When you are going to dine in a high-end restaurant with a good number of Michelin stars, you are automatically expected to show certain etiquette and you just can’t afford to behave any less than what is expected to you. The whole staff is trained to treat a certain type of customer and you ought to keep the bar that high, even if not raise it further.
When you go to such restaurants there of course is a long list of do’s and don’t’s that you need to keep in mind to make your experience smooth and more importantly, free of any awkwardness.
(Courtesy: The Cheat Sheet)
First thing to remember in such restaurants is that your primary motive of going there is not eating but socializing with the one you are going. Whether it’s a business meeting, a date, or a casual meeting with a childhood friend, you are going to meet them and talk to them/know them over food, not going to have food with them. Keep that rule in mind and things will automatically start falling into places.
Taking the hint from here only, the first set of rules includes not eating faster or more than your companions. All of you should be on the same plane throughout. Likewise, don’t order something too dissimilar with what your companions have ordered.
Talking of ordering, you need to be as smooth with the staff as possible. The first way of doing this is to not get confused with what you have ordered. Misunderstanding the dish you have ordered can ***** off chef as well as waiters and manager. In addition, remember that you are not going to eat primarily and hence avoid arriving at the restaurant starving. You will have to wait for at least 45 minutes to reach to the main course, while your company enjoys chats with light starters and drinks. So it’s best to leave home having had a little something.
Once you are there, remember not to sit down first, no matter you are the host or the guest. If you are playing the host, it’s your responsibility to guide everyone through their seats and then take the seat yourself. If you are the guest, wait for the host to tell you where to sit.
(Courtesy: The Motley Fool)
After you are seated comfortably, make sure you don’t keep your wallet, purse, keys, or phone on the table. Also pay attention on the handling of the utensils. Once you have taken a bite from a fork or spoon, it should go on the plate, not on the table. If you have to leave the table in between the meal, place your knife and fork parallel to each other on the either side of your plate. In case you are done with your meal, the cutlery should be placed in a 4 O’clock position on the table.
You should also mind raising your voice to call the waiter or to talk, rushing on to serve yourself, and ordering the food which is hard to eat.
At last, avoid the bill coming to the table. Give the card to the waiter beforehand to avoid post- meal confusion of who’s gonna pay.