Sitting beside a person who chews loudly, and makes slurping noises while eating, can be quite disgusting. It is believed that proper eating habits and manners are respected more than anything else in an individual. People of different cultures have different rules to be followed at the dining table. Food taken at home can be eaten in any which way since there is no one to question you but the norms of consuming food in public places are more rigid. The disadvantages of bad table manners include not only making you look like you are from the Stone Age but also embarrassing the person accompanying you. Restaurant etiquette can be based on the type of food you eat too. English and Italian dishes such as pizza and steaks require the use of forks and knives while Chinese dishes mostly require chopsticks with Indian dishes relying solely or heavily on bare hands. Again, with family and with office colleagues, restaurant etiquette varies. To gain respect and the image of a well-mannered individual, read through the following section regarding good etiquette in eateries.
How To Behave In A Restaurant
Be A Gentleman
Grace is one of the finest qualities of a gentleman! This must be followed in a restaurant. There is no harm in being chivalrous and extending the chair out for a lady to sit (make sure the chair doesn’t screech). Opening doors for the women and helping elderly people in a restaurant will say a lot about your character and upbringing.
Avoid Being Noisy
It is fun to hang out with your friends in a restaurant but not at the cost of disturbing the other diners. Avoid talking loudly; you can make wise and funny comments but keep it all low-decibel. Also, do not unnecessary converse with people sitting at other tables and annoy them.
Use Of Napkins
When it comes to eating, most of us tend to feed our clothes too. It is best to use the napkin provided to avoid any mishaps. Before eating, remove the napkin placed on the table, unfold it and rest in on your knees or lap. Once this is done, do not use it to wipe your face or other cutlery. Once you have finished eating, place the napkin, semi-folded, on the left side of your plate. Do not fold or place it on your used plates.
Have Patience
If you have patiently waited until your food was being cooked then what’s the harm in waiting until it has fully been served? Act maturely at the sight of food! Also, it is unadvisable to stuff your mouth with different kinds of food, at the same time. Never talk while chewing.
Treat The Waiters With Respect
Above anything else, it is important to treat the server/waiter well. It is often believed that people are constantly judged by the way they treat another person. So be respectful! Whistling, hooting or making cheesy sounds to call the waiters is utterly disrespectful. Show some courtesy and expect good service in return.
Inform In Advance
If you have a host who has invited you over and there has been a delay, make sure you inform the concerned person in advance. Otherwise, a reservation and food might go to waste.
Dropped Items
If you have dropped food on the table or elsewhere, wait until the server picks it up. You need not worry. Another big mistake that most people make is cleaning the table where the food was dropped!
Poor Quality Service
In case you are unhappy with the service provided, do not shout out your dissatisfaction or make a scene. This only gives the idea of dominant or aggressive behaviour. Instead, tell the management politely, yet sternly, that you are not satisfied. If you are insistent, leave a suggestion note. This will probably improve their future services.
Style Of Holding Cutlery
The European and American styles of holding a fork and knife are different. While the former suggests holding the knife in your right hand and the fork in your left, the latter, i.e. the American way, suggests holding the fork and knife such only till the food is cut, post which, the fork is transferred to the right hand. It is etiquette not to make clanging sounds (from the cutlery) or scratch the plate you are eating on. Never rest any of these tools on the table or table cloth; place them by neatly in your plate.
Resting Elbows
It is not a good idea to rest your elbows on the table. Sit straight and place your hands on your lap or the edge of the table. This not only gives you a smart look but it also helps the quick digestion of food.
Eat While You Talk Or Talk While You Eat?
The best way to deal with restaurant etiquette is not to talk with food in your mouth, or to be more clear, don’t chew in between a conversation. This sight is indecent, gross and, not to mention, brings sheer embarrassment when you end up spitting food on your clothes or on the person in front of you.
Licking And Burping
Even if the food was delicious, there is no need for finger-licking! Similarly, burping is absolutely unacceptable. In fact, while eating out you must make sure that you don’t overeat; that should avoid the unpleasant burping altogether. Even when you feel like it, excuse yourself, visit the washroom and burp in the privacy of your presence.
Thank The Service
If you liked the service provided by the restaurant, do not hesitate to mention it as this does nothing to lower your image. In fact, it portrays good manners. This can also motivate the staff and management to work better.
It is allowed to sit the way you want and eat the way you like when at home or in a close friend’s home. But public places require a code of conduct, given by unwritten rules, which you need to keep in mind. Always remember that someone is watching so it is advisable to follow restaurant etiquette and keep up your standards. If not for yourself, then at least do it for the sake of the appetites of people near you.
Ever been sitting in a restaurant and have someone embarrass you because they didn’t have good manners? It’s uncomfortable, frustrating, and very embarrassing. The truth is that no-one has perfect table manners because the old adages have been lost, but that’s no excuse for basic manners. You don’t have to know everything and just a few basic manners will go a long way at a restaurant. You don’t want to embarrass your family or yourself. So, how to improve your manners while dining out at a restaurant?
Keep Your Tone Non-Confrontational and At A Moderate Level
You’ve been seated at a table and placed your order. You wait patiently for your meal to arrive and start eating shortly; then, suddenly, your peaceful dinner is interrupted by someone talking loudly three tables away. It’s annoying because you’re not a part of the conversation and you don’t know those people either, yet, you’ve heard every detail being said. All you want to do is get up and tell them to shut up. Now think about how you talk.
While you mightn’t mean to, your voice level is higher than it should be. It’ll interrupt the peacefulness of other diners and its bad manners to do so. It might be time to take your voice down a notch. That also goes for your tone. When you’re at a restaurant, be thoughtful of others and watch how you speak and how loudly you do so.
Ditch the Smartphone While Eating
Unless you’re waiting for a life-or-death call, your phone doesn’t need to be sitting on the table during a meal. It’s pretty rude to have a phone out during dinner because it usually signals you’re going to be using it throughout the meal. Also, you should never take a call during dinner unless it’s an absolute emergency. If you can, keep your phone in your pocket or your handbag while you’re in the restaurant; and don’t forget to turn it down. Click here to find more.
No Slouching or Elbows
You want to have a nice dinner and enjoy your time out, but sitting slouched with your elbows on the table isn’t good. If you want to show good manners, sit up straight, and keep your elbows off the table. It looks as though you can’t be bothered and have zero table manners. Instead, sit up straight while eating and ensure you don’t slouch. It is bad manners to slouch at a table.
A Few Manners Goes a Long Way
While you don’t always think about formal dining, some of the techniques used there can be important. The above points are a few good manners to learn and will come in use while dining out. You don’t have to embarrass any fellow diner (or yourself) by having bad manners. You don’t have to be perfect and there will be some etiquette rules you break but you don’t have to show yourself up. There are lots of little manners to use at a restaurant and they’ll make your experience a lot more enjoyable.
Fork placement shouldn’t be scary at all.
Try to imagine the worst breach of table etiquette possible. Chances are, you haven’t come close to the nightmare etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach Jacqueline Whitmore experienced on New Year’s Eve a few years ago. She was on a date with a man who got drunk before dinner was served. Once it was, Whitmore says, “He started eating like a barbarian. Around the third course he began making animal sounds. and then he just heaved all over the table. I can laugh about it now, but it was horrifying.”
Whitmore’s date would have fit in well in Medieval Europe, when forks were nearly non-existent, all other utensils were shared, and soup was slurped straight from the bowl. Dining tables during the era were little more than planks plopped over trestles immediately before the meal, a practice that gave rise to the colloquialism “set the table.” Sure, a cloth was spread over the planks, but diners wiped their dirty fingers on it. Napkins? Forget about it.
With the Renaissance came refinement. Catherine de’ Medici, who was the Italian-born queen of France from 1547 until 1559, is credited with helping popularize fork use—an improvement over the custom of simply shoving meat speared with a sharp knife into one’s face, a system that caused no little amount of nasty injuries. The Italians also become known for their spectacular Venetian glass goblets in the 16th century. The delicate stemware is a testament to their increasingly refined dining habits, which some may say we’re well on our way to losing today. Don’t drink too much, don’t eat in a primitive manner, and don’t lose your lunch (or dinner) are the most basic rules of table manners, but should you need a refresher on less-obvious etiquette, we’re here to help with some dining dos and don’ts that might surprise you.
Pre-Dining Etiquette
Good dining etiquette begins long before you sit down at the table. If you’re invited to a dinner party, be sure to RSVP, even if a response isn’t specifically requested, and don’t ask if you may bring someone who isn’t part of the invitation. When you arrive, don’t do so empty-handed. “A hostess gift, which can be anything from candles or wine to flowers, chocolates or guest soaps, is never a bad idea,” says Whitmore. “It’s a nice, much-appreciated gesture.”
If you do bring a bouquet of blooms, try to make sure they’re in a vase, so your hosts won’t have to take time to arrange them. And don’t expect the bottle of wine you brought to be opened that evening. Chances are, your hosts have already chosen the wines they’ll be serving. That’s true of the menu too—leave the home-cooked dish at home, unless the event is a potluck. You don’t want to put your hosts on the spot.
Table Seating Etiquette
Whether dining in someone’s home or at a restaurant, jostling in confusion for your seat is never a good look. At formal dinners, keep an eye out for place cards, which direct you where to sit. Oftentimes, spouses are positioned near or beside one another; the chairs nearest to the host have long been considered places of honor. Historically, the best positions at the table were also closest to the salt cellar, a small container used for holding the mineral (salt cellars fell out of fashion after the introduction of salt with an anti-caking additive, which could be used in shakers, in 1911). If there are no place cards, ask your host where they’d like you to sit, but don’t do so until they are seated.
When you do sit down, you shouldn’t immediately grab your napkin off the plate.“You should wait until everyone has been seated before you put your napkin on your lap,” Whitmore says. “And if you need to excuse yourself from the table, place the napkin on the arm of your chair, not the table.”
Proper Table Setting Etiquette
Undoubtedly the trickiest part of dining etiquette is navigating the table setting—the prospect of which seems to fill nearly everyone on the planet but a pro like Whitmore with dread. If you’re hosting a dinner party, she suggests using a mnemonic device when beginning to set your table. “Think of the letters BMW,” she says. “Bread plate to left, meal (or dinner) plate in the middle, and wine and water glasses to the right, and above the silverware. The napkin may be put on the plate, or to the left of the forks.”
As suggested by the handy tip for diners to use utensils from the outside in, when setting your table, place silverware that will be used first on the outside. The forks should be placed to the left of the plate, with the salad fork on the outside. The dinner fork sits besides it, next to the dinner plate. The knife should go to the right of the dinner plate, with the blade facing in. If soup is being served, the soup spoon sits next to the knife, on the outside. But the menu is going to dictate how the table is set up.
“So, depending on how many courses you have, you may have more silverware than normal, including cutlery like a fish knife, fish fork, salad knife, dessert fork, dessert spoon and a cocktail fork,” says Whitmore. “You never really see a table with every utensil on it anymore. That’s really reserved for a state dinner at the White House.”
Table Manners 101
Sure, it may seem like there are a lot of proper dining protocol rules. But at least most directives are no-brainers that you’ve probably heard since you were a child: Sit up straight, don’t talk with your mouth full, don’t gesture with your silverware, keep your elbows off the table—and don’t reach across it—don’t lick your fingers or blow on your food, and always chew with your mouth closed. Some table manners perhaps less commonly known include holding stemmed glassware only by the stem and passing the salt and pepper together. Speaking of salt and pepper, taste your meal before seasoning it—otherwise, you may insult your host.
Many people have etiquette questions about other people’s poor behavior, and often this involves children. Misbehaving children can be disruptive in restaurants and other public places, and it’s hard to know when and how to deal with them when the parents are failing to manage the problem. In public places, it’s usually best not to confront the parents or the child directly, but in your home, a direct approach can be most effective.
Empathizing With the Parents
There isn’t much you can do to change the manners of other people’s children. If you speak directly to the child, the parents will probably be furious. If you say something to the parent, you’re likely to wind up in a facedown that could quickly escalate.
Most parents want their children to have good manners, but they don’t always know what to do. It’s difficult for parents to go through the day with a toddler, only to be faced with a tantrum from an over-tired child who chooses to act out in public. Although the moment will pass and the child will probably grow up to be a decent person, the frustration can leave any mom or dad feeling frazzled.
If you approach the parent, you may get any number of responses. If they appear open and receptive to a little bit of gentle advice, use this experience as a teaching opportunity to help change future behavior. If they appear to resent your intrusion, back away and give them as much personal space as possible.
It also helps to remember that there are times when children commonly act out, such as during the holidays when they may be exhausted from all the activities or wired from too much sugar. There isn’t much you can do then, except deal with the situation as it comes up and let the parents know this is normal.
Dealing With Children in Restaurants
There are quite a few different types of restaurants available to diners. With so many family-friendly dining establishments, there is no reason for parents to bring their children to fine-dining places until they are ready and able to behave in an appropriate manner and have mastered proper table manners. Many restaurants have policies about children, and if you encounter a misbehaving child, the restaurant management should take care of it very quickly.
Casual-dining places are more open to families, so you may want to request a quiet booth or table if the sounds and behaviors of small children bother you. If the restaurant isn’t crowded, the host or hostess will probably accommodate you. Don’t forget to leave a generous tip any time you have a special request.
If you encounter disruptive children after you have been seated, discreetly ask to be moved. Since the manager doesn’t want to lose your business, if there is another table on the other side of the restaurant, you’ll probably get what you ask for.
Problems in Shopping Malls and Grocery Stores
If you shop at malls or grocery stores, you’ll probably have to deal with other people’s unruly children from time to time. First of all, remember that the parents are probably more annoyed than you, so try to be empathetic.
Unless one of the little ones physically harms you, don’t say anything to the parent, or you might find yourself in a battle with moms and dads who are already at their wit’s end. If a child knocks you over or physically hurts you in any way, take your complaint to the store manager and let him or her deal with it.
Addressing Bad Behavior at Home
Your children will want to have their friends over, and, of course, you’ll graciously welcome them. This is when you’ll see what kind of etiquette training other parents do. Unfortunately, many moms and dads don’t realize how their offspring reflect on their families when they’re away from home, so you’ll probably see some bad behavior from time to time.
While correcting other people’s children when you’re out and about isn’t typically a good move, there’s nothing wrong with a kind and gentle reprimand when they are in your home. As long as you don’t nitpick, you can tell them to use their “inside voices” when they get loud and not to jump on the furniture.
If you hear them using foul language, you can tell them that those words aren’t allowed in your home. Most children will at least try to comply, but if they don’t, there’s nothing wrong with taking them home or calling their parents and letting them know that it’s time to pick up their child.
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- 7 Table Manners In Japan You Should Know Before Visiting
Japan has certain etiquette for eating, which reflect the overall cultures and values of the country. Here is a guide to basic manners you should pay attention to when dining out in Japan. Abide by these manners to make your food experience in Japan all the more exciting!
The Secret to Enjoying Delicious Japanese Food
We hope you enjoy the amazing Japanese food when you come to Japan. Whether it be sushi, yakiniku (Japanese barbecue), ramen, or meal sets that recreate home cooking, it’s because you’re in Japan that it’s possible to eat such a variety in flavors.
Table manners should also be taken into consideration to have a pleasant meal. Some mannerisms that are considered taboo in Japan not found in other countries.
We introduce basic table manners you should pay attention to when eating at a Japanese restaurant. Check this list beforehand so you won’t be confused when at a restaurant or at someone’s house.
Read also
1. Only Use Wet Towels to Wipe Your Hands
Most Japanese restaurants will bring you a wet hand towel upon entering the restaurant. Different variations are given depending on the restaurant, such as wet disposable paper tissues or re-useable cloth towels, but these towels are specifically for wiping your hands. For cloth towels especially, avoid using it for other purposes besides wiping your hands. Do not use it to wipe your face, mouth, or the table.
2. Say Thanks Before and After Your Meal
In Japan, we place our hands together to pay our respects to the food before and after our meal. “Itadakimasu” is said before a meal and “Gochiso-sama” is said after a meal. Both phrases are said with two different forms of gratitude.
Its first meaning is to give gratitude to all the people that participated in the meal. This gratitude goes towards everyone that took part in growing the ingredients and cooking the meal so that we, the consumer, can eat this dish.
The second meaning is gratitude towards the ingredients. The consumption of meat and fish is equivalent to receiving the lives of once living animals. Vegetables are also considered to have life. Thus, we give our gratitude to other lifeforms that convert into energy to keep us alive.
3. Use Chopsticks the Right Way
Chopsticks are the main utensil used in Japan when eating.
There are several set rules when it comes to how to use chopsticks while eating, starting from the way you hold your chopsticks. These rules take into consideration the person you are eating with to avoid making them uncomfortable.
Read also
Can You Request a Fork?
If you have trouble eating with chopsticks, please ask an employee if forks are available. It will depend on the restaurant, but some places will bring you a fork upon request.
4. Hold Your Rice Bowl While Eating
Most restaurants will serve you a bowl of rice and miso soup when ordering Japanese dishes or a meal set. When eating these dishes, it is considered proper manners to eat while holding a bowl in your hand.
Bowls with a weight holdable in one hand are great for this. Examples include rectangular lacquered boxes, small rice bowls, dishes, and side dishes.
Eat while holding your bowl in one hand and your chopsticks in the other to create beautiful posture. However, don’t force yourself to hold flat dishes and large bowls of ramen or udon.
5. Don’t Eat with Elbows on the Table
Eating with your elbows on the table makes you appear worse with bad posture and will make the experience unpleasant for those eating around you. Instead, eat with your elbows raised or place the hand without chopsticks on the table with the tableware.
6. Slurp While Eating Noodles and Drinking Tea
This is not mandatory, but it is good practice to eat Japanese dishes such as miso soup, ramen, udon, or tea with slurping sounds. It is common to use your chopsticks when eating noodles or solid ingredients. Drinking soups while holding the bowl in both hands.
However, not all sounds are good sounds. The noise made when setting down tableware or eating while making chewing noises are manner violations. Blowing your nose during a meal is also something you should do far from the table.
If you are confused about what sounds are acceptable, then it is safer to eat quietly.
7. No Leftovers is Basic Etiquette
For your food, only order the amount that you’re able to finish. Finishing your plate is considered an act of gratitude towards the ingredients and the people that made your meal. If you have allergies or things you cannot eat, let staff know what they are when ordering. Some restaurants will remove those ingredients before serving it to you.
If you’re so full that it’s impossible to finish your food, then please don’t force yourself. Instead, it is best to express your gratitude to the staff by saying, “It was delicious (Oishikatta desu).”
Enjoy Eating in Japan like a Local!
During your long-awaited meal, it would be a waste to make others uncomfortable by having poor manners. Practice proper etiquette, and your food experience in Japan will be all the more memorable!
Original Author: Haruka Kobayashi
*This article is a rewritten version of an article originally published on April 21, 2014.
Main image courtesy of Pixta
How do you know what is polite in a new country? Different cultures behave in different ways. These 10 tips will show you how to have good manners in the USA.
Here are some ways to show good manners in the United States. These tips will help you to show respect and be polite to Americans.
1. Say “please”
Most Americans say “please” when they want something. For example, if you are ordering food at a restaurant, you can say, “I will have the soup, please”. If you ask for something and don’t say “please”, Americans will think you are rude.
2. Say “thank you”
Americans say “thank you” a lot. In some cultures, people only say “thank you” for significant events. In the United States, it is common to say “thank you” or “thanks” even for small gestures. For example, if you hand someone a book, they might thank you. Remember to say “thank you,” especially to anyone who is helping or try to help you.
3. Say “sorry”
Americans also say “sorry” more than people in other cultures. For example, if someone accidentally bumps into you on the street, they may apologize with “excuse me” or “sorry.” Americans, especially American women, sometimes use the word “sorry” to express sadness for something that happened to you, even though they were not involved in the event. For example, you may tell someone that you were sick over the weekend or that a friend died. To be kind and polite, they might respond, “I’m so sorry.”
4. Cover your mouth when your burp or cough
Many Americans consider it impolite to make bodily noises in front of other people. They try not to pass gas, burp, or make other bodily noises in public or in front of people they do not know well. Some people will excuse themselves to the bathroom if they need to burp. If you do fart or burp, it is polite to say, “Excuse me.”
5. Say “hello” when you meet new people
When you meet someone for the first time, Americans typically say, “Hello” or, “Hi, nice to meet you.” If you have someone else with you, it is polite to introduce that person as well. The next time you meet the person, you can say, “Nice to see you again,” or, “I remember meeting you last month. How are you?”
6. Don’t shake hands if you don’t feel comfortable
Most Americans will shake your hand when they meet you. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always put your hands together and lean your head forward. This is a polite way to show you don’t want to shake hands. Some Americans will be very surprised that you do not want to shake hands, but that is okay. If you are from a culture where men and women outside of family do not touch each other, explain this politely to the person you are meeting. You do not need to do things that make you feel uncomfortable.
7. Stand at least a foot away when you are talking to someone new
Americans tend to want more personal space around them than people from other cultures. In the USA, most people will stand about 1 foot apart from each other. Even people in a group stand with space between them. If you stand very close to someone when you are speaking, they may think you are being aggressive or overly familiar. They may take a step back and show mild surprise or disapproval. Other Americans are very physical and may hold your arm while they are talking to you or hug you when they first see you. If that makes you uncomfortable, it is okay to step back.
8. Look people in the eye when you are talking to them
We encourage you to maintain important parts of your culture. However, looking people in they eyes when you talk is one thing you can do to adapt to life in America. Americans tend to look people in the eyes when they are talking. They may not look at you in the eyes for the entire conversation – just part of it. If someone talks to you and you will not look at them in the eyes, they may think you are trying to hide something or being secretive.
9. Stand in line
Most Americans are taught from a young age to wait their turn in a line. So, if you are at the store or trying to buy a movie ticket, you will probably see a line. Generally, people line up one by one. Sometimes you may see someone “hold a spot” for someone else, but mostly Americans expect to wait their turn. Although you may see someone cut into the line (go in front of you), the majority of people will wait their turn. This is also true if you are on an airplane. People generally wait to leave the airplane until it is their row’s turn.
10. Hold the door open for other people
Most Americans will hold a door open for you when you are entering/exiting a building. Whether you are a man or a woman, it is polite to hold the door for the person behind you.
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You may have heard parents admonish young children about minding their manners in restaurants. Restaurant manners, however, do not apply to guests exclusively. Because waiters serve as the first point of contact when customers enter a restaurant, restaurant owners require them to observe certain etiquette standards, regardless of the type of restaurant. A waiter’s adherence to standards of good grooming, good taste and common courtesy plays a critical role in creating a positive dining experience.
Be Polite
Offer a sincere and friendly greeting when customers enter the restaurant or sit down at one of your tables. Introduce yourself and request customer permission to announce the day’s specials. Take drink orders promptly and offer assistance with menu selections, if asked. Do not be overly friendly or too familiar. Use basic elements of courtesy, such as “please” and “thank you,” and address patrons with respect.
Dress Appropriately
Good grooming is essential when handling food and utensils. Most likely, the health department and your employer require you to have clean hands, trimmed nails and controlled hair. Wear clean, pressed and well-fitting clothing. Keep body piercings, tattoos and jewelry to a minimum as a sign of deference to your employer’s diverse clientele. Do not chew gum or use inappropriate language.
Exercise Good Judgment
Many restaurant owners believe that “the customer is always right.” Even if a patron is rude, unreasonable or otherwise unpleasant, do not lose your cool or set aside your professional demeanor. Be respectful, allow him to express his frustration and avoid arguing or shifting blame. Instead, offer to rectify the problem immediately. Allow your manager to handle the situation if you are unable to calm the customer.
Remain Attentive
Circulate frequently through your assigned section of tables to observe how your customers are doing, but never stand over them as they eat. Refill empty glasses and bread baskets promptly. Stay alert to customers’ efforts to get your attention. Watch for indications that they have finished their meal and offer dessert, coffee and the bill without delay.
Other Rules
Most restaurant owners agree that waiters should serve food from the customer’s left side. Drinks, such as wine or coffee, should be poured from the right side. Tables should be cleared from the diner’s right side, but only after you have asked her if she’s finished her meal. Avoid reaching across customers to serve them. Warn diners when a serving dish is too hot and do not touch the food.
If most of us are honest, we’ll fully admit that we love going to restaurants.
Eating out is one of the biggest issues for people when it comes to tightening up their budget. That’s why some budget-conscious people will do anything to keep from giving up their eating-out habit—and that includes breaking some basic rules of money etiquette in restaurants.
So if you’ve adopted one of these habits as common practice in the name of saving money, then it’s time to come to the realization that you simply can’t afford to eat out right now.
1. Undertipping
If you tip less than 15% for standard, good service, then you’re a bad tipper.
Most restaurant servers don’t make the federal minimum wage of $7.25. The minimum wage for workers who make more than $30 a week in tips is only $2.13 an hour.
Waiters and waitresses live off tips. If you receive good service, then tip well. If you can’t afford to tip well, then you can’t afford to eat out. It’s as simple as that.
2. Splitting the bill (unfairly)
There’s always one in every group. You order a salad and a glass of water. Your friend orders a burger, fries and a milkshake. When the check comes around, he pipes up and says, “Let’s split the check!”
Your order cost $6, while his order cost $18. Split the check? No way! Tell him (nicely but firmly) that he needs to check himself before he wrecks his budget—and yours. Trying to split the bill without agreeing on it before the order is just bad form. Don’t do it.
3. Freeloading
Don’t be the guy who always seems to “forget” his wallet when he goes out with friends. Or the girl who “isn’t hungry” but somehow manages to grab a portion off everyone else’s plate.
You might be saving a few bucks here and there, but you’re doing yourself no favors in the end. Living on a budget is much more fun when you still have friends who enjoy being around you.
4. Complaining about your food (after you’ve eaten it)
Your steak is overcooked? Your mashed potatoes are too salty? Then you should bring that up to your server right away.
Don’t eat half your steak, complain about it, and then attempt to get a free meal or a second portion out of the whole deal. That’s just a basic integrity issue, and you should never lie or gloss over the truth in order to save a few bucks.
5. You asked? You pay.
Use common sense here. If you’ve invited a bunch of friends out to dinner, you shouldn’t be expected to foot the bill—unless you’ve set that expectation in the past.
But if you invite that potential special someone on a first date, then it’s just basic common decency to pick up the tab. And if you can’t afford that, then you might need to settle in for a date night of ramen noodles and Netflix.
6. Taking advantage of the all-you-can-eat buffet
In other words, you’ve enjoyed four slices of pepperoni pizza, so you think it’s perfectly fine to grab four more pieces in a to-go box for lunch and dinner tomorrow.
We don’t think that’s what they mean by “all you can eat.” If you disagree, go ahead and grab a moving truck, back it up to the front door, and load up the entire buffet. It is all you can eat after all!
7. Hogging tables
You’re with a big group or a couple of friends, and you finished eating nearly 45 minutes ago. There’s a crowd standing in line waiting for a table.
While you chat, your server is losing money every minute. Be considerate. And if you do choose to talk it up a long time after finishing your meal, then you should tip very, very well—like well over 20%.
As long as you’ve budgeted for those restaurant meals, and as long as they aren’t breaking your bank, then there’s nothing wrong with eating out.
But just make sure your thrifty spending doesn’t include forgetting these basic common courtesies. You can get out of debt and be a nice person too!
Looking for an easy way to budget? Check out our free budgeting software EveryDollar! You can budget from your computer or the iPhone app.
Asked by Wiki User
Wiki User
Answered
April 26, 2009 3:42PM
2009-04-26 15:42:47
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10 Simple, Must Know Table Manners
Table manners have evolved over centuries to make the practice of eating with others pleasant and sociable. With so many table manners to keep track, keep these basic, but oh-so-important, table manners in mind as you eat:
1. Chew with your mouth closed.
2. Keep your smartphone off the table and set to silent or vibrate. Wait to check calls and texts until you are finished with the meal and away from the table.
3. Don’t use your utensils like a shovel or stab your food.
4. Don’t pick your teeth at the table.
5. Remember to use your napkin.
6. Wait until you’re done chewing to sip or swallow a drink. (Choking is clearly an exception.)
7. Cut only one piece of food at a time.
8. Avoid slouching and don’t place your elbows on the table while eating (though it is okay to prop your elbows on the table while conversing between courses, and always has been, even in Emily’s day).
9. Instead of reaching across the table for something, ask for it to be passed to you.
10. Take part in the dinner conversation.
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Restaurant Manners:
Restaurant Manners are a must, as often office meetings spill over into lunches and dinners in a restaurant and you don’t want to embarrass yourself or your company!
Keep these points in mind when going out for an official or a casual get-together.
For the Host
- Choose a restaurant within your budget.
- Book a table in advance.
- If you are pre-ordering the food the food, keep your guests tastes in mind
- Dress appropriately and arrive on time.
- Always stand up when a lady joins you at the table, or when she leaves it.
- If you are inviting somebody, it is expected that you will pay the bill.
- If you plan that your guests will share the bill, let them know in advance to prevent any embarrassment.
- Never suggest to your guests, that what they are ordering is too expensive or too much.
- Never look at the price list when ordering, except subtly.
- Do not create a scene or engage in loud or abusive arguments with the waiter or manager. If something is not okay, deal with it unobtrusively.
- Do not snap your fingers to call the waiter.
- Do not be so loud that you disturb conversations at other tables.
- If you are being disturbed, quietly ask the manager to deal with the situation.
- Be attentive to people at your table.
- Let your guests order their meal before you order yours.
- Have as much alcohol as you can hold.
- Deal with any discrepancy in the bill quietly but effectively.
- Do not appear to ponder too long over the bill or tip.
For the Guest
- Arrive on time, and dress appropriately for the restaurant.
- Do not order your food from the waiter if you are a guest, but tell your host what you want, if asked.
- Sometimes the host orders the meal beforehand, in which case eat what is on offer, unless you are allergic to some food.
- Do not wipe off cutlery or glassware with your napkin. If dishes aren’t clean, ask the waiter quietly for replacements.
- When you wish to use the toilet, excuse yourself and leave quietly.
- Never complain about the food or drink. Just leave it if it is not suitable.
- When you are the guest, try and order a medium priced dish or drink. Don’t go for the most expensive.
