Let`s first open with the fact that a survey carried out in the USA found that in 2005, people attending restaurants with white tablecloths has increased by over 40% compared to last year. AND! To drive the point home, these same diners are spending more on their meals when dining out than they did a year ago. Thus it`s pretty clear that in the restaurant industry, good quality tablecloths make a difference in the customers` eyes (new and existing) which helps take care of the restaurant business and ultimately the bottom line.

So, the question is? what makes a good tablecloth? Well let`s start with what we want from a tablecloth. Ultimately we would like the tablecloth to be and look clean, crisp yet soft and luxurious to the touch. However, it mmust not only look and feel good, we would also like the tablecloth to be highly practical which means that it protects the table surface from scratches and any other kind of damage, it absorbs all the sauces and drips that come from a juicy feast. Therefore, a couple of considerations need to be made?

Tablecloth materials are vitally important as they affect the way the tablecloths hang over the table, the way they feel to the touch, the way the light bounces off the cloth surface etc. There are various materials such as polyester, cotton, pvc and paper, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages depending on what the occasion calls for. If you are a café that serves greasy breakfasts and fast foods then pvc, polyestter and other cheaper materials are probably more appropriate however, any restaurant that is serious would only consider Irish Linen.