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Objectives

• To illustrate basic table settings. • To examine basic table manners. • To describe manners for dining in a

restaurant.

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Table Settings

• Consist of:– informal table setting– formal table setting

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Informal Dining Occasion

• Examples include:– lunch in a casual restaurant– dinner party at a friend’s house– picnic at a park

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Informal Table Setting

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Formal Dining Occasion

• Examples include:– dinner in an upscale restaurant– special occasion, such as a wedding, where

the meal is formally served

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Formal Table Setting

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Table Manners

• Include properly:– being seated– using napkin– using utensils– seasoning, cutting

and chewing

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Table Manners

• Involve knowing:– basics of serving– beverage etiquette– conversation etiquette– cell phone etiquette– end-of-meal etiquette

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Manners of Being Seated

• Involve:– sitting down after

everyone is present at the table

– letting the hostess and the guest(s) of honor sit first

• In a formal setting– allowing a man to hold the chair for a lady

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Manners of Using Napkins

• Involve:– putting the napkin in your lap as soon as sitting

down– unfolding, not snapping to open– using the napkin to pat, not to wipe, your lips– putting the napkin to the left side of your plate

when leaving your seat– leaving the napkin loosely-

folded in the center of the place setting at the end of the meal

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Manners of Using Utensils

• Include:– using the utensils from outside to inside– using smaller knives and forks for salads or

appetizers and larger ones for the main course

Fingers or Fork?It is okay to use your fingers in an informal setting and the food is not easily handled with a fork, such as pizza, taco or sandwich. In a formal setting, such as an upscale restaurant, a fork should be used.

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Manners of Holding Utensils

• Include:– American style

• involves using your dominant hand to cut the food, placing the knife along the upper edge of the plate, and then switching to the fork to eat the food

– Continental style• does not involve

switching utensils from one hand to the other

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Manner of Resting Utensils

• When taking a break from eating– American style

• placing the knife along the upper edge of the plate and the fork at the three o’clock position

– Continental style• placing the knife and

fork in a “V” shape

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Manners of Resting Utensils

• At the end of a course– laying the knife and fork at the 4:20 clock

position to indicate the course is finished

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Manners of Seasoning, Cutting & Chewing

• Include:– always tasting your food before seasoning it– cutting the food into one or two pieces at a time

because cut food tends to cool and dry out more easily

– chewing well and swallowing before taking another bite

– not talking with your mouth full

or chewing with your mouth open

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Formal Service

• Involves:– wait staff serving each course individually to each

diner– each course being plated in the kitchen and then

served to each person• Requires:

– waiting to start your meal until everyone is seated and the host lifts his fork

– putting down utensils when the host offers a toast or blessing

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Informal Service

• Includes buffet style– placing food in a public area where the diners

serve themselves– starting the meal once are seated

• at an event such as a wedding or business buffet, wait to begin the meal until most people are served or the host provides invitation to begin

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Informal Service

• Includes family style – allowing diners to share dishes and make

choices in selecting foods and serving sizes– passing around plates while guests help

themselves• dishes should be passed in only

one direction to avoid a traffic jam

• dish handles should be passed toward the person receiving them

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Beverage Etiquette

• Includes:– blotting your lips with a napkin before taking a

drink– not taking a drink when you have food in your

mouth– taking only one

or two sips at a time– sipping quietly when

using a straw

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Conversational Etiquette

• Includes:– not talking and eating at

the same time– keeping eye contact with

the person you are addressing

– being a good listener– not using offensive language – not talking about sensitive topics – making positive comments about the meal

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Ending-the-Meal Etiquette

• Includes:– placing the utensils at the 4:20 clock position– loosely folding the napkin and placing it to the

left of the place setting– pushing your chair back under the table– thanking the host

and the cook

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Cell Phone Etiquette

• Includes:– turning your cell phone to

vibrate or off in formal occasions

– not texting or checking your cell phone at the dining table

– if you are expecting an important call, inform and apologize to your dining companions beforehand

– excusing yourself and leaving the table to take an emergency call

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Dining Out Etiquette

• Involves properly:– being seated– ordering– paying the bill– tipping

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Seating Etiquette When Dining Out

• Includes:– asking to be seated once two people of the group

have arrived• they can hold the reservation until the others arrive• they should alert the maître d’ to direct the others

to the table – ladies walking directly behind the maître d’ while

men following after them– asking politely when requiring a different seat

In social occasions, it is a nice tradition for men to hold chairs for the ladies

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Ordering Etiquette

• Includes:– telling your server if your

table needs more time – closing the menu to signal

you are ready to order– making the request while

ordering if any small modifications need to be made (e.g., dressing on the side),

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Ordering Etiquette

• Includes:– asking the cost of daily specials if interested– ordering easy-to-eat food if planning to have a

conversation– avoiding unfamiliar

food in formal settings

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Paying Etiquette

• For the host:– asking the server in advance to present the

check to you after the meal, or,– before the meal ends, leaving the table and

taking care of the payment discreetly

• For separate checks:– letting your server know

before orders are placed when the table need separate checks

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Tipping Etiquette

• Involves:– tipping with a reasonable amount – usually 15

to 20 percent – tipping on the pretax, not on the total – tipping extra when:

• waiter has been particularly helpful

• when you stay at a restaurant for an extended length of time

• tipping discreetly

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Assessment

1. Which of the following is an example of a formal dining occasion?

A. A picnic at a park

B. A lunch in a casual restaurant

C. A wedding where the meal is served

D. A dinner party at a friend’s house

 

2. Which of the following is an appropriate way to use a napkin?

A. Putting the napkin on the chair when leaving your seat

B. Using the napkin to wipe your lips

C. Putting the napkin in your lap as soon as sitting down

D. Snapping to open the napkin

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Assessment

3. It is INAPPROPRIATE to use your fingers for which of the following food?

A. PizzaB. SteakC. TacoD. Sandwich

4. Which of the following is a proper manner when having a conversation during the meal?

E. Talking and eating at the same timeF. Keeping eye contact with the person you are

addressingG. Making any comments about the meal, positive or

negative H. Talking about sensitive topics

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Assessment

5. Which of the following is INAPPROPRIATE when ordering in a restaurant?

A. Closing the menu to signal you are ready to orderB. Asking the cost of daily specials if any interest youC.Telling the server if your table needs more timeD.Ordering unfamiliar food because it is

adventurous

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Reference

• Peggy Post, et al., (2011). Emily Post’s Etiquette (18th Ed.). New York, NY: HarperCollins

AcknowledgementProduction CoordinatorCaroline Huang-Loggains

Brand ManagerMegan O’Quinn

Graphic DesignerMelody Rowell

Technical WriterJessica Odom

V.P. of Brand ManagementClayton Franklin

Executive ProducerGordon W. Davis, Ph.D.

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