Restaurant workers work long hours and are on their feet for long periods. Long shifts can give your feet all the feels, from sprinting back and forth between tables and the restaurant POS to standing in the back of the house all day.
It’s a fast-paced industry, so you must invest in the best shoes unless you want your feet to hurt after your shift.
We have written an article to help you find the best shoes for restaurant workers. Your feet will thank you if you invest in these comfortable, slip-resistant, best shoes for restaurant workers.
Take your time to read through. Meanwhile, here’s the table of content for an overview of what to expect in this article.
Table of contents
- What Are Restaurant Work Shoes?
- Benefits of Restaurant Work Shoes
- How to Choose a Restaurant Work Shoe
- What Not to Wear for a Restaurant Job
- 10 Best Shoes for Restaurant Workers | 2023
- #1. Dansko Men’s Professional Clog
- #2. Dansko XP 2.0 Clogs
- #3. Birkenstock Tokyo Super Grips
- #4. Birkenstock Profi-Birki
- #5. Croc Bistro Pro
- #6. Skechers Sure Track Work Shoes for Women
- #7. Skechers Advantage – McAllen Slip Resistant
- #8. Merrell Jungle Moc Pro Work Shoes
- #9. Rockport Apron Toe
- #10. Keen Men’s PTC Oxford
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
- Recommendation
What Are Restaurant Work Shoes?
Restaurant work shoes are a relatively recent addition to the shoe market. Although shoes have been around for thousands of years, restaurant-specific work shoes are newer. The rise of the hospitality business that serves them has given birth to restaurant work shoes.
These shoes are made only for restaurant employees who work in the kitchen, wait tables, or even manage the business. Today, we may find significant brands producing fashionable shoes exclusively for restaurant workers.
Benefits of Restaurant Work Shoes
You ensure that your uniform is good quality and comfy for a great day at work in a restaurant. And, because you’ll be on your feet for most of the day, your shoes are the most crucial aspect of your wardrobe.
Proper restaurant work shoes are not only comfortable, but they also safeguard your health. These shoes have various advantages, including comfort and the prevention of accidents and fall.
The perfect shoes not only complement your look but also provide several other advantages, including:
Provides Comfort
If you work in a restaurant, you know the importance of having the correct shoes because you are on your feet for lengthy periods. These shoes support your arch, relieve pressure on your foot, and protect your feet from blisters.
Prevents Serious Injuries
Workers in the food business are more likely to be injured than in other industries. Slips and falls on slippery and wet kitchen floors are the cause. As a result, investing in top-quality restaurant shoes with a good grip might protect you from potential dangers.
Protects Feet
Essential things, big boxes, and hot liquids can all cause harm to your feet if you don’t wear good restaurant work shoes.
Saves Money In The Long-Term
Correct restaurant footwear saves you a significant amount of money that would otherwise be spent on medical bills because of the accident. Over time, a pair of durable shoes will lower your total cost of ownership.
Though you will have to spend money on a decent quality restaurant shoe, you will save money in the long run because you will replace them less frequently.
How to Choose a Restaurant Work Shoe
If you work in a restaurant, you may be required to wear a uniform; otherwise, you are free to dress however you choose. What about the footwear, though? Choosing your restaurant work shoes isn’t fun, but it’s your most crucial decision.
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The key to staying safe and comfortable is to wear the correct shoes. Here are a few things to think about before deciding.
Comfort Comes First
When buying any type of shoe, especially restaurant work shoes, the most crucial factor to consider is comfort.
A brilliant piece of advice for choosing the most comfortable shoes is to buy them when your feet are at their most swollen. If the boots are comfortable, they will most likely be comfortable every day.
Arch Support
If you work in a restaurant, you know you’ll be on your feet for long periods. Every component of your employment causes you to stand for long periods. As a result, your restaurant work shoes should provide adequate arch support.
Long periods of standing and walking can cause pain and discomfort in your feet, legs, toes, and hips.
These difficulties can lead to heel pain, blisters, alignment troubles, plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, Morton’s neuroma, and other foot ailments if you don’t wear the right shoes.
When working in a restaurant, your feet should be the last thing on your mind.
From the minute you clock into, when you take your shoes off, your restaurant work shoes should give support.
Arch support, deep heel cups, comfortable contouring, and soft cushioning are essential in restaurant work shoes.
When purchasing restaurant work shoes, look for ones that support your foot’s natural arch. This will increase comfort while reducing the risk of ankle sprains and injuries. Look for shoes with a rubber outsole and an anti-compression insole to relieve pressure and impact your feet while walking.
Slip Resistance
Because working in a restaurant is frequently wet or greasy, restaurant work shoes must be slip-resistant to prevent trips and falls. For a secure grip and improved traction, slip-resistant shoes should have a durable rubber outsole with patterned tread.
These shoes will allow you to concentrate on your work without fear of losing your balance or slipping and injuring yourself.
Water and Moisture Resistant
Water and moisture-resistant shoes are also preferable for restaurant work. Drips and spills are common in restaurant kitchens, so search for a slip-resistant shoe with a moisture-resistant upper.
Stand Up To Spills
Whatever restaurant management level you have, something will wind up on the floor. It doesn’t matter if it’s melting ice cubes, slicks of oil, or lemon wedges. So spills and splatters will happen; all you have to do now is to get ready!
Non-slip shoes are required for all restaurant employees, including front-of-house and back-of-house because food service employees are more prone to accidents than others. To avoid slips and pitfalls, buy non-skid shoes straight away if you want to safeguard your body and have a healthy, long career.
Stands Up To Splatters
Hot oil and grease splatter every other minute in restaurant kitchens. Because a restaurant kitchen may be a dangerous environment for both FOH (Front of the house) and BOH (Back of House) dashing in and out, selecting the footwear is critical. Your shoes should be able to withstand splatters.
Many restaurant employees know the dangers of burning or slashing their hands but frequently overlook foot protection. Hot oil, water, or food can burn your legs and feet, so wear shoes that can withstand a bit of impact and a hot spill to avoid a hospital visit or a severe burn.
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Easy To Clean
Restaurant work shoes that are easy to clean are crucial for FOH (front-of-house) employees who interact with customers. Of course, clean shoes are also vital for BOH employees because they exude professionalism.
So, while picking your restaurant work shoes, think about how simple they are to clean. Restaurant employees that are well-dressed and have clean shoes offer the appearance of providing superior overall service.
Do Not Compromise On Grip
The most significant factor to consider when looking for a restaurant job is the shoe material. To assist the shoe in gripping the floor, it should construct the outsole of the restaurant work shoe of soft rubber. The shoe’s tread pattern should interlock to conduct water away from your foot and create a better grip.
Protection Is Key
Walking about with a pair of wet shoes is the most terrible feeling in the world. As a result, it is critical to purchase shoes that provide water resistance but are not waterproof.
Your shoes should have sturdy uppers to protect your feet from injury caused by large items falling on them, besides slipping resistance.
Durability
Your restaurant work shoes should be composed of high-quality, long-lasting materials.
What Not to Wear for a Restaurant Job
Knowing which shoes to avoid is as crucial as finding the right pair of restaurant shoes. Here’s a cheat sheet to help you figure out which shoe styles to avoid.
- Sandals
Vulnerable feet are those that are exposed. Besides putting yourself at risk of harm, most businesses won’t allow it. In several areas, it is against the law to have bare toes in a restaurant kitchen.
- Ballet Flats
Ballet flats, ah, they’re so lovely. So fashionable, so sleek, yet so flat. The primary culprit is a lack of arch support. The toes and tops of your feet are next in line for inadequate protection.
- Boat Shoes
While many boat shoes keep you from slipping on the deck, everything falls apart when you add a slippery floor to the mix. Boat shoes and slick flooring don’t mix. Furthermore, these casual shoes lack arch support and provide plenty of areas for kitchen dirt to enter.
- Heels
The only exception may be people who work at the host stand. Heels won’t get you very far on the dance floor for the rest of the crowd.
Have you ever heard of someone running a half marathon in heels? You haven’t done so for a reason. You’ll end up with painful scrapes, calluses, and back and shoulder problems because of the lack of support.
10 Best Shoes for Restaurant Workers | 2023
#1. Dansko Men’s Professional Clog
The Dansko Professional clog was the catalyst for the restaurant’s Comfort Revolution. A wide reinforced toe box, an ergonomically molded PU midsole, an inner frame for stability and support, a cushioned instep collar, and a protected heel counter that lets the heel glide up and down freely while offering lateral stability are all found inside its classic silhouette.
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#2. Dansko XP 2.0 Clogs
The XP 2.0 Clog has a redesigned, lighter-weight construction, a detachable dual-density PU footbed with Dansko Natural Arch technology for superior support, and a slip-resistant outsole explicitly built for hospitality workers.
#3. Birkenstock Tokyo Super Grips
Birkenstock created the Tokyo Super Grip as a clog for hospitality jobs that need a lot of energy from the user and their feet. Its non-slip Super Grip sole provides the optimal rolling action.
#4. Birkenstock Profi-Birki
Birkenstock created the Profi Birki to provide optimum grip and sure-footedness in any work scenario. It encloses the whole foot and facilitates a natural rolling motion with every stride you take, thanks to its elevated heel portion and expanded front.
#5. Croc Bistro Pro
Croc was never famous for its gastronomic versatility, but that changed with the opening of the Croc Bistro. It’s become a restaurant shoe staple. Choose your culinary inspiration and dish up some comfort in these Bistro Pro Clogs, which now have excellent LiteRideTM foam footbeds.
#6. Skechers Sure Track Work Shoes for Women
The Skechers Work: a comfy Skechers favorite gets serious with the Skechers Work: a pleasant Skechers favorite gets serious with the Skechers Sure Track shoe with a relaxed fit—a slip-on casual slip-resistant work shoe with stitching elements and a Memory Foam footbed made of smooth leather.
#7. Skechers Advantage – McAllen Slip Resistant
The Skechers Work Relaxed Fit: Flex Advantage – McAllen SR shoe mixes relaxed, sporty style and all-day comfort. Slip-on sporty casual comfort slip-resistant work shoe with stitching and overlay accents—Memory Foam insole.
#8. Merrell Jungle Moc Pro Work Shoes
The same out-of-the-box comfort as our original Jungle Moc, but with added protection and comfort for all-day use. Merrell M SelectTM PRO GRIP oil-resistant, slip-resistant rubber, and waterproof full-grain leather uppers provide intelligent protection and grip on the go.
#9. Rockport Apron Toe
The Essential Details Waterproof Apron Toe dress shoe will keep you appearing stylish even if it gets wet. These wonderfully comfy shoes, with a hand-sewn apron toe, will keep you focused on your workday rather than your feet.
#10. Keen Men’s PTC Oxford
This low-profile Keen work shoe has water resistance and wipe-clean convenience for all-day comfort on the job. A soft footbed cushions every stride, and a non-slip bottom helps minimize falls in slick weather.
Conclusion
Restaurant shoes are beneficial for several reasons, the most significant of which is that they safeguard your most valuable possession, your body!
These shoes keep you from slipping on the job, shield you from spills, and, most significantly, allow you to finish a shift without weary legs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best shoes for restaurant workers are slip-resistant, durable, comfortable, and easy to clean. Skechers, Crocs, Dansko, Birkenstock, and Merrell, are popular brands that offer such shoes.
Slip-resistant shoes have special soles that provide better traction on wet or slippery surfaces, reducing the risk of slip and fall accidents.
While not required by law, slip-resistant shoes are strongly recommended for restaurant workers to ensure safety and prevent accidents.
No, not all shoes are suitable for working in a restaurant. For example, shoes with smooth soles or high heels can be slippery and increase the risk of accidents.
When buying shoes for working in a restaurant, look for slip-resistant soles, comfortable cushioning, durable materials, and easy-to-clean surfaces.
Some sneakers are suitable for working in a restaurant if they have slip-resistant soles and are made of durable and easy-to-clean materials.
It is recommended to replace work shoes every six to twelve months, depending on how frequently they are worn and how well they are maintained.
Leather shoes can be suitable for working in a restaurant if they have slip-resistant soles and are easy to clean.
References
- https://bestreviewpros.com – Best Non-Slip Shoes For Restaurant Workers (Men’s & Women’s)
- https://upserve.com – The 12 Best Restaurant Shoes for Servers and Chefs and Where To Buy Them
- https://restaurantaccounting.net – 10 Best Restaurant Shoes for Front & Back of House
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