A short guide to Standard Dining Etiquette

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Dining Etiquette
What to do and what not to do at dining

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Agenda
 The Place settings
 Handling utensils
 Cutting, seasoning and so on
 Top 10 – Table Manners Don’ts

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Place Settings
 Informal place settings
 Basic rule is utensils are placed in the order of use
 Forks go to the left; knives and spoons go to the right of the plate
 Drinking glasses of any kind go to the top right of the dinner plate

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Place Settings
 Formal place settings
 Everything is geometrically spaced: the centerpiece in the exact
center, the place settings at equal distances and utensils balanced.
 No more than 3 of any implements are ever placed on the table. If
there are more than three courses before dessert , the utensil for
the fourth course is brought in with the food.

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Handling utensils
 How to Hold?
 Continental style: Once the food is cut, the knife is kept in your hand
or laid across the plate as the other hand lifts the fork to your mouth.
The fork is held tines down with the index finger touching the neck
of the handle. The fork remains in the left hand.

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Handling utensils
 How to Hold?
 American( zigzag style): After the food is cut. The American method
calls for placing(not propping) the knife on the edge of the plate.
Then switching the fork to your right hand before raising it, tines up
to your mouth.

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Resting utensils

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Cutting, seasoning and so on
 Cutting food. Cut your food into one or two bite size pieces at a
time.
 Seasoning food. When at a dinner party or restaurant, always
taste your food before seasoning it.
 Chewing food. Once you start to eat, don’t literally bite off more
than you can chew. Take a manageable bite, chew it well and
swallow it before taking another.
 Reaching. Don’t lean past the person sitting next to you to reach
for something on the table. A request to “ Please pass the (item)”
is required for everything beyond that invisible boundary, as is a
thank you to whoever does the passing.
 Using a finger bowl. Dip your fingers into the water and then dry
them with your napkin.

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Top Ten Table Manners Don’ts
 Chewing with your mouth open or talking with food in your
mouth.
 Slurping, smacking, blowing your nose, or making any other
unpleasant noises
 Picking your at teeth the table
 Failing to place your napkin at the table or not using at all
 Taking a sip of drink while you are still chewing your food

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Top Ten Table Manners Don’ts
 Cutting up all your food at once
 Slouching over your place or leaning on your elbows while
eating
 Executing the boardinghouse reach rather than asking
someone to pass
 Leaving the table without saying excuse me.