Sit-Down Restaurants
At a sit-down restaurant, you are shown to a table, order your food off of a menu, and a waiter or waitress brings you your food and drink.
Along with remembering that you are in a public place, here are a few points to keep your dining experience pleasurable for the whole family.
If you must wait, the hostess will take your name, give you a number, or give you a signaling device. Listen for your name or number to be called or your signaling device to go off to let you know your table is ready. Go to the hostess stand quickly.
Once you are seated, set out your silverware as you would at home and put your napkin in your lap.
Keep personal items off of the table. Put purses behind you on the seat or just under the table where others won’t trip on them.
Look over the menu and decide what you will order. Be ready when the waiter or waitress comes by to take your order. Once you have ordered, you will have time for more in-depth conversations.
If rolls or bread is offered, take the first one you touch and put it on your bread plate (yours is on your left). If a plate isn’t provided, put it on your dinner plate.
Don’t put any of your food on the table.
Don’t play with the sugar packets, salt and pepper shakers, etc.
Keep empty cracker, butter, and straw wrappers in one place, preferably under the lip of your dinner plate.
Thank those who have been serving you. If the service has been exceptional, let them know that, too.
Tags: children, dinner etiquette, people skills, restaurant, Table Manners
Table Manners | lifeskills | March 10, 2009
