Table etiquette

Table Etiquette: The Basics

Compiled by:
Maria Carmela L. Domocmat

1/29/2012

What is etiquette?

the conduct or procedure required by good
breeding or prescribed by authority to be
observed in social or official life

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/etiquette

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Table manners

Table manners play an important part in
making a good impression.

http://real.nerch.gov.tw/webwmv/learning/940730/Table%20Etiquette%20Presentation.ppt

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Knowing table etiquette will put you at ease.

Sitting down

At a very formal dinner name cards will show
you where you should sit.

If there are no name cards on the tables, the
host will take you to the correct place.

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Sitting down

If you are at a romantic dinner, the man
should push the woman’s chair in for her.

Sometimes the waiter will do this.

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Let’s Practice!

Sit down please!

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The Menu

Read the menu to decide what you want to
eat.

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http://www.boldleafmedia.com/wp-
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content/uploads/2010/02/Dencios-menu-seafood.jpg

http://pho9n9.com/images/menu/9N9-Menu-2.png
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Ordering

Signal the server that you are ready to order
by closing your menu and place it on the
table in front of you.

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Ordering

If there is something you don’t understand on
the menu, ask your server any questions you
may have. Answering your questions is part
of the server’s job.

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Ordering

An employer will generally let you order first;
his or her order will be taken last.
Sometimes, however, the server will decide
who orders first. Often, women’s orders are
taken before men’s.

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Ordering

As a guest you should not order one of the
most expensive items on the menu or more
than two courses unless your host shows
that it is all right.

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Napkin Etiquette

Place the napkin on your lap.

– If it is small – unfold it completely.

– If it is big – fold it in half, lengthwise.

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Napkin Etiquette

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Napkin Etiquette

You should only dab
your lips and should
not make the napkin
dirty.

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Napkin Etiquette

Don't clean the cutlery or wipe your face with
the napkin.
NEVER tuck it into your shirt like a bib, no
matter how much you want to protect it from
spills.
Napkins do not belong tucked into your pants
or skirt either. They don't need to be secured
like that. Do not use it to wipe off lipstick or to
blow your nose!
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Napkin Etiquette

The napkin stays on your lap the whole time.

If you need to leave the table during the meal,
place your napkin on your chair as a signal to
your server that you will come back.

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Napkin Etiquette

Once the meal is over, you too should place
your napkin loosely on the table to the right
of your dinner plate.

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Napkin Etiquette

It should not be crumpled or twisted, which
reveal untidiness or nervousness.
Nor should it be folded, which might show
that you think your host might reuse it without
washing.
At informal occasion is used to clean up
mess that occurred during meal

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Let’s Practice!

Take the napkin and put it on your lap.

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THE TABLE SETTING

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Table setting: Informal Place

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The Formal Dinner Table Setting

The Cutlery or Silverware

Dinner Fork Soup Spoon

Salad Fork Dessert Spoon

Dinner Knife Butter Knife

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The Glasses

White Wine Glass

Red Wine Glass

Champagne
Glass

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M. Dessert Spoon
K. Bread Plate N. Dessert Fork
L. Butter Knife O. Water Goblet
P. Red Wine Glass
E. Soup Bowl
A. Napkin Q. White Wine Glass
F. Soup Plate
B. Appetizer/Salad Fork
H. Dinner Knife G. Dinner Plate
C. Dinner Fork
I. Fish Knife
D. Dessert Fork
J. Soup Spoon
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Your bread plate and butter knife are located
on your left, and your glasses are on your
right. A clue to remember what is yours:
– Liquids on the right, solids on the left.
Another clue to determine what belongs to
you is the BMW—not the car—it is a clue to
locate your bread (left), main course (center),
and water (right).

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Business Function Table Setting –
Four-Course Meal

Four-Course, Semi-
Formal Table
Setting

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Formal Business Function Table
Setting – Five-Course Meal

Five-Course,
Formal Place
Setting

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The placement and choice This place setting for a
of utensils let you know what formal business meal
will be served during the indicates what will be served
meal and the order in which and in which order:
the food will be consumed. The seafood cocktail will
be served first, soup
second, fish third, main
course fourth, and the
salad will be served last.

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Four-Course, Semi-Formal Five-Course, Formal Place
Table Setting Setting

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Stemware

The stemware is
used along with the
courses that will be
served at a
business meal.

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Stemware

The water goblet is smaller than the wine glasses.
The wine glasses start with the small sherry glass for the soup
course.
The white wine glass goes with the fish dish,
the red wine glass goes with the entrée.
The champagne flute for champagne, will be served at the
beginning of the dessert course.
Each will be filled appropriately with each course and then
removed when the course is finished.

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WHEN TO START EATING

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When To Start Eating

Wait for the host to take the first bite before
beginning to eat. Never start eating before a signal
from the host.
At a business meal where there is not a host, wait
until each person is served before you start eating. If
some guests have their food and they are waiting for
yours to arrive, be courteous; acknowledge the
gesture and tell them to please start so their food
does not get cold. This would be appreciated and
would show your good manners and consideration.
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Serving Food

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Talking To The Servers

The manner in which you treat your serving
staff will be noticed by others.
Your people skills will be reflected at the
dinner table and will make an impression on
your dining partners.
Use the word "please" when making a
request or asking a question. Make your
questions and requests clear and brief.

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Avoid barking orders at your waiter or
waitress. The establishment’s staff should
always be treated cordially in the name of
good manners, regardless of the situation.

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It is polite to say "thank you" to the servers only
when they bring something special that you
requested and after they have removed any used
items.
A simple smile and eye contact—not required, but
appropriate—is sufficient to acknowledge their
service. You don’t want to disrupt the flow of the
meal and conversation every time something is
brought to the table.

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Passing Food

Food is passed from left to right.
It is helpful to remember that everything of
importance is to the right.
– For example, the guest of honor sits to the right of
the host and food is passed on the right.

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Using the cutlery

During the first course of the meal, use
the utensils on the outside.

For example, the salad arrived, use the
fork on the far left. Entrée arrives, the
next fork.

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The correct ways to hold cutlery

http://britishetiquetterevival.co.uk/Table_Manners

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Eating Soup

Dip the spoon in the soup away from your
body.

Sip the liquid from the side of the spoon.

Don’t put the whole spoon in your mouth.

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Eating Soup

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Soup spoon at rest Soup spoon finished

http://britishetiquetterevival.co.uk/Table_Manners

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Eating Salad

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Using the cutlery or silverware

In most restaurants you will only find one
knife and one fork on the table.

If there are more than one, you should use
the one on the “outside” first.

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Cutting Meat

The correct way to cut your meat, whether
eating American or Continental style, is to
grasp your knife and fork in a relaxed, natural
manner, never with clenched fists.

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Cutting And Eating Food

It is proper etiquette (Cutting food into
to cut only enough small pieces is done
food for the next for small children
mouthful - one or until they learn to
two pieces use the utensils to
maximum cut their own food).
Always chew with
your mouth closed.

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Using the knives, forks and spoons

There are two ways to use a knife and a fork:

– The American Style

– The European Style

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The American Style

When you need to cut something, you should
hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in
your right hand.

After cutting off a small piece, you put your
knife and fork down, pick the fork up with
your right hand and eat it.

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The American Style

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The European or Continental Style

When you need to cut something, you should
hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in
your right hand.

After cutting off a small piece, you put the
food directly into your mouth with your left
hand.

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The European or Continental Style

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When you hold the knife or fork, you should
relax your fingers.

Never let the knife, fork or spoon touch the
table after you started eating.

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When you take a break from eating, you
simply put your knife and fork on the plate.

When you have finished eating, you should
put your knife and fork together pointing to
the left.

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Placing Utensils After Start Eating

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Let’s practice!

Look carefully how to hold a knife and a fork

Practice the American and European styles

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Eating String pasta

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Eating pizza with utensil

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Passing the Bread

http://www.professionalimagedress.com/dining-etiquette-seminars-bread.htm

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Eating Bread

Take some butter and put it on the plate.

Break a piece of bread off with your hand.

Put some butter on the small piece.

Don’t spread the butter over the whole piece
of bread.

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http://www.professionalimagedress.com/dining-etiquette-seminars-bread.htm

Eating Dessert

When the main
course is finished,
bring the utensils
that are placed on
top of the dinner
plate to the sides of
the plate: the fork to
the left and the
spoon to the right.
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Eating Dessert

Dessert that includes
solids and creamy or
liquid food may be
eaten with the fork in
the left hand, prongs
down, and the spoon in
the right. Eat with the
spoon. The fork can
serve as a pusher.

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Eating Dessert

If the dessert is
cake or pie, you
may use only the
fork. For ice cream
or pudding, use only
the spoon. Leave
the other utensil in
place on the table.

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OTHER IMPORTANT TIPS

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Posture

Sit up straight with your arms near your body.

Don’t put your elbows on the table.

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Seasoning Food

Taste your food before seasoning it.
– The kitchen staff has prepared the food with care and it is an insult to the
chef to add salt, pepper, ketchup or any seasoning before tasting it.

If dinner is pre-set, do try a little of everything
on your plate. Never criticize or state a
dislike for a food that is served to you.This is
insulting to your host. Simply eat foods you
do like, and make an attempt to taste a little
of unfamiliar foods.
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Seasoning Food

If you are asked if you like something, and
you don’t, say something gracious like, "It's
different," or "I'm not accustomed to this
flavor."

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“Please pass the salt”

If somebody asks you to pass the salt, you
should pick up both the salt and the pepper.

Put them on the table near the person next to
you.

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Salt And Pepper

If asked for the salt or pepper, pass both
together, even if a person asks for only one
of them.
Pick them both up and place them on the
table within reach of the person next to you.
They are never passed hand to hand. This
avoids the search for one of the shakers
around the table.

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Do not use the salt before you
pass it on.

Never intercept a No one else other
pass. Snagging a than the original
roll out of the requester should
breadbasket or sprinkle their food
taking a shake of when they have the
salt when it is shakers in their
enroute to someone possession.
else is a no-no.

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Talking And Utensils

It is inappropriate manners to keep your
utensils in your hand(s), talk and move them
as you speak.
If someone asks you a question while you
are still eating, after you swallow your food,
place your utensils on the plate in the resting
position, then start to talk, not before.

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Talking And Utensils

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Taking something out of your mouth

Cover your mouth
with a napkin and
get it out—
discreetly!
Food should go out the
same way it went in.
Your may take fish
bones out with your
hand.

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Cutlery or napkin on the
floor

If your utensils or
napkin fall, DO
NOT crawl around
on the floor to
retrieve—flag
down a waiter
and ask for
another.
104

Mirror, mirror on the wall…

Don’t primp at a
restaurant table
or in public.

Use the restroom
to groom!

106

Cell Phones

Turn off your cell phone or
switch it to silent or vibrate
mode before sitting down
eat, and leave it in your
pocket or purse.
It is impolite to answer a
phone during dinner.
If you must make or take a
call, excuse yourself from
the table and step outside of
the restaurant.

Text Messaging

Text messaging during a
business meal is
inappropriate.
Regardless of how many
people, executives,
congressman, politicians do
text messaging at formal
occasions, it is disrespectful
to send a text message
during a business meeting.

Allergies and colds happen,
but…
DO NOT blow
your nose at a
table. It’s alright
to pat your nose
with a tissue.
Otherwise, excuse
yourself and find
a place away
from others.

109

Never, Never, Never…

Burp
Snort
In general:
DO NOT make ANY
bodily noises that
are rude and
disgusting!

110

When you have finished

When you leave the table at the end of the
meal, place your napkin loosely next to your
plate.
Place all of your utensils on the plate
with the tip of the fork and knife across
the plate, pointing at 11 o’clock.

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When you have finished

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Dining Etiquette: Philippines

If you are invited to a Filipino's house:
– It is best to arrive 15 to 30 minutes later than
invited for a large party.
– Never refer to your host's wife as the hostess.
This has a different meaning in the Philippines.
– Dress well. Appearances matter and you will be
judged on how you dress.
– Compliment the hostess on the house.
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-
etiquette/philippines-country-profile.html
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Table manners: Philippines

Wait to be asked several times before
moving into the dining room or helping
yourself to food.
Wait to be told where to sit. There may be a
seating plan.
Do not start eating until the host invites you
to do so.
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Meals are often served family- style or are
buffets where you serve yourself.
Hold the fork in the left hand and use it to
guide food to the spoon in your right hand.
Whether you should leave some food on
your plate or finish everything is a matter of
personal preference rather than culture-
driven.
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Table Manners in America

Arrive on time or Courteous to hold the
early, especially if door open for male
you are the host and female
Pay for the meal in Business is
advance discussed during the
meal


• Wait to sit until host/hostess indicated the
seating arrangement
• Put napkin in lap before drinking or eating
• Order easy to eat food
• Don’t order the most expensive items on the
menu


• Wait until everyone has been served before
you begin to eat
• Bring food to your mouth – NOT your head to
your plate
– Salt/Pepper pass together
– Generally pass food to the right
– Rest utensils on plate while talking
– Do not talk with your mouth full
– Do not chew with your mouth open

Other Table Manners

Table manners please!!
– (No gum, no elbows on the table)
Be responsible for keeping up and positively
contributing to the conversation
Small Talk is appropriate – topics such as :
– Books, sports, food, theater, travel, current events etc.
– Follow employer’s lead

Table Manner DO'S

Sit properly (and straight) in your chair
Talk about pleasant things
Wait until everyone is seated before starting
to eat
Watch others, or ask, if you're not sure how
to eat something
Place your napkin on your lap

http://www.mtstcil.org/skills/manners-1.html
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Table Manner DO'S

Use cutlery to eat your meals.
Use a knife and fork to cut your meat
Never scoop food up with your fork the tines
should always point downwards.
Chew with your mouth closed
Don't talk with your mouth full

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Table Manner DO'S

Finish one mouthful before starting the next.
Never put your knife in your mouth, or lick
your plate.
Ask someone to pass the food, rather than
reach across the table

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Table Manner DO'S

Finish your mouthful before taking a drink.
Never spit food out.
Say “Excuse me" or "I'm sorry" if you burp.

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Table Manner DO'S

Say "no thank you" if you don't want a certain
dish or are full
Say “May I please be excused" before
leaving the table
Ask “May I get down please” if you’d like to
leave the table early.

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Table Manner DON'TS

Don't talk about gross things
Don't ask for seconds before others have
had firsts
Don't take more than your fair share
Don't overload your fork or plate
Don't gobble your food
Don't chew with your mouth open
gobble : a noise made in the throat.
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Table Manner DON'TS

Don't talk with your mouth full
Don't play at the table
Don't hum or sing at the table
Don't tip your chair or lean on the table
Don't eat with or lick your fingers
Don't push your plate away when you're
finished

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Table Manner DON'TS

No swearing
No loud or obnoxious behavior
No crude comments or topics

Subjects to avoid: health, gossip, love
life, politics, religion, race and
inappropriate stories or jokes

Finally…

Take time to say “please” and “thank
you” more often.

Don’t forget to say “Hello” rather than
“Hi”.

Say “you’re welcome” rather than “no
problem.”

Sources

http://www.professionalimagedress.com/dining-etiquette-seminars-
table-manners.htm
http://real.nerch.gov.tw/webwmv/learning/940730/Table%20Etiquette%
20Presentation.ppt
http://homepages.gac.edu/~wolfe/fts/2003F/presentations/mtepper.ppt
http://www.delranschools.org/9392011705335640/lib/93920117053356
40/Powerpoint_-_Business_Interviewing_Skills,_social_graces.ppt
http://images.eintellect.multiply.multiplycontent.com/attachment/0/RZPt
TQoKCqkAAHlSdEY1/Professional%20Etiquette.ppt?nmid=17207607
http://www.nysweca.org/pp/Success/Etiquette.ppt

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Sources

www.bartleby,com/95/
www.emilypost.com
www.etiquettehell.com
www.etiquetteessentials.com
www.udefineucom
www.lettgroup.com

13
3

http://www.fekids.com/img/kln/flash/DontGros
sOutTheWorld.swf

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Table etiquette

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