Restaurant Chairs
Choosing the right restaurant seating options can keep customers coming back
By Frances Sharpe, freelance writer/editor
To make diners feel comfortable in your restaurant, you’ll need more than friendly servers – you’ll need good restaurant chairs. Choosing quality, comfortable chairs and tables for restaurants can give your dining establishment an edge over competitors. Restaurant chairs also play an important role in your décor and in defining your brand identity. For instance, a steakhouse may want to invest in dark mahogany wood chairs, a ’50s diner can create a fun atmosphere with brightly colored restaurant booths, and a sophisticated bistro can distinguish itself with romantic soft fabrics.
When choosing restaurant chairs:
1. Determine the ambience you’re trying to create: casual, elegant, modern, etc.
2. Consider folding or stackable restaurant chairs if you frequently reconfigure seating arrangements.
3. Be sure to accurately measure the space available before ordering.
4. Consider the climate for outdoor seating.
5. Keep your budget in mind. Restaurant chairs aren’t cheap – around $30 each at the low end and upwards of $200 each at the other end of the spectrum.
Choose a style for your restaurant chairs
There are hundreds of styles at every price point, including armed and armless restaurant chairs with high backs, contoured backs, padded seats, swivels, upholstered fabrics and colonial flourishes.
Try:
A good place to start is FoodServiceCentral.com, which offers links to suppliers of every type of restaurant chair. Browse the nearly 5,000 chairs offered at Instawares.com to get an idea of what’s available. If your tastes run towards modern, try Beaufurn.com, which offers one of the best selections of contemporary seating styles. Find a directory of restaurant chair suppliers at Business.com.
Wood restaurant chairs
One of the most popular restaurant seating options is wood. Wood chairs can have clean, simple lines or ornate flourishes, and finishes can be light or dark in a variety of colors.
Try:
If you’re looking for wood chairs, Wood Seating Inc., which offers quality products at wholesale prices, is one of the first places to shop.
Upholstered restaurant chairs
Fabrics can add a splash of color and a sense of elegance. Vinyl upholstery, meanwhile, makes for easy clean-up. And the padding that comes along with upholstered restaurant seating can increase comfort, thereby enhancing your customers’ dining experience.
Try:
SaratogaFurniture.com, which specializes in wood chairs, offers dozens of fabrics for upholstering. You can request samples of the fabrics, which are treated with Scotchguard or Teflon for stain resistance.
Metal and aluminum restaurant chairs
For a look that’s sleek and modern, metal or aluminum chairs may be the way to go.
Try:
BizChair.com offers hundreds of styles of metal chairs, along with other styles.
Barstools
If your restaurant also boasts a bar, your restaurant seating will need to include barstools.
Try:
BarStools & BarStools has one of the widest selections of bar stools available. For more bar stool suppliers, visit Business.com.
Outdoor restaurant seating options
For patio dining, choose restaurant chairs designed specifically for the outdoors. Most outdoor restaurant chairs are designed to withstand the elements, but if you operate in an area with extreme weather, consider recycled plastic or wrought iron seating options.
Try:
FoodServiceDirect.com boasts a good selection of outdoor arm chairs, armless chairs, barstools and benches. Compamia.com also has dozens of outdoor patio dining chairs. For more patio furniture providers, visit Business.com
Restaurant booths
Restaurant booths are often more popular with diners than traditional chairs and tables for restaurants. Restaurant booths are available as single booths and double booths and come in a variety of lengths and heights. Generally pricier than chairs, some restaurant booths can cost upwards of $1,000. To offset the cost, consider buying a used restaurant booth.
Try:
For 50s style booths, check out Acemart.com. For additional booth styles, Instawares.com has a good selection. ACityDiscount.com offers some used restaurant booths, and Business.com lists a host of suppliers for both new and used restaurant booths.
High chairs and booster seats
Don't forget about the kids. To make your café family friendly, offer a number of high chairs and booster seats.
Try:
Find a variety of high chairs and booster seats at HighChairWorld.com or at Instawares.com, which offers almost 100 styles.
- Consider ordering a couple more restaurant chairs than you actually need in case any chairs get damaged or broken with use. You can always use them in a back office until you need them in the dining area.
- Return policies aren’t typically generous so be sure to check the return policy of each restaurant chair supplier you’re considering.
- If you’re shopping for restaurant chairs online, be aware that the colors of fabrics, wood stains and finishes may not match exactly. Ask for samples of fabrics and wood prior to placing an order.
