I don't have an answer to your question, because I can't think of a restaurant with a strict dress code here in Indy. But I think it's a fascinating topic and deserves some discussion here. How do we define casual attire these days? Is a jacket without a tie still too casual? Who's to say a cashmere sweater is more casual than a jacket? How about slacks vs skirt or dress for women? Is it ok to wear a baseball cap in a less formal restaurant? Or the newest accessory, a bluetooth ear piece??

I think the relaxing of coat/tie requirements in restaurants mirrors what is happening in society at large. Church seems to be a great example. Gone are the days of suits for men and hats for women. I'm sure there are plenty around that still have worshippers dressed that way, but they are the exception rather than the rule. This would seem impossible today, but my grandmother didn't even own a pair of pants until she was 60. Besides our girth, the one thing that makes Americans stick out in Europe...our casual dress. Mostly I blame the uniquely American classic, jeans.

And don't even get me started on sweat pants.

I just hate, hate, hate wearing a sport coat/suit jacket. The last time I wore one was my wedding. If I had my way, I wouldn't wear another until my 25th anniversary.

Not that men could ever hope to equal women in all the uncomfortable duds they're expected to wear. But wearing a coat at a restaurant, especially in summer, qualifies as a mild form of torture in my book. You're hot, it's too easy to get sauce on your sleeves, and your range of motion is severely restricted. Try cutting a steak when you can't raise your arms any higher than John McCain.

In this day and age, I think any restaurant that tried to enforce a coat/tie mandate would drive themselves out of business.

Anything more formal than a polo shirt (or maybe a normal button-down shirt) and khakis is for the birds. For me that's even pushing it. In the summer give me my G.I. Joe t-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts, in the winter sweatpants (or "lounge pants"--the sweatpants without the elastic at the bottom) and the same shirt.

Of course, without dress code restaurants we wouldn't have the obligatory scenes like the one in "Major League" where Charlie Sheen is wearing his leather vest, muscle shirt and a tie, rockin' the Veg Head haircut.

So, what's considered spiffy enough for dinner at a downtown steakhouse for example? Jeans and a button-down shirt? Khakis and a polo? Dress slacks and shirt? Would you wear sneakers? Loafers?

Tougher to categorize women's clothes/shoes -- much more variety.

No shorts at a steakhouse, especially a 'downtown' one, unless you're talking something along the likes of Ryan's or Logan's.

If I were planning an evening out, I'd probably do pants for a downtown steakhouse, but I also wouldn't have any qualms with wearing some "dressier" shorts with adecent shirt if I were just walking in, like we just decided to go somewhere nice.

Of course, I'd wear basketball-type shorts to an O'Charley's or Applebee's, so what do I know?

I think shorts and a decent shirt (polo or button-up) is fine for a downtown steakhouse, although I would probably trade in my customary summertime flip-flops for lace-up shoes.

And re: Dexter's comment, I have no problem with anything that makes us stand out from Europeans. It's interesting that they like to look formal and busy, but have 30-hour workweeks and terrible productivity. Americans work their butts off, but like to be comfortable while we're doing it, and especially when we're not.

No doubt I'm in the minority, but I favor the jacket -- and even tie -- rules that some restaurants impose. I've seen no evidence of them outside of private clubs in Indy, however. Love Dexter's comment!

I don't like to wear expensive stuff out to eat because no matter how careful I am, I will drop something on me

When I go out to a nice restaurant, particularly for a special occasion, I still enjoy wearing a jacket. For me, it helps make the occasion. But this is coming from the son of a man who never left the house without a suit coat or sport jacket unless he was going to the hospital or a Bengals game.

i used to go to school with a pretty rigorous dress code and I have to say, I had a heck of a time eating lunch like that...I don't think it is normal to be overly dressed for anything even though I like the look of it...it is just impractical. I remember the Keystone Grille had a dress code, but it included nice jeans. Can someone explain to me the point in having extra ties just in case a man forgot his? I don't get it...how is a tie a prerequisite for dinner...can you not hold a fork without it?

I always wear that plastic "lobster" bib thing as an accessory even when I'm not at a seafood place. I just think it looks nice.

Okay, so here's what I saw men wearing at Fogo de Chao Saturday night: LOTS of guys in cargo shorts and button-up short-sleeved shirts and a good percentage of them were wearing flip-flops -- most others had sneakers or slip-on boat shoes without socks; plenty of guys in jeans or khakis and polos or button-up short-sleeve shirts; very few were in slacks and a dress shirt (there'd probably be more on a weeknight with more of an afterwork crowd); and one guy in well-worn jeans, boots and faded T-shirt with a band logo.

Since there seemed to be multiple tables full of guys trooping in and out, there was lots of opportunity to see what men are wearing these days to a pricey restaurant. Of course Fogo has a casual vibe; so shorts and flip-flops or jeans and polos seemed to work. I'm less convinced they'd work at, say, Dunaway's.

Neckties, of course, got their start as an accessory men wore during meals, which they used to catch drippings and dab their face. So I can see how that tradition held, even with the brilliant invention of napkins.

the point of a tie is so the waiters and restaurant staff can be pretentious a-holes. :)

BTW, what are your thoughts on sandals? Not flip-flops so much as leather sandals? I say yes in most situations, but probably not with a suit.

It is much easier to be overdressed than to be underdressed. Having said that, I am experiencing a strange phenomenon when I go about my normal job.

I have to attend trade shows on a regular basis. These trade shows are going much the same way as the rest of our culture and are eschewing formal dress for more comfortable/affordable clothing. I don't necessarily have a problem with this, but I don't think there is anything wrong with being a standout professional in any crowd. I mandate that all our Reps. attending these shows wear suits, or at least some form of coat and tie. Why? Precisely because everyone else is NOT.

A good example of how this works was demonstrated to me recently at a trade show in Orlando. It was early morning and I was on my way in to the exhibition hall. I had a nice suit and tie on and was towing a rolling computer bag. On my ride up the escalator, a woman behind me, tapped me on the shoulder and introduced herself. She said she was looking for someone from a major manufacturer here at the show, and, seeing as I was obviously some sort of corporate executive, could I possibly point her in the right direction? Needless to say, she was stunned to learn that I am actually a Sales Representative. She made mention of the fact that she hadn't seen ANY sales reps. in suits at the show and even asked me why I was wearing one. When I told her my thoughts on professional appearance, she wholeheartedly agreed and said she would feel much more inclined to do business with someone dressed like me.

Remember, the old sayings DO have validity, even here in the casual 21st century: "The clothes make the man" and "Dress for success" and "You only get one chance to make a first impression".

At least in my little part of the world, my theory seems to have taken hold. Many Reps. who compete with me on a daily basis for limited customer attention have begun wearing suits again. Huh. Wonder why? Maybe it was the $40MM in sales my company racked up in 2007.

As for dressing to the occasion or the restaurant, go ahead and wear whatever you are comfortable in. You might see me at the adjacent table dressed to the nines, and if this doesn't make you uncomfortable, then more power to you. Just remember, the impression of class, or the impression of a lack of class, is largely determined for other people by your appearance. Do your best to look your best and people will always have a favorable impression of you.

I eat at nice restaurants all the time, but I rarely dress up. Blue jeans and a t-shirt won't get you turned away anywhere in Indy that I know of.

To the post above me: There's a flip side of that dress for success coin. People who dress casually may prefer to do business with others who dress casually. Even though I own suits, I hate wearing them and rarely do. I also have a bias against people wearing suits and assume they're probably dressed up in a pretty package because their product can't sell itself.

Is there any local restaurant that you couldn't wear jeans to? If a restaurant said its dress code was "jackets required," would you wear a sport coat with jeans, or a suit and tie? Or just avoid the place?

Not really, my jeans would be black to match a black jacket the shirt and tie I do everyday anyway the color varies by night.If they want my money..I'm in.