There are many different types of restaurant signs found in various eateries.   The first one that many customers encounter may be the one that indicates if the business is open or closed.  Sometimes that placard also includes the hours of operation, such as what time the eatery opens and what time it closes. Sometimes this information is found separately from the open and closed placard.  Another type of placard that is often found is one that warns that without shoes and a shirt on there will be no service.  Some still display the message that this is a non-smoking establishment even though most people know if the state in which they reside in allows smoking indoors.  There may even be a warning posted on the front door in states that allow concealed carrying of weapons that weapons are illegal to be carried into the establishment by anyone other than law enforcement.

Other restaurant signs may ask that animals not be brought into the eatery unless they are a guide dog or animal.  Often there are placards that designate what will be accepted as payment for the meal such as cash, credit card, check or debit card.  There may be a separate posting that explains the tipping schedule and whether or not it is automatically added to the customer’s bill. 

Of course, when most people think about restaurant signs, the most familiar would be the menu.  Often times, the menu is posted behind the counter for the customer to read in eateries, pubs and diners. In fine dining establishments, this may not be the case.  Some eateries will also list the wine of the day, the soup of the day or the catch of the day if they offer seafood.  However, most types of eateries list their daily special or their evening special with the use of a chalk board, cork board or some other type of placard, along with the price and what the meal will include.

Sometimes as part of the ambiance in a restaurant, signs are hung with old sayings, adages and even old advertisements.  This is part of the charm of the establishment and it gives the customer something to take in while waiting for their meal to be prepared. 

Restaurant signs also include the traditional types of required placards such as those that point out where the restrooms are and where the exits are located in case of an emergency.  Some may even allow other businesses to post advertisements and want ads on bulletin boards within the eatery.
 
In the restrooms, there will be placards that indicate the handicapped stall as well as others that remind employees that they must wash their hands before returning to work.  There may be instructional placards that offer step by step operational tips for hand dryers and baby changing stations.  There also may be placards on the door that indicate that one of the restrooms is designated as a family area which allows both genders to use the same restroom.