-Michael
A Look at the History of Wait Staff and Restaurant Uniforms
Restaurant uniforms have been around as long as restaurants themselves. Just think about it – whether you’re at a white-tablecloth steakhouse or grabbing burgers at a local joint, the servers always have a look. Sometimes it’s formal, sometimes it’s casual, but there’s always a uniform.
It wasn’t always this way, though. Restaurant service started pretty simple – white aprons, basic shirts, nothing fancy. However, as dining out became increasingly popular and restaurants began competing for customers, uniforms became an integral part of the brand.
Now you’ve got everything from vintage diner outfits to sleek modern looks that match the restaurant’s vibe.
What hasn’t changed? The need to keep those uniforms clean and looking good. Nobody wants to be served by someone in a wrinkled, stained shirt. That’s been true for decades, and it’s still true today.
At Coast Linen Services, we handle that part of the business. Restaurants have enough to worry about without adding laundry to the list. We ensure the uniforms arrive clean, pressed, and ready to go, so staff can focus on taking care of customers.
Early Wait Staff and the Rise of Uniforms
In early restaurants, waitstaff often wore formal attire, typically black and white. Men wore suits or jackets with crisp, white shirts, and women typically wore long skirts accompanied by aprons. Uniforms signaled professionalism and helped customers recognize who worked at the establishment.
As the restaurant industry grew in the 20th century, uniforms became more functional. They needed to handle long shifts, spills, and heavy movement. Aprons protected clothing and allowed staff to carry pens, order pads, and towels. Clean presentation became a standard, and restaurant owners began looking for ways to manage uniforms more efficiently.
Restaurant Uniforms in the Modern Era
Today’s wait staff uniforms reflect a restaurant’s brand, atmosphere, and service style. Some fine dining establishments still prefer classic black-and-white uniforms, while modern bistros and themed restaurants experiment with color, fabric, and even logos.
No matter the style, every restaurant needs uniforms that look clean and professional. Coast Linen Services works directly with restaurants to make sure their staff uniforms meet those expectations. Whether a business needs regular deliveries of aprons, chef coats, or custom setups for front-of-house staff, Coast provides dependable service that keeps the team looking sharp.
How Coast Linen Services Supports the Restaurant Industry
Coast Linen Services has supported restaurants since the beginning. The company was founded shortly after World War II, when the Santonello family began washing and folding linens out of a garage in Hoboken, New Jersey. They delivered uniforms, aprons, towels, and table linens by hand to local restaurants, bars, and other small businesses.
As demand grew, they opened a full-service laundry facility in Newark and began serving a wider range of customers across various industries. By staying focused on customer relationships and quality service, Coast Linen became the largest linen supply company in New Jersey.
That same commitment continues to drive the company today. Coast remains family-owned and operates with over 70 years of experience behind it. With a facility in Neptune and over 40 delivery routes across South Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York City, Coast continues to serve restaurants with dependable linen and uniform services built around their individual needs.
The Real Cost of DIY Restaurant Uniform Management
Handling uniform laundry in-house takes time and energy away from your core operations. You spend valuable hours pretreating stained aprons, replacing items damaged in the wash, and keeping track of which uniform belongs to which staff member.
The costs build up quickly. Your team sorts, washes, and manages uniforms, rather than focusing on service. Your machines take extra wear, and you constantly replace uniforms that cannot handle frequent commercial use. These tasks drain productivity and add to your expenses.
Coast Linen Services handles all of that. Fresh uniforms show up when you need them, dirty ones disappear, and everything comes back clean and ready to wear. Your staff gets consistent, professional-looking uniforms without anyone having to think about it. No more running out of clean aprons during the dinner rush or dealing with uniforms that look tired after a few months of home washing.
Keep Your Staff Looking Their Best with Coast Linen Services
Uniforms say a lot about your restaurant. They show your commitment to cleanliness, professionalism, and pride in your team. Coast Linen Services keeps that message clear with flexible, reliable restaurant uniform programs backed by over 70 years of experience.
Ready to improve how your restaurant handles uniforms? Contact Coast Linen Services at (732) 775-2000 to request a complimentary quote and discover how their family-owned team can help your staff look and feel their best.
