that offer a professional appearance for your back of house staff in white, long sleeve for safety, arm and chest pockets, cloth buttons and a stain resistant cotton/polyester fabric. Others love this uniform and it's one I've worn myself in black or white.
     I insist in my business that all the cooks and chefs wear a uniform not only for safety but, for the professional attire. Our chefs often go out into the dining rooms to say hello to customers and thank them for their business as well as to make sure everything was as expected so we want them to look their best.
No tee shirts allowed in my opinion. There's too much potential for burns and accidents when a uniform isn't worn. Long sleeves protect the arms when the chef is working over the stove or grill and I usually roll the sleeves once or twice.
     I always have a stock of chef coats for new hires if needed and they can buy them from me with payroll deduction. You may want to do the same especially if you want everyone to wear the same chef coat and not all the crazy colors or styles available. Those are fine during prepping but, for service hours I always want my chefs to be in the same uniform. They can wear their own black chef pants or the checked chef pants if they like.

My favorite Chef Hat is the Skull Beanie. It not only helps to keep hair under and controlled for the Health Department's requirement but, is also super comfortable and not too bulky. I really like the elastic back so it fits almost everyone, has a cool vent polyester fabric and an internal sweatband. Get it in black and white for your kitchen staff members.

Non Skid Shoes - you'll want to recommend that all of your staff members are wearing their best non skid and non slip shoes in your restaurant while working. Kitchens, server areas, the bar and bathrooms tend to be areas where water and spills can happen and you won't want your staff falling and getting hurt on the job. Make sure too that they're closed toe shoes so no sandals or flip flop type shoes are ever allowed.

Restaurant Hair Nets are a must for your employees with long hair or anyone not wearing a chef skull cap. Hair in food can be one of the worst customer complaints you can have and you must provide hair nets for staff so you can avoid this common problem.

Now you can see that you can provide the finishing touch to your restaurant staff uniform so that everyone not only looks clean and professional but, it's much easier for your customers to know a staff member when they see them. Good luck getting your own uniform and let us know in the comments below what you choose. Check out more of our ideas on Staffing a Restaurant here.
Cheers until next time!