What do you expect as far as etiquette is concerned?  If you make reservations at a restaurant?  Do you  cancel them?   You should!  When you arrive at the restaurant do you check in with the host or hostess?  You should; and,  if the rest of the party has not arrived you need to go to the waiting area or bar until the rest of the party arrives.   Most restaurants will not seat the party until it is complete.  If you are not happy with your table ask for a better one.   When referring to your waiter – call him waiter.  If it is a woman – refer to her as Miss.  In America, you do not snap your fingers or wave your hands.  It is your waiter’s job to notice his tables or ask one of the other waiters to ask your waiter to come to the table.  Do not talk loud, sing, or laugh loudly, shout, or toss objects during the meal since you will ruin others’ dining experience.  If the restaurant receives a complaint, it is their duty to tone down the noisy party.  A parent whose child is misbehaving needs to leave the room until the child calms down.  Years ago, restaurants had two menus:  the gentlemen’s menu had the prices and the women’s menu did not.   Today, all menus have prices and in addition the waiter recites any specials for the day.  The waiter will take the drink orders and leave.  The waiter should not be summoned to the table until all guests have closed their menu – then the waiter will return.  Ladies order first in some restaurants; but, in most cases, orders are taken in couples.  When wine is ordered the wine steward can help you make a choice according to your price range.  If you order meat – you select a red wine; and, if you order fish, you order a white wine.  When the wine is brought to the table it is given  to the person who ordered the bottle.  He will look at the label to be sure it is what he ordered; the steward will open it and place the cork in front of him .  A small amount will be poured in his glass to allow him to taste it and also to be sure there is no cork in the guests’ glasses.  Thank  him, taste it and then tell him to fill the others’ glasses.  If wine is not requested with the dinner do not turn your glasses over so that they cannot be filled – just say, “no, thank you.”

The host does not start eating until everyone has their meal.  If there is a complaint about the food at the table, the waiter should be called and the food returned for  replacement or correction.  The rest of the  party should continue eating.  After the meal,  none of the plates should be removed until everyone is finished.  I do not find that true today – the waiters will in most cases ask if you want your plate removed.  If you are through you can put your knife and fork at 10 and 2 o’clock  position on  your plate which signals you are finished.

Some restaurants have given poor service to women because they feel they take too long to order and finish.  Doctors and  college-age students also are pinned for poor service because they are poor tippers.  Celebrities are known to be big tippers – in some cases too much and others too little depending on their popularity.

There is nothing wrong with requesting a doggie bag.  It is usually given to you before you leave or at the door.   The tab or bill is presented as requested initially by the host or designated at the beginning of the meal when ordering.  Tipping is usually 15%-20%.  No tipping is required in a cafeteria or self-service restaurant.    Bartenders get 15 to 20%.  In more exclusive restaurants, you have other people who are involved in your meal in which you would consider tipping like the bus boy, musicians, captain, valet, and coat check. 

Bon Appetit!

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