Let's first open with the fact that a survey carried out in the USA found that in 2005, people attending restaurants with white tablecloths has increased by over 40% compared to last year. AND! To drive the point home, these same diners are spending more on their meals when dining out than they did a year ago. Thus it's pretty clear that in the restaurant industry, good quality tablecloths make a difference in the customers' eyes (new and existing) which helps take care of the restaurant business and ultimately the bottom line.
So, the question is… what makes a good tablecloth? Well let's start with what we want from a tablecloth. Ultimately we would like the tablecloth to be and look clean, crisp yet soft and luxurious to the touch. However, it must not only look and feel good, we would also like the tablecloth to be highly practical which means that it protects the table surface from scratches and any other kind of damage, it absorbs all the sauces and drips that come from a juicy feast. Therefore, a couple of considerations need to be made…
Tablecloth materials are vitally important as they affect the way the tablecloths hang over the table, the way they feel to the touch, the way the light bounces off the cloth surface, etc. There are various materials such as polyester, cotton, PVC and paper, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages depending on what the occasion calls for. If you are a café that serves greasy breakfasts and fast foods then PVC, polyester and other cheaper materials are probably more appropriate, however, any restaurant that is serious would only consider Irish Linen.
From a restaurant point of view, Irish Damask Linen is the clear winner in this area without doubt. I acknowledge that it takes more effort and costs more in terms of the tablecloths themselves and the laundry costs, but in terms of the returns money wise and in what customers expect, Irish Damask Linen will not be beaten. Irish Linen is crisp, soft, elegant and will go with any restaurant no matter what cuisine is being served. Irish Linen also rests nicely on the tables, in fact I would recommend that you invest first in Irish Linen before table furniture, as the tablecloths would conceal any unsightly furniture that you may have in your dining establishment.
In terms of colours, white is usually the way forward especially for a restaurant geared towards formal occasions. It is a safe bet and proves to the customer that you have a clean kitchen with nothing to hide. White is also the colour that exudes elegance, and class. If white is not a possibility and you would like to dare to be different, then you could always have a base tablecloth underneath with a different colour. The size of the tablecloth will obviously depend on the dining table size, so be sure to ask you supplier by providing table sizes before hand for recommended sizes.
In the end, not all restaurants need Irish Damask Linen tablecloths, as excellent furniture is often a great style expression of the restaurant and cuisine served. However, if you are going to use tablecloths in a restaurant then consider the advice given, use Irish Linen, and don't take any shortcuts, it's your restaurant!
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Article by Amarn Macbeth,
http://www.1st-4-restaurant-furniture.com
Amarn Macbeth has been in the restaurant industry for over a decade starting from humble beginnings as a waiter to maitre D' to owner, and knows enough to help restaurant owners on their choice of linen tablecloths. Amarn lives and breathes restaurants to the point of spending most of his free time visiting many excellent restaurants in London and New York. Amarn recognises that while cuisine is part of package, many other factors such as restaurant furniture are critical to the making of a successful restaurant which is ultimately defined by the customer experience.
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