Throughout the ‘80s, ‘90s and even into the 2000s, restaurateur Greg Vartanian wore a tie to work every day at the Vintage Press. But as guests’ dress became more casual, he noticed his dressing up made people less comfortable. Vartanian had to adapt.
The “Wall Street Journal” recently reported that Michelin-star-rated Le Bernardin in New York did away with its jackets-required policy for good after having relaxed the rule in response to Covid safety guidelines. French Laundry in Northern California, once a bastion of elegance, also relaxed its jacket requirement in the past couple of years.
In the past, if diners didn’t meet a restaurant’s dress code, loaner coats would be available to avoid turning anyone away. But with revamped sanitation standards prompted by Covid-19, the practice came to an abrupt end. Now it’s the dress codes that are being done away with.
The Vintage Press in Visalia never had a dress code, Vartanian said. But guests would still dress up for what is still considered one of the Central Valley’s most upscale restaurants.
