Dining Etiquette Tips
Etiquette Tips.
- Dining Etiquette Tips for Your Next Business Meal
- Cut only enough food for the next mouthful (cut no more than a few bites of food at time). Eat in small bites and slowly. Do not “play with” your food or utensils. Never wave or point silverware, and do not hold food on your fork or spoon while talking.
- In a restaurant:
- As soon as you are seated, remove the napkin from your place setting, unfold it, and put it in your lap. Do not shake it open. At some very formal restaurants, the waiter may do this for the diners, but it is not inappropriate to place your own napkin in your lap, even when this is the case.
- Drink from your own water glass and don’t make the mistake of taking from your colleague or client’s bread plate.
- Don’t argue over the check or offer to pay the tip; the host who invited you must take care of both. Be sure to kindly thank your host for the meal; shake hands before you leave and maintain good eye contact. Helpful hint: If you’re hosting the dinner and a guest offers to pay the bill, politely decline.
- Try a little of everything on your plate unless you have a food allergy. You could come across as unsophisticated (and juvenile) if you eat only your steak and potatoes and ignore your veggies.