It’s no secret that diners choose a restaurant based on more than the food. Diners decide on restaurants based on the experience they have had or expect to have there, and the atmosphere is just as much a part of that experience as the food. 

So, when creating a desirable atmosphere, what do you consider? Of course, you think about the lighting, the music, the layout, the dishware, but we want to ask you to consider today is your flatware. Your flatware has an impact on your place settings, which, in turn, influences your diners’ perception of your restaurant. Sambonet’s Vintage flatware can help you develop a memorable vintage atmosphere that your diners will remember. 

Vintage style is in again 

We're seeing a return to the traditional, both in restaurant design and in cookery. Classic French cooking, the American steakhouse, and the aesthetic of the older crowd are all expected to make a resurgence in a big way. 

In considering integrating more traditional styles into your restaurant, you want to think grandma chic with a twist. You don’t simply want to return to the 1960s, but instead, you want to be inspired by yesteryear to create an experience that is completely contemporary. Achieving this balance isn’t easy, but it’s possible if you make deliberate choices. 

Creating a “used” effect without used flatware 

One of the best ways to create a “what’s old is new again” aesthetic is by choosing vintage flatware. A great option could be a patina, which is a beautiful color that forms on copper or bronze. It is described a sheen on the surface of these metals that is highly valued by collectors and antique aficionados. 

How do they get it to look like that? Physical Vapor Deposition, or PVD. In this technique, colors and shades are formed in a vacuum chamber. Think of it as an “atomic-applied” coating. On stainless-steel flatware or hollowware, this technique welds particles at the surface, hardening steel, preventing rust and oxide, and helping it resist rubbing and corrosion. 

Vintage flatware is the perfect way to create your old-school cool restaurant environment, but there’s just one problem. A natural patina takes years to develop, and it’s simply not practical to use actual vintage silverware for your diners. 

Sambonet Vintage Flatware 

This dilemma is where Sambonet Vintage Flatware comes in. It can be developed through age, yes, but it can also be developed artificially using special processes. That’s what Sambonet does in creating its vintage flatware – it uses high pressure sand blasting and introduces metallic particles through vaporization to create a ready-made PVD.

At their factory in Italy, Sambonet operates a PVD unit. These rare machines create patina-style flatware that allows for years of durability – the finish will never wear off. Without this machine, your flatware might look colorful, but the finish is likely not durable. 

Sambonet lets you offer flatware to your guests with its Gio Ponti Vintage forks, knives, and spoons. Better yet, that patina flatware is new and hasn’t been moldering in anybody’s attic for years! The colors of this flatware is PVD, and the finish is created using a stone mix to roughen – or “stone wash” – the flatware. 

Sambonet is such an appealing choice, too, because its vintage patina flatware offers many options, all with an artisan look and finish. For example, the vintage stainless-steel place setting offers a little bit of shine, though you also have the option of purchasing place setting with a matte patina pattern. Copper is also available. 

The Importance of Flatware 

One important restaurant design trend is creating a cozy atmosphere, and one of the most often overlooked aspects of creating this mood is flatware. But what is the most intimate part of the tabletop? The knife, fork and spoon with the diner will use. Certainly, other aspects of the dining room will be flashier and more noticeable in developing your restaurant's mood, but in creating a memorable environment, every component–even the flatware–is important. 

Sambonet understands vintage flatware because its early place-settings are vintage – the company has been creating distinctive Italian flatware since 1856. But the problem with incorporating vintage flatware into your environment isn’t simply finding the flatware; its finding vintage pieces that can withstand the heat, pressure, and handling of the restaurant environment. It is in this arena that Sambonet proves its value – not only does this flatware have vintage-style beauty, but it also has the durability that makes it a practical choice for your restaurant.