Good Table Manners

Just don’t do these things!

How to have good table manners – just don’t do these things!

• Eating with the mouth open
• Making noises; slurping, chewing loudly, burping
• Talking and gesticulating while eating
• Putting too much into the mouth
• Elbows on the table
• Elbows stuck out in a flapping-like-a-chicken position
• Holding the fork or knife in stabbing position
• Hunching over the food like a dog
• Eating too quickly (like there’s no tomorrow); and especially putting food in your mouth before you’re done with the previous mouthfull.
• Clinking cutlery like stirring a tea spoon loudly
• Don’t gesture with your cutlery
• Don’t double dip
• Overloading the plate
• Making a mess at your table with bits of food and spills
• Rocking your chair; getting up and sitting down noisily
• Sticking your little pinky out when drinking your tea cup
• Children should not leave the table without asking first

But they should not be left free to run around, play and annoy other patrons.

• Do not leave the table when someone hasn’t finished eating
• Don’t pick up dropped napkins, cutlery – ask for one.
• If you have to polish your cutlery, please do it discreetly or unseen.
• Do not put used cutlery back on the table.
• Don’t take pictures of food or of the restaurant or the buffet.

I’m guilty of this, I do this sometimes especially when I want to blog about what I ate. I try to do this very discreetly and swiftly (if I absolutely had to).
Also, photography is completely not allowed in traditional clubs.

• Don’t use your fingers or clap or shout hey or wave at your waiter.
• Don’t make a fuss.
• Do not talk down or be rude to your waiter.
• Do not gulp your drinks down.
• Do not get drunk!
• Do not adjust your plate or move the table settings around after it has been set
• Do not reach over, ask for the plate to be passed to you.
• Don’t blow your nose at the table.

Once, my friend’s brother got asked to leave an elegant restaurant in LA.

• Stop looking at your phone every 15 minutes! Please put your phone and other devices away and leave them on silent.
• Please do not touch up your make up at the table.
• Do not be stingy with your tips, especially if good service was rendered.