dining etiquette

1. Dinning etiquettes
Course: B.Sc
Subject: English Communication and Life Skills
Unit: 4

2. Dining etiquettes
• Table manners plays an important part in making a favorable impression.
They are visible signals of the state of our manners and therefore are
essential to professional success. The point of etiquette rules is to make
you feel comfortable - not uncomfortable

3. Dining etiquettes
When to start eating
• In a restaurant:
Wait until all are served at your table before beginning to eat.
• At a private dinner party : When your host or hostess picks up their fork
to eat, then you may eat. Do not start before this unless the host or
hostess insists that you start eating.
Pre-Dinner Etiquette
• Arrive on time
• Call ahead if you know you will be late
• Wait 15 minutes before calling to check on the arrival status of your dinner
partners

4. Dining Etiquette
Sitting Down
• Do not place any bags, purses, sunglasses, cell phones, or briefcases on
the table
• When you are all seated, gently unfold your napkin and place it on your
lap, folded in half with the fold towards your waist
• Keep utensils in the same order they appear on the table
• Wait for all parties to arrive before beginning any part of the meal

5. Dining etiquettes
Place Setting
Solids on your left:
•Forks
•Napkin (may also be on your plate)
•Butter plate
Liquids on your right:
•Glasses/Cups
•Knives
•Spoons
Dessert utensils may be above the place
setting or served with dessert.

6. Dining etiquettes
Eating Styles
• Continental or European style: cutting the food with the right hand and
using the left hand to hold the food while cutting and when eating.
• American style: cutting the food with the right hand and holding the fork
with the left, then switching hands to eat with the right hand.

7. Do’s and Don’ts of Dining
A. General Etiquette
• Turn off cell phones
• Have proper posture
• Keep elbows off the table . Keep your left hand in your lap unless you are
using it.
• Do not apply makeup or comb your hair at the table
• Do not talk excessively loud. Give others equal opportunities for
conversation. Talk about cheerful, pleasant things at the table.
• Do not talk with your mouth full. Chew with your mouth closed
• Loud eating noises such as slurping and burping are very impolite
• Say "Excuse me," or "I'll be right back," before leaving the table. Do not
say that you are going to the restroom.

8. Contin…
B. Utensils
• Remember never to hold a utensil in a fist
• Do not talk with your utensils
• Set the utensils on your plate, not the table, when you are not using them
• Do not use both hands simultaneously to hold utensils and cups
• Once used, your utensils, including the handles, must not touch the table
again. Always rest forks, knives, and spoons on the side of your plate or in
the bowl. When you are finished with a course, place your silverware used
on your place in the 4:20 position.

9. Contin…
C. Napkins
• Use your napkin frequently
• Do not use your napkin as a tissue
• If you have to sneeze, turn your head away from the table. But don’t
sneeze with the napkin.
• Don't clean up spills with your own napkin and don't touch items that
have dropped on the floor. Then, simply and politely ask your server to
clean up and to bring you a replacement for the soiled napkin or dirty
utensil.

10. Contin…
D. While Eating
• Wait for everyone to get their meal before starting yours
• Don’t talk with your mouth full
• Take small bites
• Cut your salad into bite size pieces if necessary
• Try to pace yourself to finish at the same time as everyone else
• If you leave the table, excuse yourself and place your napkin on your seat
• When you are finished eating, place your napkin neatly to the left of your
plate, but do not push your place setting away from you.

11. Contin…
E. Passing the dish
• Pass food from the left to the right. Do not stretch across the table,
crossing other guests, to reach food.
• If someone asks for the salt or pepper, pass both together, even if a table
mate asks for only one of them.
• Never intercept a pass. Snagging a roll out of the breadbasket or taking a
shake of salt when it is in route to someone else is a no-no.
• Always use serving utensils to serve yourself, not your personal silverware

12. Contin…
F. Helpful Hints
• Gently stir your soup to cool it instead of blowing on it
• Spoon your soup away from you
• If you have any problems with the meal, quietly bring it to the waiter’s
attention

13. Paying the Bill
• You should prearrange how the bill is being paid
• If you are in a group of friends, then it’s assumed that it’s shared equally
among them.
• Make sure the bill is accurate
• Tip appropriately-
15% for moderate service
20% for excellent service

14. The Top Nine Rules of Phone Etiquette
• No matter the times or the technology, there is always room for good
manners. Whether speaking with people in person or on the telephone,
good manners and a reasonable approximation of proper etiquette are
always applicable. Below are the top ten rules of phone etiquettes.
• 1 - Always answer in a polite manner. Whether it's your land line and
home, your cell or somebody else's phone, always answer in a polite and
courteous fashion. Some form of greeting is good, such as a simple hello,
followed by a bit of identification, so that the other party knows they have
reached the intended target.
• 2 - Never eat when on the phone. It's just plain common sense. The
sounds of eating coming through the telephone are revolting and should
never happen.

15. Contin…
• 3 - Always speak just loud enough to be heard. Whether you are on the
phone at home, or on your cell out in public, always speak just loudly
enough to be heard by the person on the other end. Anything else will be
too loud for the other person and annoying for those in the nearby
vicinity.
• 4 - Don't answer the phone when engaged with someone else. If you
have a guest over for dinner and the phone rings, don't answer it. If you
are out on a date with someone and the phone rings, don't answer it. See
a trend here? Don't put the people you are with on the back burner so
that you can focus on someone who is not even there.

16. Contin…
• 5 - Don't call after nine o'clock. Unless it's an emergency or someone is
expecting to hear from you, don't call people after nine o'clock at night.
Most people are unwinding as they prepare their minds for sleep. Calling
after nine interrupts the routine and is insensitive to the needs of others.
• 6 - Generally make personal calls only after an invitation. Only dial
someone's personal phone number if you have been given that number by
the person that owns it.
• 7 - Don't use annoying ring-tones. While wild and crazy ring-tones on your
phone might sound amusing to you, the odds are good that they are
nothing but annoying to everyone else. Be considerate and pick a quiet
sensible tone.

17. Contin…
• 8 - When on the phone in public, refrain from talking about private
issues. If you talk about private issues in public, it makes those around you
feel awkward or embarrassed. This is rude. Don't do it.
• 9 - Always use some form of good-bye, when finished speaking. It is
considered good manners to offer some form or good-bye at the
conclusion of a telephone conversation, particularly if you aren't very
familiar with the person to whom you've been speaking. Doing so makes it
clear that things are over and it's time to hang up. Not doing so, causes
confusion, and possibly embarrassment.