Rules of etiquette in the restaurant: the basics of behavior

If you rarely visit restaurants and set aside special dates for this, then it is important to behave properly in such establishments, observing all 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 support staff and to everyone around you. In order for your trip to succeed, we will tell you about the basic rules of etiquette in a restaurant and the basics of behavior that you should definitely 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 can be done and what cannot.

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

For situations where you are invited to a restaurant for a date or a secular evening, it is best to choose a beautiful evening dress. It is important that it decorates you, emphasizes the dignity of the figure, but it was not too provocative, because it repels restaurant guests, 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 in order to take a table and meet his guest. Opening the door, he must quickly pass by himself and miss the lady in order to be able to protect her if necessary.

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

In preparation for ordering and having dinner together, you need to take a napkin from the table, straighten it, put it on your knees and not clean it until the end of the evening. The waiter also needs to make an order correctly, using all the necessary etiquette rules for this in a restaurant.

There are certain principles of behavior that are the same for everyone and only by observing them can you feel comfortable among the visitors of the restaurant. The rules that you will need to remember, only help to show maximum respect for everyone who is in the restaurant, because you should not oppose their study.

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

If complex dishes such as fish or meat are coming, then you need to know that bones can be removed only from the mouth and with the help of a fork; all other options will be inappropriate. If you do not possess such skills, then you should order something more simple to consume.

There are rules that people very often do not fulfill or violate, because of their ignorance thoroughly:

• Rules and norms of communication. You can not use swearing and obscene words, communicate loudly. Such rules should be common to all public institutions, and not just expensive ones.
• Sitting at the table, it is recommended not to slouch, but at the same time keep yourself relaxed. Often, by the manner of behavior and posture of a person, the others make up 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, not your companion.
• A categorical failure to observe etiquette will be an attempt to cool dishes by blowing on them. If the temperature of the food is higher than what you want, you just need to wait, at this time you have a great opportunity to talk with your interlocutor.

• If you accidentally dropped cutlery or dishes, you do not need to get up and pick them up, for this the restaurant has a special staff.
• Instead of spoiled dishes, you should ask for a new one.
• If you have something stuck in your teeth, you should not calmly pick your mouth, trying to help yourself, you need to close your mouth with a napkin and carefully try to remove food from your teeth.
• If you received a call at a restaurant during a meal, you need to take time off from your companion and go outside the hall to answer the call.
• If you have finished eating, you need to ask for a check, and not to ask the amount.
• If you plan to pay every man for himself, you need to notify the waiter initially, so that everyone will pay for their order.

If you are going to go to a restaurant, then you need to know the simplest standards of behavior for visitors so that your visit will be successful and enjoyable. Among such recommendations are the most basic:

1. The gentleman always cares for his lady, showing that she is most important to him, this is manifested in behavior, gestures, conversation, the menu that was offered to her.
2. Being at the table, it is important to follow the rules of using appliances and eat food so 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. Attitude to the staff should be friendly and calm, then in your direction will be response.
5. If you need to use the telephone, it is important for this to leave the main hall and communicate outside.

If you decide to gather with friends and go to a restaurant or a man has invited you, it is important to know how to behave there, observing all the rules of etiquette:

• So, if you go to a similar institution with a company and come before others, then you need to wait outside, and only then go by the whole company. If you did not have time to prepare for visiting the 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 in silence, but to be able to keep up the small talk. There are certain topics that can not be communicated in such places, they relate to death, disease, intimate life, politics and religion.

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

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

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

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

For a successful business breakfast, you need to choose the institution that is located closest to the partner's office. Meeting with partners should be held in a place where no one will disturb you, and you can calmly discuss all business matters. An invitation to a business breakfast is usually transmitted verbally or via a telephone call.

You should not choose a too elaborate restaurant, then all the attention will go to etiquette, and negotiations will not succeed. If you plan to solve important issues, you need to warn the head waiter and the waiter so that they do not interfere. When choosing a restaurant you should pay attention to the menu and drinks that are available. Non-alcoholic drinks are used exclusively, and in case of a positive outcome of your meeting, you can order a glass of wine and note successful cooperation.

Proper use of equipment in a restaurant is a whole science and it is unlikely to succeed in mastering it in just a couple of days. That is why it is important to remember for yourself the most important rules in order to know How to use a fork and knife:

• While eating food, it is not allowed to place the devices on the tablecloth, they are placed crosswise on the plate. In the case of completion 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 using the right hand, those on the left - left. Desserts are eaten only with the help of special dessert spoons. While eating, devices should be brought straight to your mouth and in no case should you bend over food to your plate. For a set of salads, a special tool is provided, which after use is put in place.

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 for your couple, then no additional instructions should be given, the checkbook will be with him. Often it is brought either to a man or to someone who made an order. If a woman plans to pay for food, it is worthwhile to stipulate this in advance so that the service personnel will know whom to contact.

The next important issue will be a tip. Not everyone knows how to tip, 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 it without a tip. When everything was done quickly and professionally, you did not interfere with enjoying the meal and everything was cleaned and brought in on time, then it would be correct to leave ten percent of the amount that will be indicated on the check.

If you want to call the waiter, you only need to lift your index finger up and make eye contact. Professionals will immediately notice your request and immediately hurry to you.

If you want to ask for an invoice, you need to make a wave in the air, similar to the signature of documents, then the waiter will issue you a check and give you a payment. If you do not notice for a long time, you can go to the bar or call the waiter by name, if you know him.

In order for your visit to the restaurant to be pleasant in all aspects, a large team works for you, who must also abide by the norms of restaurant etiquette. For employees is unacceptable:

• Persistent attempts to offer this or that dish.
• Smoking and meals in common with the visitors hall.
• Loud communication with the rest of the staff.
• Use a handkerchief with you or combing hair near your table.
• Sitting at the tables with visitors.
• Delay with checkbook and attempt to influence tip size.
• Refusal to help visitors choose food or drinks, indifferent attitude to their requests and questions.

Some useful tips on visiting the restaurant:

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

More information about the rules of etiquette in the restaurant you will learn from the following video.