chichi06

For 1-3 star michelin restaurants in France is a jacket and tie really required for men as I have heard? Does it matter that the restaurants are in the countryside and not in Paris? In May? Does it depend on the specific restaurant? If so, does anyone know about Guerard's in Eugenie Les Bains? thanks

nytraveler

It depends on the specific restaurants - and 1* is likely more to somewhat more casual dress than 3*. Suit and tie are probably necessary very few places - but nice slacks and a blazer/sport jacket will be appreciated at many.

(Also - it's not what may be "necessary" but how you may be treated if your dress is too casual.)

Is it really that much trouble to bring a jacket? Why not wear it on the plane - in May you're not likely to need anything warmer than a light sweater or very thin jacket that can be stuffed in a carry-on.

AnthonyGA

Very few places in France have dress codes these days; and I consider those that do to be rather suspect (if they have a dress code, they may be concentrating on theater more than food).

Yes, it IS that much trouble to drag a jacket around. It's bulky, it requires a lot of care, and it serves no useful, functional purpose.

adeben

I have been to several 3* restaurants ion France, more 2*, and a lot of 1*.
I have never worn a jacket or tie to any of them, and no one there, either staff or other customers, seemed to mind. The attitude of, and service from, the staff was generally exemplary, so the advice is: If it doesn't worry you, it sure won't worry them!

bhuty

amen. take the jacket but only for attending church

CotswoldScouser

I used to take a jacket and tie on holiday, hanging in the back of the car for the couple of 3* jaunts we'd planned.

And always felt gauche and overdressed as a result. Since I've begun leaving these silly things at home, I get the same service, and in no way stand out.

What IS important in 3* places (sometimes in 1*) is that you look well-kempt. The uniform doesn't matter: it's not looking scruffy.

I've never worn a jacket and tie to go to Mass, except for Requiems. The thought of a French church with a dress code is truly weird.

bhuty

yes but the comment 'suited' my 'amen" statement

ira

Hi C,

Requirements for attire vary by restaurant.

One is unlikely to be refused admission anymore, but......

Gentlemen wear jackets at dinner.

Gentlemen turn off cell phones at dinner.

Gentlemen don't blow their noses in their napkins.

As far as merely looking kempt is concerned, is it all right to wear bathing attire at dinner, as long as it's designer bathing attire?

Neopolitan

Ira, I agree with you. But thanks for reminding me that at least 90% of all males are not gentlemen these days.
("Gentlemen turn off cell phones at dinner.&quot

Kate

Deary me, men have it so easy. Us poor woman have to fuss over dresses, handbags, jewelry, make-up and hair, and all men have to do is throw on a jacket. And now they won't even do that!

robjame

Kate - Exactly. Ira summed it up. If your lady is dressing up why would a gentleman even question whether to wear a jacket. It comes down to respect. For me it is no bother and the least I can do for the woman I love.

Neopolitan

On the other hand I've always laughed at a couple of the archaic dress codes here in Florida. A very small handful of restaurants will require men in jacket (can't think of any that require tie), but I have yet to see a dress code for women. So in walks an older couple -- the guy in a sportcoat and the woman in a hot pink fleece jogging suit.

BTilke

How sad that one's definition of a gentleman is so glib and shallow. A cheap jacket and tie does not make one a gentleman. And a man without a jacket and tie can be every inch a gentleman.
To answer the question, it's very seldom required. You should be well dressed, though. For example, a pair of well cut Zegna slacks and a Van Laack shirt worn with good leather accessories actually looks far more elegant and tasteful than a poorly fitted suit made from mediocre material. Europeans tend to be pay far more attention to the details of their dress rather than obeying a simple "jacket and tie" rule.
Also, in the countryside, things are far more casual, especially in the summer (and the hotter it gets, the more casual the attire becomes--in the summer of 2003, virtually nobody wore a suit at any restaurant).
Re cell phones. Let's face it. Some people are on call 24/7. Many of my husband's customers are in Russia, Pakistan and Asia. And when they need emergency help, they call. So my husband sets his phone to vibrate when we're in a restaurant. When someone calls him, nobody else knows about it. If it's an urgent call that he has to take, he quietly slips outside and makes the return call as brief as possible. Frankly, it's that attitude towards customers that allows us to eat in 3 star restaurants in the first place! And he is certainly a gentleman.

FWIW, in some of London's top restaurants, the only ones wearing jackets and ties are the out of town tourists.

SuzieC

I'm with Kate on this one... imagine ladies' allure ... with no bras, unshaven body parts (if that is the cultural norm for one's culture...it is for mine, American...), no make-up, dull unkept hair...
But we're supposed to always look as good as we can and men can shlep around...
I carry a jacket - its not all that difficult!
And oh my, a man can look sooooo handsome.

Intrepid1

Some people ALLOW themselves to be "on call 24/7" and I am happy to know that there are people who are considerate enough NOT to disturb others with their totally arcane phone conversations..of which we are "treated" to only HALF of the shouted comments.

BTilke

Intrepid, if you are referring to me, as I said, my husband never lets a phone call disturb other diners in a restaurant (if you can hear someone's phone vibrating in their pocket from another table at a busy restaurant, then you've got some sense of hearing). He returns all calls OUTSIDE the restaurant and does NOT shout. Did you actually read my post all the way through before rushing to your snide remark?

robjame

BT - However, I think Intrepid's comment about ALLOW is a good one. A person leaving a meal to talk to someone else on a phone is saying something about the relative importance of the events. It is somewhat akin to the shopkeeper who stops talking to the customer in mid-sentence to answer the phone.

BTilke

Well, yes, my husband allows some of his top clients to call because they are in vastly different time zones and he accepted that as part of his job. It says NOTHING about his attitude towards me or anyone else. He knows the phone numbers of these customers--it's not at all like your scenario with just anyone calling up. The buck stops with him, it's his sense of responsibility, it's why he's in charge and not one of the others who would say, sorry, I'm enjoying my cheese course and can't be bothered when a customer's equipment crashes and his business comes to a full stop.

Do you think an oncall doctor who interrupts a dinner for an emergency patient is snubbing his companion?

If we wanted to live a predictable 9 to 5 life we could have. But then we wouldn't have had the opportunity to live and work in Europe. I wouldn't be able to catch a train down to Paris for lunch if I get in the mood or we couldn't go off to Germany or the Netherlands for the week-end. It's a trade off we've decided to make. He never lets phone calls interrupt the meals of other diners. So his choice to discreetly and briefly return a phone call outside the premises is absolutely none of their business.

ira

>...A cheap jacket and tie does not make one a gentleman. And a man without a jacket and tie can be every inch a gentleman.<

No one has said that simply wearing a jacket makes one a gentleman, nor has it been said that without same, a person is not a gentleman.

Gentlemen wear jackets when dining out, unless the occasion calls for less formal attire - eg - a pool party.

It doesn't matter how much your torn denims and your ripped Tee shirt cost. They are not appropriate wearr for dinner in public.

So there!

Neopolitan

Here's a good one. A group of us stopped in a local trendy bar/restaurant one night. There were a number of men there in t-shirts, jeans, and even shorts and sandals. One gal in our party was hardly wearing anything -- a sort of halter top and skimpy almost non existent shorts. One of the men in our party was wearing dress slacks, nice shoes, and brand new DKNY black silk shirt with a color and full buttons, but had no sleeves -- an attempt at new "high fashion". He had bought it in New York for $175. The hostess would not let him in. His "attire is inappropriate".

And when the dress code says "Jackets for Men", then a guy is perfectly fine in a 1980's polyester leisure suit with his white patent shoes. But a guy in very fashionable dressy designer shirt, slacks, belt, and shoes is NOT. I agree the idea of coat and tie not only doesn't make a man a gentleman, but it doesn't even make him "well dressed".