The 12 Best Restaurant Shoes and Where To Buy Them
The 12 Best Restaurant Shoes for Servers and Chefs and Where To Buy Them
Restaurant life is not a walk in the park. From running back and forth between tables and the restaurant POS to standing in the back-of-house all day, long shifts can give your feet all the feels. Hosts and hostesses, servers, bartenders, cooks, and chefs should make the best restaurant shoe choice. If not, slips, fatigue, back pain, and knee problems could be the issue du jour.
We tapped Dr. Miguel Cunha, New York-based podiatrist and founder of Gotham Footcare, for tips on choosing the best shoes for restaurant work. He walks us through the most important considerations: comfort, support, and traction.
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Advice from a Podiatrist on How to Choose the Best Restaurant Shoes
“A food server is constantly on their feet and can easily take over 10,000 steps a day at work,” says Cunha, adding back-of-house workers typically stand on their feet most of their shift. “It’s important to select shoes that are appropriately sized, comfortable, supportive, shock-absorbent, and slip-resistant.”
Identify Comfortable Non-Slip Restaurant Shoes
Cunha recommends buying shoes at the end of the day when your feet are most swollen. “If they feel comfortable at the end of the day most likely they will feel comfortable throughout the day,” he explains. Make sure the toe box is wide enough to accommodate your toes with enough room to slightly wiggle.
Also, look for a comfortable footbed to support the arch with memory foam or an EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) anti-compression insole. “An outsole made of rubber will help alleviate the impact of each step far greater than a shoe with a hard sole,” he adds.
Look for Restaurant Shoes with Arch Support
One of the most common server injuries is sore feet. According to Cunha, this is usually caused by wearing unsupportive shoes. “Our feet naturally pronate [walk with most weight on the inside edge of the feet] during the gait cycle.
When we wear unsupportive shoes, we pronate for a longer period of time, which then alters the biomechanics and distribution of pressure and weight across the foot,” he explains. “This imbalance increases the progression of underlying foot deformities, such as bunions and hammertoes leading to soreness of the feet and painful conditions, such as arch/heel pain, shin splints/posterior tibial tendonitis, and Achilles tendonitis.” This can progress to knee pain and backaches.
Employees who stand for long periods of time need good arch support, which will equally distribute body weight across the plantar (bottom) of the feet. Cunha’s simple way to check if shoes are supportive is to try and bend them in half. If they bend, back on the shelf they go.
Make Sure to Purchase Non-slip or Non-skid Shoes
“Servers can fall over when they’re carrying plates and trays because they can’t see where they are walking, or may slip, trip, and fall over floors that have been soiled with water, stews, soups, and other liquids,” he says. A slip can easily result in a severe ankle and/or leg sprain, fractures, and other serious injuries. Look for slip-resistant work shoes with high traction rubber outsoles.
It’s also important to consider whether a shoe is water-resistant or has hard uppers. Spills and dropped objects are common, and a protective shoe can prevent or minimize injury, and shoes with black leather or polyurethane uppers are not only waterproof but can also be cleaned easily and quickly.
The 12 Best Restaurant Shoes and Where to Buy
1. Dansko XP Clogs
Arguably one of the most well-known shoe brands among people who work on their feet all day long, Dr. Cunha specifically recommends Dansko’s XP Clogs. They’re slip-resistant, have great arch support, and are cushioned for added comfort and protection.
Where to buy: dansko.com
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2. Dickies Apex
Dickies Apex non-slip restaurant shoes have a MICHELIN®WCX channeled shoe tread that provides traction with a self-cleaning design that evacuates liquid and debris.
Where to buy: dickies.com
3. Birkenstock Professional Slip Resistant Work Shoe
These simple clogs are slip-resistant and made of one molded piece of lightweight polyurethane, making them both durable and water-resistant as well.
Where to buy: birkenstock.com
4. Croc Bistro Clogs
The Croc Bistro Clogs are essentially the same as classic Crocs minus the holes on top, so on top of being lightweight, slip-resistant, easy to clean, and supportive they also keep your feet safe from spills.
Where to buy: crocs.com
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5. New Balance 510v3
Another Dr. Cunha pick, he recommends these restaurant shoes for their even support, non-skid treads, breathability, and lightweight design. One downside, however, is that they won’t protect against spills.
Where to buy: amazon.com
6. Sanita Clogs
Similar to the Dansko clogs, Sanita’s are becoming more and more popular in the restaurant industry. Reviews on Amazon and the company’s website show that many have relieved back, foot, and knee pain while wearing these clogs.
Where to buy: sanita.com
7. Clove
A newer brand, Clove sneakers are designed with healthcare professionals in mind but are also perfect as restaurant shoes. These shoes feature “liquid-repellent and stain-resistant Clarino™ fabric [and] odor-fighting, machine washable insoles from Ortholite®” according to the Clove website.
Where to buy: goclove.com
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8. Vans “Made for Makers”
Vans has created a restaurant shoe that looks just like their classic low-top and high-top skateboard sneaker with added water resistance, support, and slip-proofing.
Where to buy: vans.com
9. Snibbs
Another new brand on the block, Snibbs positions themselves as “The last work show you’ll ever need.” Designed by an orthopedic surgeon, Snibbs feature top-of-the-line Ortholite® insoles, soles that are slip-resistant to both liquids and oils, breathable, and supportive. They also offer a 30-day trial period, so you can return them for a full refund if they don’t work for you.
Where to buy: snibbs.co
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10. Dr. Scholl’s Work Line
The brand famous for comfort and support has a line of clogs, sneakers, and slip-on shoes designed for anyone on their feet all day. The Dr. Scholl’s Work line features a slip- and oil-resistant outsole, plus memory foam inserts and breathable materials for all-day comfort.
Where to buy: drscholls.com
11. Emeril’s Footwear
Yep, that Emeril. Like any good kitchen footwear, these shoes are resistant to slips, spills, odors, and stains and feature insoles that include their patented B.A.M. Technology. (What else would you expect?)
Where to buy: emerilsfootwear.com
12. Keep Company
Designed and tested by chefs, Keep Company’s line of non-slip, water-resistant, supportive shoes are also stylish, vegan, and ethically produced.
Where to buy: keepcompany.com
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A post shared by Keep Company (@keepcompany) on Oct 21, 2019 at 10:41am PDT
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