Dining Etiquette - FAQ
 

Which bread plate is mine? Is there a specific way to butter the bread?

Your bread plate will sit above your dinner plate to the left. The proper way to eat your bread is to break off a piece and butter only one bite at a time.

How do I eat soup without slurping or spilling?
Spoon the soup away from you, lift your spoon out of the bowl and sip it from the side of the spoon. Try not to slurp. If your soup is too hot to eat, let it sit until it cools. Refrain from blowing on it.

Food is stuck in my teeth – what do I do?
If food gets caught between your teeth and you can't remove it with your tongue, excuse yourself from the table and go to the restroom where you can remove the food from your teeth in private.

Is it all right to re-apply lipstick after I eat?
Do not apply any make-up, even lipstick, at the table. Excuse yourself and apply in the privacy of the restroom.

 
I dropped my fork…now what?
If a piece of your silverware falls onto the floor, pick it up if you can reach it and let the server know you need a clean one. If you cannot reach it, tell the server you dropped a piece of your silverware and ask for a clean one.

What do you do when you are left-handed?
If you or someone you are dining with is left-handed, it is best for the left-handed person to sit at left end of the table or at the head of the table. This arrangement helps ensure that everyone has adequate elbowroom to eat comfortably.

 
Food fell off of my plate. What do I do?
If food spills off your plate, try to pick it up with a piece of your silverware and place it on the edge of your plate or on the bread plate.

I just bit into something awful. May I spit it out?
Never spit a piece of bad food or tough gristle into your napkin. Try to discreetly remove the food using the same utensil you used put the food in your mouth. Place the piece of food on the edge of your plate or on your bread plate. If possible, cover it with some other food from your plate.

If I don’t finish my food, may I take it home?
It is not appropriate to ask for a “Doggy Bag or “To Go Container” when you are a guest or in a nice restaurant.

Who is responsible for the check?
Typically, the person who extended the invitation pays the check. If your host does not reach for the bill, wait a few minutes and simply say to the host, "Thank you, again, for inviting me to dine with you. Everything was outstanding!" If the host still doesn't pick up the tab, simply ask, "How shall we handle the bill?"  (At an interview, the employer pays.)

What do I do with my papers/portfolio/purse?
Put them carefully under your chair or under the table where you are sitting. Do not hang a purse on the back of your chair.