foodha for thought – menuism blog

Yes, it’s that time! Time for Restaurant Dining Etiquette – Part 2. I’m sure you’ve been waiting with bated breath, right? Click here to read Restaurant Dining Etiquette – The Adventure Begins! In that first article, I focused mostly on etiquette in regards to proper use of your napkin and utensils, but this time around, we’ll take a look at general etiquette rules as well as tipping etiquette, so get ready!

General Etiquette Rules

A lot of the etiquette do’s and donts that I’ll be mentioning below are just plain common sense. These are things that you probably already know, but sometimes you just need a little refresher. Whether you’re on a romantic date or dining with friends, family or business associates, keep the following in mind.

• Arrive at least 10 minutes before your actual reservation time.
• Pass food from the left to the right.
• Show your manners. Say please when asking for something and thank you to your server and bus boy after they have removed any used items.
• Pass both salt and pepper together when asked, even if a table mate asks for only one of them. This is so dinner guests won’t have to search for orphaned shakers.
• Food is served from the left. Dishes are removed from the right.
• Butter, spreads, or dips should be transferred from the serving dish to your plate before spreading or eating.
• If your food is too hot to eat, let it sit and cool down. Don’t blow on it.
• Keep elbows off the table.
• Chew with your mouth closed.
• Cut food in small bites and chew slowly. No need to rush. Food should be savored.
• No blowing your nose at the dinner table. Excuse yourself to visit the restroom. Wash your hands before returning to the dining room. When coughing, cover your mouth with your napkin to stop the spread of germs and muffle the noise. If your cough becomes unmanageable, excuse yourself to visit the restroom. Wash your hands before returning to the dining room.
• Turn off your cell phone or switch it to silent or vibrate mode before sitting down to eat, and leave it in your pocket or purse. It is impolite to answer a phone during dinner. If you must make or take a call, excuse yourself from the table and step outside of the restaurant.
• Do not use a toothpick or apply makeup at the table.
• Do not push your dishes away from you or stack them for the waiter when you are finished. Leave plates and glasses where they are.

Tipping Etiquette

It’s amazing how divided people are when it comes to tipping. People are always quibbling over what the correct percentage is. Here are some general parameters to work with. Keep in mind though that there are restaurants that automatically add gratuity if you have a large party. A large party is usually considered 8 or more guests.

• Waiter: 15% to 20% of the bill; 25% for extraordinary service
• Wine steward: 15% of wine bill
• Bartender: 10% – 15% of bar bill
• Coat check: $1.00 per coat
• Car attendant: $1.00 – $2.00

Remember that the amount you tip reflects the total price before any coupons, gift certificates, etc. Just because you get a discount, does not mean that your server did not serve up the full order. One thing to note is that when you are dining with a large party and there is an automatic gratuity, that gratuity will be based on the entire bill, including tax. If you’re dining on your own or with a smaller group, then whether you tip pre-tax or post-tax is up to your own discretion. Just use your best judgement. By the way, even if the owner of the restaurant serves you himself, you should still tip him. He will divide the tip among those who work in the kitchen and dining room.

Hopefully, this restaurant dining etiquette series has been useful. Stayed tuned for the final installment where you’ll learn some specific etiquette how to eat certain types of food, like the dreaded artichoke.

By Abby C. Abanes
Menuism Community Manager