Dining Etiquette Tips

APPROPRIATE DINING ETIQUETTE
Do dress appropriately, remove your hat, say please and thank you as necessary, and refrain from using
your cell phone.
Don’t talk too loud, too much or interrupt; talk about money, religion, or politics; talk with food in
your mouth, eat too fast or too much, take big bites, ask to taste someone else’s food, or ask for a doggy
bag.
Arrival and Introductions
• Arrive early and use nametag if provided or you have one.
• Introduce yourself with a smile and a handshake.
• View as a networking opportunity, start conversations and follow up on leads.
Seating and Posture
• Greet everyone and rise to meet and welcome newcomers.
• Enter and exit table from right side of chair, make sure your chair is pushed in.
• Sit up straight in your chair, keep your elbows off the table and don’t lean on the table.
Place Setting
• General rule for utensils is to start on the outside and work your way in.
• Make ‘b’ and ‘d’ with your fingers to know which side your bread and drinks are on.
• Once you begin eating, silverware should never touch table. When resting, place knife at 7:00 and
fork at 5:00. When finished, place knife and fork together at 5:00.
Napkins
• Napkins are for catching spills and dabbing face, not wiping face and blowing nose.
• Place napkin on your lap either when seated or when host does.
• Fold large napkins on your lap and keep fold towards you.
• If you leave, place napkin on the back of your chair.
• When meal is finished (not when you’re done eating), place napkin on left side of your plate (do not
refold it).
Ordering
• Order items easy to eat with a knife and fork. Talk to others about what they will order.
• Do not make orders too complicated and do not order food that is too expensive.
• When ordering alcohol, if you are of age and it is not an interview, follow what others do but
ALWAYS watch the amount.
• Foods to avoid: unfamiliar foods, spaghetti, onion soup, buffalo wings, ribs, bony fish, shellfish, big
sandwiches, cheesy food, and foods requiring special utensils like crab.

When to start eating
• Do not begin eating until all food is served unless host tells others to go ahead and eat.
• It is most polite to wait until the head of the table or host begins eating.
Continental Style of Eating
• Most formal and polite style. More comfortable for left-handed people if you are not used to it.
• Fork in left hand and knife in right. Cut one bite at a time. Point fork down to spear food and bring it
to your mouth.
American Style of Eating
• Less formal, but more comfortable for right-handed people.
• Start with fork in left hand and knife in right. Cut a bite. Lay knife across top of plate with sharp
edge facing you. Switch fork to your right hand and bring food to your mouth.
Passing at the table
• Offer to the person on your left, take what you need and pass to your right (some say to set the dish
down rather than passing it).
• Salt and pepper are always passed together. Taste food before adding either.
Rolls, bread and soup
• Tear off a small bite of bread. Tear close to the table. Butter each piece before eating it.
• Do not slurp soup. Sip from side of the spoon and do not blow to cool.
Accidents
• Spilling liquid: do not use your own napkin. Politely inform your server.
• Dropping silverware or napkin: politely ask server for a new one.
• Gristle in meat: take out with same utensil you put it in with and hide on your plate.
• Food stuck in teeth: excuse yourself to the restroom.
Tipping
• Generally 15-20% for the overall meal.
• Coat check: $1.00 per coat (check coat whenever possible).
• Valet: $2.00-$5.00.
Common Etiquette Questions
• Who pays Typically the inviting person, don’t ever fight over the bill.
• Can men take off suit jackets Most formal to leave on, but watch head of the table.
• Do men stand for women leaving the table Most formal to do so, but not common or necessary.