11 Restaurants That Still Make You Wear A Jacket (Slideshow)
The Four Seasons, New York City
While you won't get kicked out of the The Four Seasons if you show up in your shirtsleeves, management at this legendary restaurant will kindly suggest that you don one of their "loaners" while you dine. And you definitely should: they're stylish, dry-cleaned weekly, and you really don't want to be the only guy in the Pool Room without a jacket on.
'21' Club, New York City
While they did away with the tie requirement in 2009, you're still not getting in without a jacket at this world-renowned speakeasy that became one of the country's most famous restaurants.
Galatoire’s, New Orleans
This beacon of old-world fanciness has been requiring its male customers to wear jackets for well more than 100 years. And while they no longer force men to wear ties and women to wear dresses, if you arrive without a jacket you can take your pick from about 30 available to borrow.
Per Se, New York City
Thomas Keller's Per Se is one of the finest restaurants in the world, and if you have the privilege (and the means) to dine there you're going to need to wear at least a jacket (and you really should wear a tie as well). And for Pete's sake, don't even try to walk in with jeans.
The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif.
Just like at Per Se, you'll need to wear a jacket at Thomas Keller's French Laundry, which has consistently been rated the country's best restaurant. You also won't be allowed in if you decide to show up in jeans, T-shirts, shorts, or sneakers. When it's warm inside the restaurant (it's cooled geo-thermally, which doesn't always work so well), you're allowed to take your jacket off at the table, but check with the waiter first.
Daniel, New York City
At chef Daniel Boulud's New York City flagship, you're going to want to wear the most expensive and fancy clothes in your arsenal. Jackets are required and ties are technically optional, but wear one anyway. The Golden Age of high-end dining is still alive and well inside Daniel.
Spiaggia, Chicago
One of America's finest Italian restaurants, dining at Tony Mantuano's Spiaggia is an experience you're not likely to forget. But you'll only be making a memory of disappointment if you show up with no jacket: they're required.
Bouley, New York City
The dress code at David Bouley's renowned flagship might be "casual celebratory," but the "casual" only implies that no tie is needed; a jacket definitely is.
Alinea, Chicago
Grant Achatz's temple to experimental cuisine might be pushing boundaries of gastronomy, but not of dress codes. If you're planning on dining at Alinea you'll need to dress for the occasion: jackets required for men, and a dress, skirt, or dress pants for women.
La Grenouille, New York City
La Grenouille is one of the few remaining upscale restaurants from the "expense account" era of luxurious New York dining, and not much has changed about this exclusive, flower-bedecked French restaurant, including the fact that jackets are required. If you insist on not wearing a jacket, they'll seat you upstairs, but you'll want to sit downstairs where all the action happens.
Tru, Chicago
Tru is quite possibly the best restaurant in Chicago, and also one of the most formal. If you're enjoying a cocktail in the lounge or eating in one of their private dining rooms jackets aren't strictly required, but in the main dining room you're going to want to dress to the nines.