Hats in restaurants

[steur]

With the exception of waiting for your takeaway order a hat should come off in a restaurant. It is outerwear after all and you wouldn't keep your coat on while dining either. In a good restaurant they will take care of your hat (and coat) and return it to you safely. Why would you want to eat anywhere else?
This "rule" is very easy to remember: if you take your coat off somewhere, you take your hat off as well. If not, both stay on.

 

[dkstott]

With the exception of waiting for your takeaway order a hat should come off in a restaurant. It is outerwear after all and you wouldn't keep your coat on while dining either. In a good restaurant they will take care of your hat (and coat) and return it to you safely. Why would you want to eat anywhere else?
This "rule" is very easy to remember: if you take your coat off somewhere, you take your hat off as well. If not, both stay on.

It's been decades since I've been in restaurant here in the US that had a coat room or people who handled coats or hats.

I'm not even sure if they still exist. If they do exist, I probably can't afford to eat there.

Coats in restaurants in the US are typically hung on the back of your chair or laid alongside of you in a booth.

 

[Zombie_61]

It's been decades since I've been in restaurant here in the US that had a coat room or people who handled coats or hats.

I'm not even sure if they still exist. If they do exist, I probably can't afford to eat there.

Coats in restaurants in the US are typically hung on the back of your chair or laid alongside of you in a booth.

Seconded. At most a restaurant or two here might have a free-standing coat rack somewhere or, even more rare, coat hooks screwed into the partitions between the booths. But a proper coat check? I haven't seen one in the last couple of decades.

 

[Frunobulax]

With the exception of waiting for your takeaway order a hat should come off in a restaurant. It is outerwear after all and you wouldn't keep your coat on while dining either. In a good restaurant they will take care of your hat (and coat) and return it to you safely. Why would you want to eat anywhere else?
This "rule" is very easy to remember: if you take your coat off somewhere, you take your hat off as well. If not, both stay on.

If I were to only patronize the "good" restaurants you refer to, that would reduce my choices in town to two, and I'd be dropping a C-note or two every time I go out. Your view is impractical for the average Joe.

Seconded. At most a restaurant or two here might have a free-standing coat rack somewhere or, even more rare, coat hooks screwed into the partitions between the booths. But a proper coat check? I haven't seen one in the last couple of decades.

I've found that many bartenders will find a place for your hat if you ask them nicely. And you should tip them,of course.

 

[steur]

It's been decades since I've been in restaurant here in the US that had a coat room or people who handled coats or hats.

I'm not even sure if they still exist. If they do exist, I probably can't afford to eat there.

Coats in restaurants in the US are typically hung on the back of your chair or laid alongside of you in a booth.

Seconded. At most a restaurant or two here might have a free-standing coat rack somewhere or, even more rare, coat hooks screwed into the partitions between the booths. But a proper coat check? I haven't seen one in the last couple of decades.

If I were to only patronize the "good" restaurants you refer to, that would reduce my choices in town to two, and I'd be dropping a C-note or two every time I go out. Your view is impractical for the average Joe.



I've found that many bartenders will find a place for your hat if you ask them nicely. And you should tip them,of course.

Well, that's not good news, guys. And kind of surprising to hear actually. Restaurants over here, even the cheaper ones, have at least coatracks for their customers. If you're worried someone takes off with your Stetson 100 you can always ask staff to give it a special place to keep it safe. It's not like there are dozens of others asking the same thing (at least not where I live).

 

[Frunobulax]

Well, that's not good news, guys. And kind of surprising to hear actually. Restaurants over here, even the cheaper ones, have at least coatracks for their customers. If you're worried someone takes off with your Stetson 100 you can always ask staff to give it a special place to keep it safe. It's not like there are dozens of others asking the same thing (at least not where I live).

Still, I usually don't have much of a problem. Extra chairs work out well.

 

[belfastboy]

With the exception of waiting for your takeaway order a hat should come off in a restaurant. It is outerwear after all and you wouldn't keep your coat on while dining either. In a good restaurant they will take care of your hat (and coat) and return it to you safely. Why would you want to eat anywhere else?
This "rule" is very easy to remember: if you take your coat off somewhere, you take your hat off as well. If not, both stay on.

We only eat in casual tavern/brew pub casual restaurants so most (all) of the time the hat stays on. Coat comes off but the hat stays on. I can't remember the last time I was in a restaurant with a coat check.

 

[belfastboy]

If I were to only patronize the "good" restaurants you refer to, that would reduce my choices in town to two, and I'd be dropping a C-note or two every time I go out. Your view is impractical for the average Joe.



I've found that many bartenders will find a place for your hat if you ask them nicely. And you should tip them,of course.

A further consideration: if I am dropping $$$ in 'good' restaurants it would cut into my discretionary funds used to acquire hats. Given a choice.....I choose hats!!! Tonight we go out for Sushi.....we usually get a tatami room to ourselves so the hat comes off as there is lots of room to set it aside. But no one would notice whatever I chose to do with my hat except for the waitress and I suspect she don't care much.

 

[Frunobulax]

A further consideration: if I am dropping $$$ in 'good' restaurants it would cut into my discretionary funds used to acquire hats. Given a choice.....I choose hats!!! Tonight we go out for Sushi.....we usually get a tatami room to ourselves so the hat comes off as there is lots of room to set it aside. But no one would notice whatever I chose to do with my hat except for the waitress and I suspect she don't care much.

Nobody ever gives me grief at the drive-up Root Beer Stande.

 

[Who?]

A further consideration: if I am dropping $$$ in 'good' restaurants it would cut into my discretionary funds used to acquire hats. Given a choice.....I choose hats!!! Tonight we go out for Sushi.....we usually get a tatami room to ourselves so the hat comes off as there is lots of room to set it aside. But no one would notice whatever I chose to do with my hat except for the waitress and I suspect she don't care much.

If you are eating sushi in a place where staff are Japanese, I would hazard a guess that your waitress “cares” but she is much too polite to show it.

Japanese are taught manners and acceptable behavior from birth.

 

[nvilletele]

I don't eat out at many restaurants any more, but when I do I usually am seated outside.

I trust it is acceptable to remain hatted while so seated?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

It’s what constitutes “manners” and “acceptable behavior” that causes the rub. Aside from those that evolved from a safety standpoint, they are contrived and constantly changing. I dare say that few if any of us would be considered well-mannered at Queen Victoria’s Court. These things change over time and they always have. I think there is a tendency for many to look back at earlier times with romance and a longing to recapture the past.

If the restaurant doesn’t provide a safe and secure place to keep/check your hat, and if there isn’t an easy improvised solution (empty chair etc.), then my hats stay on my head. If I know the circumstances, and if it’s convenient, I’ll also try to remember to leave my hat in the car.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

I don’t believe they give points for hat etiquette these days nor demerits.
If they do then....oh well.
I quit keeping score a long time ago and nobody has lost an eye.
B

 

[belfastboy]

If you are eating sushi in a place where staff are Japanese, I would hazard a guess that your waitress “cares” but she is much too polite to show it.

Japanese are taught manners and acceptable behavior from birth.

It is my local and they are used to my unsophisticated hillbilly ways! and they tolerate me because I tip 20%. Just came back and my waitress complimented on my hat.....was she being polite or securing her 20%?

 

[Who?]

It is my local and they are used to my unsophisticated hillbilly ways! and they tolerate me because I tip 20%. Just came back and my waitress complimented on my hat.....was she being polite or securing her 20%?

I haven’t a clue.

We are well known at our usual Asian restaurant because I bring (and use) my personal (Korean) chopsticks. I frequently have sashimi for lunch.

They know to bring my Other Half a fork.

 

[belfastboy]

I haven’t a clue.

We are well known at our usual Asian restaurant because I bring (and use) my personal (Korean) chopsticks. I frequently have sashimi for lunch.

They know to bring my Other Half a fork.

In Vancouver & surrounding area sushi joints are almost equal in number to Starbucks. It is a mix of Japanese, Korean and Chinese ownership. Vancouver proper is over 50% Asian population. The suburb of Richmond runs about 75% Asian. We have the luxury of very good Asian food covering all the bases. In my small town in a radius of 5 miles we have about 12 sushi joints to choose from. Most of them good, a few much better than the average. Without sake the bill usually runs $50 (Canadian funds) plus the $10 tip. A cheap meal in a cuisine I can't replicate at home...easily.

 

[Who?]

In Vancouver & surrounding area sushi joints are almost equal in number to Starbucks. It is a mix of Japanese, Korean and Chinese ownership. Vancouver proper is over 50% Asian population. The suburb of Richmond runs about 75% Asian. We have the luxury of very good Asian food covering all the bases. In my small town in a radius of 5 miles we have about 12 sushi joints to choose from. Most of them good, a few much better than the average. Without sake the bill usually runs $50 (Canadian funds) plus the $10 tip. A cheap meal in a cuisine I can't replicate at home...easily.

I rather envy you that.

 

[jlee562]

Obligatory social constructivist post: as Brent noted, "etiquette" varies. The usual example I throw out is that in the US it traditionally has been considered rude or unkempt to slurp your noodles whereas in east Asia, particularly Japan, it's considered the proper eating technique.

As it pertains to hats, there is no "enforcement" of hat etiquette anymore, at least not in my neck of the woods, YMMV. Nobody will shun, or cast a sideways view if you have your hat on in a restaurant here. Hats are less considered as outerwear and more an accessory to an outfit. I'm not an especially fancy diner, so this is also a reflection of me; but, I have been to a grand total of 1 restaurant here in SF that had a hat room and offered to take my hat. Conversely, I've been out a fairly high end restaurant near the financial district and have seen men in slacks, collared shirts, and a canvas ballcap at the table.

In other words, its not rude if the people around you don't think you're being rude. I'd venture most don't even know there was such a thing as hat etiquette.

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable, but I'd offer that most others probably aren't paying too much attention.

 

[Deeeluxe Definitely]

I would leave my hat on in a restaurant, personally. Manners and etiquette are different, in my view. I abide by the former, but if it's something that shouldn't or can't offend someone, that's strictly performative, I pick and choose what to follow.

Too many articles get lost, plus I am a bit particular when it comes to how the hat is stored, and only handling it with freshly washed and dried hands. Maybe as I wear it more, I'll get more lackadaisical.

 

[jkingrph]

If just my wife and I, there is usually room on a booth seat or at a table an extra chair, so I may place it there. If the booth or table is full, it stays on. Here with my nearly bald head, I want sun protection in the summer and warmth in the winter so it will NOT stay in the car. If no safe place to put it while dining, it simply stays on my portable hat rack, ie my head.