Etiquette boils down to a list of things that remind you to be more considerate of the people around you. Most of these rules are really old but fine dining spaces follow them to keep with tradition. Unfortunately, not all of us went to finishing school, so some of these rules could be confusing for us. I mean, nobody wants to be sitting in a five-star restaurant struggling to choose which of the seven spoons they should use to eat their dessert! Thankfully, before you go to a restaurant, you can learn all the rules of fine dining in the comfort of your home! Here are seven etiquette tips to help make your fine dining experience worth a five-star rating!
Dress To The Nines!
Do not turn up in the same outfit that you wear to eat dinner on your couch! Most fine dining spaces have a known or unsaid dress code that you need to follow in order to avoid any awkward situations. When in doubt, always do black tie because it will fit the theme of a lot of restaurants. If you are struggling to come up with something, pick the outfit you would wear if you were going to have dinner at the White House. That will definitely have you on theme! This next tip is for people who need a little help with cutlery use.
Know Which Utensils to Use For Each Meal
This one tends to stump most people, but we have got you covered! Most restaurants will place your forks on the left side of the plate and your knives on the right. The spoons will either be placed after the knives or right at the top of the plate. Now, the rule is pretty simple; start from the outside and go in. With each course, the utensils you will use will be on the outside, and by the time you get to dessert, there should be a dessert spoon or fork left on the table. If you get stuck, don’t be shy to look around! See what other diners are doing and copy them; hopefully, they know what is going on! You might want to check out the next tip if you are a phone dependent.
Stay Off Your Phone!
Taking calls or keeping glued to your screen is a big dining no-no! The restaurant has done its best to create a beautiful ambiance, and you don’t want to be that person ruining it by laughing loudly on a phone call with your sister. You may get away with taking a few snaps of your food, but try to stay off your phone as much as you can. If you are eating out, you are probably celebrating something big, so focus on that! You are paying top dollar to be there, so do not let a single moment pass you by!
Keep Your Body Parts Off The Table
Elbows off the table! This old medieval rule was developed because having your elbows on the table would take up space and was considered an invasion of the territory of other diners. It is also good for your posture, as removing your elbows requires you to sit up straight so you have access to the table. In the same vein, leaning on the table is also frowned upon because it is seen as a sign of laziness and lack of manners. The rules may seem a little extra, but if you are in Rome, respect the way the Romans do things! This next tip will save you from making other diners’ experiences awkward.
Do Not Reach Over People’s Food
Nobody wants armpits over their plates! It is terrible manners to reach over another diner’s plate to get the salt or salad dressing. First off, this is wrong for hygienic purposes as your hand may accidentally touch the person’s food. Then, there’s the possibility that you may knock over something on your way to whatever you want to grab. Instead of invading someone else’s personal space, ask the person nearest to whatever you want to grab to pass it to you. This shows a lot of respect for all the diners present and keeps disturbances at zero.
Honor Your Reservation Time
They say that rich people are people who keep time because they know that it is money. If you are faking it till you make it, keeping time is a way to appear affluent! Most five-star restaurants require you to make a booking that gives you a time of arrival. Your reservation time is not a suggestion, so make sure you stick to the time to avoid any cancellations with the restaurant. Being on time also shows that you respect the other guests, chef, and staff. The final tip should be something you know already, but we will put it here just in case!
Do Not Talk With Food In Your Mouth
This is a rule you should be following any time you eat, but if you don’t, please do not do this at a five-star restaurant! On the list of things not to do at a fine dining restaurant, talking with your mouth full is the entire top ten! Besides how unpleasant it is to see, no one is going to even hear what you have to say clearly. There is also the danger of you potentially choking, so finish chewing before you say what you have to say; the other diners are not going anywhere!