The Complete Guide to Branded Apparel for Restaurants

How to outfit your restaurant staff with branded apparel — from embroidered FOH polos to screen printed BOH tees, plus merchandise for taproom sales.

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The Complete Guide to Branded Apparel for Restaurants

Quick Answers

  • FOH staff: Embroidered polos — clean, professional, holds up through daily laundering
  • BOH/bar staff: Screen printed t-shirts — casual, affordable, easy to replace
  • Merchandise: Branded tees, hats, and hoodies to sell to customers
  • Seasonal staffing: Logo on file for fast reorders every season
  • Turnaround: 7–10 business days

Why Branded Staff Apparel Matters in Hospitality

In restaurants, bars, and hotels, your staff IS the brand experience. Matching branded apparel signals professionalism, helps guests identify your team, and reinforces your restaurant's identity at every touchpoint. It is especially important for establishments where multiple locations need to maintain a consistent brand image.


What to Order by Role

Front of House

  • Embroidered polos — the standard for hosts, managers, and upscale dining. Port Authority K500 in your brand color with embroidered logo
  • Button-down shirts — embroidered for fine dining and hotel restaurants

Servers & Bartenders

  • Screen printed t-shirts — branded tees in restaurant colors. Bella+Canvas 3001 for a premium feel, Gildan 5000 for budget orders
  • Branded aprons — embroidered with restaurant logo

Kitchen Staff

  • Chef coats & aprons — embroidered with restaurant name
  • Hats & visors — required for food safety, branded for image

Merchandise for Sale

  • T-shirts & hoodies — your restaurant name and a cool design. Customers buy these if the design is good
  • Trucker hats — the #1 merch seller for breweries, brewpubs, and casual restaurants
  • Laser-engraved pint glasses — for breweries and taprooms

For a full merchandise program, we can set up an online store for your restaurant.


Seasonal Staffing Support

Restaurants hire in waves — summer patio season, holiday events, tourist seasons. We handle the volume and keep your logo on file. New hire gear ships within a week with zero setup required. For larger operations, a company store lets managers order new staff gear without contacting us.


Frequently Asked Questions

What if servers need different sizes frequently?

We keep your design on file. Just tell us sizes and we produce. For high-turnover restaurants, a company store is the easiest solution.

Can branded aprons be embroidered?

Yes. Standard bib aprons and waist aprons both embroider well.

How do I start a merchandise line?

Send us your logo and we will mock it up on t-shirts, hats, and hoodies. We help you pick blanks at the right price point so your merch sells. Start here.


Ready to Get Started?

Start Your Project


Restaurant Apparel Landing Page → · Brewery Merchandise → · Catalogs →

Call (231) 347-6347 — Mon–Fri 8am–4pm.

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