Rules of etiquette in a restaurant: the basics of behavior

If you rarely visit restaurants and set aside special dates for this, then it is important to behave correctly in such establishments, observing all the norms of behavior. Not everyone knows that visiting a restaurant is a serious event and it is important to be able to behave properly in relation to your companion, to the staff and everyone around you. In order for your trip to be successful, we will tell you about the basic rules of etiquette in a restaurant and the basics of behavior that you must certainly demonstrate.

Since visiting a restaurant does not happen often, you need to have at least a general idea of ​​​​how they behave in it, what you can and cannot do.

The first thing you should pay attention to is the style of clothing that you choose to go to an expensive establishment. Highly It is important to be able to dress beautifully, stylishly, but at the same time quite restrained.

For situations when you were invited to a restaurant for a date or a social evening, it is best to choose a beautiful evening dress. It is important that it decorates you, emphasizes the dignity of the figure, but at the same time is not too defiant, because it repels the guests of the restaurant, and can make an unpleasant impression on your companion.

It is important to remember that the man who invited you to such an institution must come in advance to take a table and meet his guest. Opening the door, he must quickly pass himself and let the lady through in order to be able to protect her if necessary.

Experienced restaurant staff can use this gesture to understand who is the guest and who is the organizer of the meeting, who will pay for the meal. If it is necessary to visit the wardrobe, the man must remove the outerwear from the lady and give it away on his own, while leaving himself a number. Approaching the table, the woman should again feel the attention of her companion, who will move the chair for her and invite her to sit down.

When preparing to place an order and have dinner together, you need to take a napkin from the table, straighten it, put it on your knees and do not remove it until the end of the evening. The waiter also needs to place an order correctly, using all the rules of etiquette necessary for this in a restaurant.

There are certain basics of behavior that are the same for everyone, and only by observing them can you feel comfortable among restaurant visitors.The rules that you will need to remember only help to show maximum respect for everyone who is in the restaurant, so do not resist learning them.

If you are in a restaurant with a company, then wait until everyone brings food, and only then start eating. If a man and a woman are at the table, then the lady will be served first and the food will also be served to her first, however, you can eat it only when your gentleman receives his dish.

If you are going to have complex dishes, such as fish or meat, then you need to know that you can only remove the bones from your mouth and with a fork, all other options will be inappropriate. If you do not have such skills, then you should order something easier to consume.

There are rules that people very often do not follow or violate, due to ignorance of them thoroughly:

• Rules and norms of communication. You can not use swear and obscene words, speak loudly. Such norms should be common to all public institutions, not just expensive ones.
• Sitting at the table, it is recommended not to slouch, but at the same time keep relaxed. Often, by the manner of behavior and posture of a person, others form an opinion about him.
• If you need to take salt, pepper, bread or pour wine, and there is a waiter nearby, you need to ask him to help you, and not your companion.
• A categorical non-observance of etiquette will be an attempt to cool the dishes by blowing on them. If the temperature of the food is higher than you want, you just need to wait, at this time you have a great opportunity to chat with your interlocutor.

• If you accidentally drop cutlery or dishes, you do not need to get up and pick them up, the restaurant has special staff for this.
• Instead of damaged dishes, you should ask for new ones.
• If you have something stuck in your teeth, then you should not calmly pick your mouth, trying to help yourself, you need to cover your mouth with a napkin and gently try to remove food from your teeth.
• If you get a call while eating in a restaurant, you need to ask your companion for leave and go outside the hall to answer the call.
• If you have finished eating, you need to ask for a check, and not ask for the amount.
• If you plan to pay every man for himself, you need to notify the waiter about this in advance so that everyone pays for their order.

If you are going to go to a restaurant, then you need to know the simplest norms of behavior for visitors so that your visit is successful and enjoyable. Among these recommendations are the most important:

1. The gentleman always takes care of his lady, showing that she is the most important thing for him, this is manifested in behavior, gestures, conversation, the menu that was offered to her.
2. While at the table, it is important to follow the rules for using appliances and eat food in such a way that it does not interfere with others.
3. Conversations at the table can only be conducted in a quiet and calm voice so that other visitors do not listen to what you are talking about.
4. The attitude towards the staff should be friendly and calm, then there will be reciprocal actions in your direction.
5. If you need to use the telephone, it is important to leave the main hall and communicate outside of it.

If you decide to get together with your friends and go to a restaurant or you were invited by a man, it is important to know how to behave there, observing all the norms of etiquette:

• So, if you go to a similar institution with a company and arrived earlier than others, then you need to wait for them outside and only then go in with the whole company. If you did not have time to prepare for visiting a restaurant and do not know what to do in some matters, then you should not be nervous, it will be enough just to notice what other visitors are doing and repeat after them.
• Coming to a restaurant with a companion or friends, it is important not just to eat silently, but to be able to maintain a secular conversation. There are certain topics that cannot be discussed in such places, they relate to death, illness, intimate life, politics and religion.

• With regards to a handbag, not everyone knows what to do with it in a restaurant. If its dimensions are very small, then it would be best to place it on the table, in case of large sizes, you can put the bag on the floor or a special chair for such purposes, you can still place it on the back of the chair where the woman is sitting. If you need to tint your lips, check your makeup, this cannot be done in the common room, you need to ask permission to retire to the ladies' room, and do all the necessary manipulations.
• Coming to a restaurant with a gentleman, a lady should say hello if her companion meets a friend.Good manners and proper behavior will be useful for you in any situation, and ignorance of such norms and rules can lead to unpleasant consequences.

The first thing a man should remember when he comes to a restaurant is the rules of gallantry. Pull out a chair for the woman, see if she needs to refill a glass, take her companion's order to the waiter, and resolve any issues that may arise during the evening. A man should also take care that his woman eats well and tasty, therefore he himself can offer her some dishes from the menu. While in a restaurant, a man also monitors the conversation that occurs at the table, directs it in the right direction and controls it.

Coming to a restaurant with a girl, a man should sit at the table only after his companion has settled down. Being in a women's society, it is very important to keep track of your vocabulary and the topics that are raised.

If a man smokes, then it is not necessary to do this in the presence of a lady or other guests; a special room is provided for this. If your companion does not smoke, then it is worth choosing an appropriate restaurant, where no one will interfere with her cigarette or cigar.

For a successful business breakfast, you need to choose an institution that is located closest to the partner's office. The meeting with partners should take place in a place where no one will disturb you, and you can calmly discuss all business issues. An invitation to a business breakfast is usually communicated verbally or by telephone.

You should not choose a restaurant that is too pretentious, then all attention will go to etiquette, and it will not be possible to negotiate. If you plan to solve important issues, you must warn the head waiter and the waiter about this so that they do not interfere with you. When choosing a restaurant, you should pay attention to the menu and drinks that are available. Only non-alcoholic drinks are used, and in case of a positive outcome of your meeting, you can order a glass of wine and celebrate successful cooperation.

The correct use of appliances in a restaurant is a whole science and it is unlikely that it will be possible to master it in just a couple of days. That is why it is important to remember the most important rules for yourself in order to know how to use fork and knife:

• While eating, it is not allowed to put cutlery on the tablecloth, they are placed on a plate crosswise. In the case of the end of the meal, you need to put a knife with a fork in parallel, the knife is located on the right side.
• All devices that are located to the right of the plate are taken with the help of the right hand, those on the left - with the left. Desserts are eaten only with the help of special dessert spoons. When eating, the cutlery should be brought directly to the mouth and in no case should you bend over the food to the plate. For a set of salads, a special tool is provided, which is put in place after use.

If after eating you want to leave the restaurant, you need to give a sign to the waiter, and he will bring the bill. If a man pays in your couple, then you don’t need to give any additional instructions, the checkbook will be with him. Often it is brought either to a man or to the one who made the order. If a woman plans to pay for food, it is worth stipulating this in advance so that the attendants know who to contact.

The next important issue will be tips. Not everyone knows how to tip correctly, and how much should be given to the waiter for good work. It is important to say that if you are not satisfied with the work of the waiter, you can leave him without a tip. When everything was done quickly and professionally, you were not prevented from enjoying your meal and everything was cleaned and brought on time, then it would be right to leave ten percent of the amount that will be indicated on the check.

If you want to call the waiter, you just need to raise your index finger up and make eye contact. Professionals will immediately notice your request and immediately rush to you.

If you want to ask for a bill, you need to make a wave in the air, similar to the signature of documents, then the waiter will issue you a check and bring it for payment. If you are not noticed for a long time, you can go to the bar or call the waiter by name, if you know him.

In order to make your visit to the restaurant pleasant in all aspects, a large team is working for you, which is also obliged to comply with the norms of restaurant etiquette. For employees, it is unacceptable:

• Persistent attempts to offer this or that dish.
• Smoking and eating in a common hall with visitors.
• Loud communication with the rest of the staff.
• Using a handkerchief in front of you or combing your hair at your table.
• Seating at tables with visitors.
• Delay with the checkbook and an attempt to influence the size of the tip.
• Refusal to help visitors choose food or drinks, indifference to their requests and questions.

Some useful tips for visiting the restaurant:

• If you invite someone to a restaurant, then look at the menu for those dishes that someone may not eat, if there are equivalent substitutes.
• Weigh the pricing policy so that the bill amount does not take you by surprise.
• When choosing a place for a meeting, it is important to take into account the purpose of this event: for a date it is better to choose a beautiful restaurant, for lunch with friends - something simpler, but where you can eat tasty and inexpensively, there are also the most suitable places for business negotiations.

You will learn more information about the rules of etiquette in a restaurant from the following video.