Hat racks at restaurants, bars, etc.

[AcmeNews]

In St. Louis, few restaurants, bars, and other hangouts have proper hat and coats racks. The exception tends to be high-end places, which I like but can afford to hit regularly. Some places have real coat checks, but often no shelf or hook for a hat.

I find this to be quite annoying. I hate the idea of having to share my chair back with a coat and finding an open seat or, forgive me, please, a clean spot on the floor to stow my hat.

I’ve frequently suggested to managers that a rack would be welcomed by many patrons, not just hat wearers. The responses have usually been vacant stares or empty promises.

What are your experiences in your cities?

 

[Haversack]

Here in San Francisco it varies. Some traditional businessmen's places like the Tadich Grill and Sam's Grill have coat and hat hooks in every curtained booth and behind the stools at the bar. (They also get used) Tadich even has hooks under the bar for ladies' purses. At upscale places like La Folie and Bix, the hostess or Maitre will take your hat along with your overcoat and store it well. Several places around Union Square, (tourist and upper-end shopping district) like Max's and Scala have a scattering of coat and hat hooks. However, most places have no facilities for patron's hats. At these, I usually will place it either on an empty seat at the table or on the stretchers of my own chair.

Haversack.

 

[Mojave Jack]

No hat racks whatsoever. It's odd, too, since so many desert residents are hat wearers. Lots of the ubiquitous baseball hats, of course, but a lot of broad-brimmed sun hats, as well. Of course, our best restaurant is Applebee's, which just opened about six months ago, so that gives you an idea of the quality of fare in these parts! lol

 

[Dixon Cannon]

It's true, isnt it!????......

The number of time I've had to stow my hat under my seat because there is no place to hang anything....coat, hat, unbrella!

There is one restaurant chain that I've discovered, both here and in Las Vegas that have hat/coat hooks on their booths (probably intended as a decorator item, really!), and the is McCormick & Schmick.

I tend to look around a restaurant to see what they've got and Mickey Shmik is the only one I've ever seen.

-dixon cannon

 

[Spatterdash]

I see good ol' boys wearing their Resistol cowboy hats while eating in this part of the country. It didn't used to be that way. Your mom made sure you understood proper manners. The common complaint is that eating establishments don't have hooks or coat checks and ya can't put yer cover on the table, it might get sticky. So now you get to watch Tex slurp down a bowl of vegetable soup at the Cracker Barrel while dodging 6 inches of brim with his spoon.

I think it's a chicken/egg paradox. Which disappeared first, hat manners or the hooks?
Oh, and you heroic guardians of America's hope wearing the backward caps? No excuses, take it off and pocket the thing.

 

[Haversack]

A couple of observations:

McCormick & Schmick is originally out of Portland, Oregon. The orignal does have hat and coat hooks intended for use. I guess these have continued over into the chain's decor plan.

I've often wondered if the tradition of cowboys, (and cops),not removing their hats indoors is related to the military's hat etiquette of not removing your cover if under arms. Traditionally, both cowboys and cops are packing so their hats remain on.

Haversack.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Here in L.A., the more traditional (Musso and Frank, Pacific Dining Car, and I think The Pantry) have them as well as some of the pseudo traditional places (Daily Grill), but most don't. I had that exact problem earlier in the week with my favorite panama - met a friend for lunch, didn't want to put my hat on the table or the floor, so I ended up wearing it. THAT, wearing a hat during a meal, was a no-no to my great-grandmother but what choice was there.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I see good ol' boys wearing their Resistol cowboy hats while eating in this part of the country.

And what part might that be, if you don't mind us asking. Your profile doesn't say.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

What amuses me is when a retro-styled diner, like the "Mel's Diner" in Sherman Oaks where I ate dinner last night, doesn't have any hat racks.

They have vintage pictures with people wearing hats all over the place, including one of a Plymouth that looks just like WildRoot's car, but no hat racks.

 

[Twitch]

Hey Acme! I lived on the south side and went to Cleveland High. Howdy!

I just find myself moving my hat around from chair or booth seat to table top depending on the size of the table and the number of people involved. One thing your comment made me realize is that her in So. Cal. there is no accomadation for any outer wear for customers due to mild climate I guess but it does leave one pondering the eastern climes where it would be damned uncomfortable to sit bundled up in your coats, hat, mittens and such while attempting to enjoy a meal. What do you people do?

 

[newspapercowboy]

yup to racks

Ate a $300 meal(for two) in a restaurant last week..table for two...my hat rested on the floor..only place for it...coat check closed because "it's warm out so no one is wearing a coat.":rage:

 

[skillbilly]

There is a place in San Francisco, called the Elite Cafe, where my sweetie and I used to go for brunch quite often. All of the seats at the bar still have clips on the back to hold ones hat while eating. I thought that was the coolest thing! I wish more places still had those.

 

[jamespowers]

There is a place in San Francisco, called the Elite Cafe, where my sweetie and I used to go for brunch quite often. All of the seats at the bar still have clips on the back to hold ones hat while eating. I thought that was the coolest thing! I wish more places still had those.

Churches used to have those as well. They work quite well. They have rubber grommets on the ends of the clips so they do not leave a deep mark. I think I know where I might find a few---just have to remember the screwdriver.

Regards,

J

 

[Pilgrim]

I also have trouble finding hat racks. Every now and then I get lucky and beneath the seat, the chairs have a center web of wood that makes a very nice hat-parking surface.

Maybe one of us should figure out a snap-together hat rack that we could carry in a pocket when going out to dinner, and snap it together in the restaurant like the Nazi in "Raiders" did with the coat hanger for his trench coat.