Olive Garden Uniform And Dress Code 2023

So you got the job at Olive Garden – congratulations! But the manager forgot to tell you about the Olive Garden uniform.

Now your first day is approaching, and you’re wondering what you’re supposed to wear.

Do you turn up in your own clothes and change into the uniform they hand you, or do they expect you to buy certain items of clothing yourself?

Well, it depends on the job you’ll be doing.

If you’re a new chef at Olive Garden, the company provides your uniform, so there’s nothing else you need to know about your clothing options.

Servers, bartenders, and bussers have to supply their own clothing in line with the Olive Garden dress code, although you are given an apron to wear.

Luckily, the Olive Garden uniform is nothing out of the ordinary, so you’ll be able to find what you need from your local retailers without any trouble. And you may even have suitable clothing hanging in your closet already.

Run through this article and we’ll get you up to speed on everything you need to know about the Olive Garden uniform and the Olive Garden dress code, which covers things like hairstyles, tattoos, and piercings.

What Is The Latest Olive Garden Uniform For Front Of House Staff?

Olive Garden updated its look back in 2013 and moved away from the white shirts and uncomfortable ties that had been their standard uniform for the previous 30 years.

In 2022, the Olive Garden dress code has serving staff, bar staff, and bussers wearing black shirts (no tie), along with black pants, black socks, and black non-slip shoes.

Olive Garden gives you a black apron to wear over the top of your own clothes.

The upside to wearing your own clothes is you get to choose the clothing as long as it meets the Olive Garden dress code requirements.

You won’t have to suit up in a cheap set of company-issued clothing made from sweaty, scratchy fabrics that don’t have any give when you need to bend or stretch.

The downside is you have to supply the clothes yourself. This means a cash outlay if you don’t already have some suitable clothing.

And you’ll need at least two sets so you can have one set in the wash and a clean set to wear to work each day.

Basic clothing is cheap enough though, so even if you have to buy yourself some new clothes, your Olive Garden wears shouldn’t cost you too much money.

What Kind Of Shirt Meets The Olive Garden Dress Code?

To meet the Olive Garden dress code, you should choose a black button-down shirt without any patterns, logos, fringes, tassels, designer rips, or other stylistic embellishments.

In case you’re not familiar with the term, a button-down shirt is a shirt with a collar and with button fastenings all the way down the front.

Your shirt should have long sleeves if you’re working a front-of-house role, or short sleeves if you’ll be back in the kitchen.

You can’t wear a polo shirt, which is a collared t-shirt with 3 or 4 buttons at the neckline, or a shirt with a grandad collar.

Your long-sleeved shirt shouldn’t have extra buttons on the cuffs and it should only have one breast pocket.

Where To Buy A Black Shirt for Olive Garden?

You would think that a black button-down shirt would be a fairly standard item of clothing, wouldn’t you? But surprisingly, they can be hard to find.

White button-downs are everywhere, and so are pastels, checks, and patterns, but whether a retailer has a suitable black shirt is often hit or miss.

We did some legwork to find you a suitable shirt.

For men, head to your trusty Target store or look on their website for the Goodfellow & Co, slim fit, long sleeve, black button-down shirt.

It’s made from an easy-care cotton-poly blend with a touch of spandex to give it some stretch. The shirt is breathable; it doesn’t wrinkle, and it’s nicely fitted so you won’t have an untidy-looking shirt billowing out from your waistband.

For women, you’ll find the right shirt at your local Walmart. Take a look at the Pier 17 button-down shirt for women.

Made from an easy-care cotton-spandex blend, the shirt is semi-fitted with a crisp collar so you’ll always look smart. The lightweight but strong fabric has enough stretch to keep you comfortable right through your busiest shifts.

What Pants Are Suitable For Olive Garden Uniforms?

Like the shirts, the color that’s suitable for Olive Garden uniform pants is black. Pants should be full-length, smart, casual slacks.

Avoid jeans, joggers, and utility pants.

Your black pants shouldn’t have any rips or embellishments, and they need to be worn upon your waist or your hips. Sagging pants that expose your underwear is not acceptable.

When you’re buying pants for your Olive Garden workplace, give priority to comfort and practicality over style.

Pants need to be hard-wearing and easy to wash and dry. Avoid fabrics that will shrink or pill when you wash them.

And make sure you try the pants on and bend a few times to check for stretchiness.

For workwear, it’s hard to beat Dickies pants.

These pants come in a range of hard-working styles that remain in good condition, wash after wash after wash. And they’re made with stain release technology, which is exactly what you need when you’re working in a restaurant environment.

You can find Dickies pants at your nearest Walmart.

What Socks And Shoes Meet Olive Garden’s Dress Code?

At this point, would it surprise you to hear that the answer is black ones?

You can wear any kind of black socks, but in reality to have comfortable feet you should invest in a few pairs of moisture-wicking socks. This way you won’t end up with sweaty feet and a case of athlete’s foot.

The best place to buy moisture-wicking socks for your uniform is a sportswear retailer. This type of sock costs a little more, but it’s well worth it.

For shoes, Olive Garden asks employees to wear black shoes with non-slip treads.

Wearing non-slip shoes is very important when you work in a restaurant.

Kitchen floors get wet, and that means the floors will be slippery and dangerous.

Wearing non-slip shoes is vital for your own safety and for the safety of others. If you slip, you could slam into a coworker and pull them down with you, or push them into something dangerous.

To make your search for non-slip shoes easy, look at the Shoes For Crews, and Treadsafe brands which you can find at Walmart. Both brands have a wide range of affordable styles, all with non-slip treads.

Shopping On A Tight Budget?

If your budget doesn’t have much wiggle room, you can usually find suitable clothing that meets Olive Garden’s dress code at your local Goodwill store or thrift store.

When you shop at thrift stores, you’ll be able to pick up several shirts or pairs of pants for the price of one item at a regular store.

Often clothing will still have the tags on, and it hasn’t been worn.

Visiting a thrift store is a clever way to get everything you need for your Olive Garden dress without busting your budget.

What Hair Styles & Colors Does Olive Garden Allow?

Your hairstyle and hair color is up to you at Olive Garden.

Obviously, your hair should be clean and tidy, but there are no general restrictions on the style you wear or the color you choose.

For hygiene and safety reasons long hair should be worn up.

Occasionally, a restaurant manager will have a stricter policy in place and some locations only allow the natural range of hair colors.

Can Olive Garden Staff Wear Piercings?

When you’re working at Olive Garden, you’re allowed to wear tasteful earrings, but other facial piercings will need to be removed when you’re at work.

Two earrings can be worn in each ear and you can wear gauges up to size 14.

Olive Garden doesn’t discriminate against any protected characteristics. If you need to wear a facial piercing because of your race, religion, or gender identity, you should speak to your manager to obtain an exception to their piercing policy.

Do Tattoos Need To Be Cover-Up?

Olive Garden’s dress code requires tattoos and body art to be covered up.

If you’ve got tattoos on your neck, you should make sure that your shirt collar keeps them covered. If you’ve got tattoos on your forearms, then you should always wear your shirt sleeves down instead of rolled up.

Tattoos worn for cultural reasons may be given an exception.

If you have facial tattoos or tattoos on your hands and your manager was okay with them at your interview, you won’t need to do anything to cover them up.

Olive Garden Dress Code FAQS

What Is The Proper Attire For Olive Garden?

When you go to work at Olive Garden, wear a plain black button-down shirt, black slacks, black socks, and a pair of black shoes with non-slip treads. You’ll be given an Olive Garden apron to wear which sits at your waist.

What Is The Dress Code For Olive Garden Employees?

In addition to wearing a black button-down shirt, black slacks, black socks, and black shoes, you’ll need to wear the apron you’re issued with. Tasteful ear piercings are permitted (2 in each ear), but facial piercings should be removed. The only rule about hairstyle and color is that long hair should be worn up, and facial hair should be short and neatly trimmed.

Does Olive Garden Give You A Uniform?

If you work as a chef, Olive Garden should provide you with a uniform. All other employees will be given an apron to wear over their own clothing in line with the Olive Garden dress code. You’ll need a black button-down shirt, black pants, black socks, and black non-slip shoes.

Do I Have To Wear My Uniform For Orientation At Olive Garden?

You should wear your uniform when you go to Olive Garden’s orientation. Orientation is paid training in the restaurant, so you need to follow Olive Garden’s dress code.

Does Olive Garden Allow Color?

For clothing, all items should be black. For hair color, you can usually have whatever hair color you want as long as it’s one color. If your general manager has a different hair color policy, you’ll need to follow the rules for your particular restaurant.

Does Olive Garden Allow Piercings?

Olive Garden’s dress code allows you to wear two piercings in each ear. Gauges up to and including size 14 are ok. You should remove any facial piercings during working hours unless you have a religious or cultural reason for needing to wear a facial piercing and have cleared the piercing with your manager.

Does Olive Garden Have A Hair Color Policy?

Olive Garden generally has a relaxed attitude about hair color. They’re more concerned that you keep your hair tidy and out of the food and drinks. Long hair beyond shoulder level should be worn up. In most locations, you can wear whatever hair color you want, but if your general manager objects, you’ll need to follow their rules.

Wrapping Things Up

All things considered, Olive Garden’s uniform policy and dress code allow you to be comfortable and look stylish while you’re at work.

Although you will have to purchase your own uniform which will cost you money, you get to choose the fabric and the fit of your clothing and footwear. And that’s not the case with a lot of foodservice uniforms.

Olive Garden’s dress code is a black button-down shirt, black slacks, black socks, and black shoes with non-slip treads.

You can wear your hair in any style and color you choose, but long hair should be worn up.

While tasteful earrings are fine, you won’t be allowed to wear other facial piercings, and tattoos should be covered.