City's upscale restaurants downscale dress codes in tough times

A meal at one of Pittsburgh's fine-dining establishments might cost you and a date more than $100, but feel free to eat it in thrift-store fashion.

Many of the city's upscale restaurants have dress codes but won't turn you away if you're wearing attire better suited for a stadium than a steakhouse, restaurant brass said.

Especially nowadays.

"In this day and in this economy, it's really hard to turn anyone away," said Ken Macieski, general manager of Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse on the North Shore. "It's a tough call, because the person who takes the time to put a tie on shouldn't have to sit next to the person with cutoffs on. At the same time, how do you turn away a Steelers fan wearing a jersey if they want to have a dinner before the game?"

Macieski's answer: You don't.

In the three years since the restaurant opened, Macieski said he's never turned anyone away, and has only received one complaint about how someone was dressed.

Many restaurants have eased dress regulations, as more customers want good food in a casual setting, said Patrick Conway, president of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association.

"There are some that still have formal dress codes but less so than we've seen in the past," he said.

Some restaurants are stricter, such as the Georgetowne Inn on Mt. Washington. There's flexibility with its business casual dress code, but a few prospective diners have been turned away, owner Mike Budway said.

"There is a gray area — there always is," Budway said. "If someone comes in with cutoffs and a tank top, we're probably not going to let them in."

Newly opened Andrew's Steak & Seafood in the Rivers Casino has turned away a man wearing a tank top, said George Matta, community relations director. He said the casino might adopt business casual for the restaurant, but for now it forbids men in sleeveless shirts or anyone wearing a shirt with an offensive message, Matta said.

"I have seen people with shorts and flip flops in there," Matta said.

Restaurants at The Meadows and Mountaineer casinos have no dress codes, officials said.

"Restaurants are in the hospitality business, so turning someone away is not something most restaurants are likely to do unless they've made a decision that they're going to strictly adhere to some dress code," Conway said. "Not only are you turning them away at that moment, but they're not likely to come back."

LeMont on Mt. Washington is among those that eased off its dress code.

Restaurant workers will ask someone wearing a baseball cap to remove it, but a diner in jeans won't be turned away, said Kathy Slencak, manager of special projects.

"Business-wise, people who wear golf shirts and khaki pants don't want to change into suits for dinner, and we're not going to tun them away," Slencak said. "The thing is, you want your customers to be happy, and if that's what they're wearing, we work with them."

Additional Information:

Fine-dining fashion

Here's a quick guide to some local restaurants:

• Nine on Nine, Downtown: Business casual. No sporting gear such as jerseys or hats; inappropriately dressed customers will be turned away.

• Morton's The Steakhouse, Downtown: Business casual. Jerseys are acceptable, but more casually dressed patrons might be steered toward dining in the bar.

• Isabela on Grandview, Mt. Washington: Business casual. Those wearing jeans and T-shirts who happen to walk in won't be turned away.

• Grand Concourse, Station Square: No dress code. Management says location in tourist area makes it difficult to enforce one.

• Eleven, Strip District: No dress code. If people ask, they're told 'dressy casual.'

• Le Pommier, South Side: No dress code. Management said most people come in 'dressy casual.'

• Common Plea, Downtown: Business casual. Jeans are OK as long as they're 'presentable.'

• LeMont, Mt. Washington: Business casual. No hats, but people wearing jeans or shorts won't be turned away.

• Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, North Shore: Business casual. Jeans, dress shorts and sports gear are allowed, but sleeveless shirts are discouraged.

• Georgetowne Inn, Mt. Washington: Business casual. Nice jeans and shorts are acceptable, but no cutoffs or tank tops. People dressed inappropriately will be turned away.

• Andrew's Steak & Seafood, in Rivers Casino, North Shore: No dress code, though a man in a sleeveless shirt or anyone wearing an offensive message will be turned away.

Source: Tribune-Review research