Dining Etiquette
Questions and Answers
Q: Why are meals part of interviews?
A: Employers may want to see you in a more social situation to see how you
conduct yourself, particularly if the job for which you are interviewing
requires a certain standard of conduct with clients and superiors. You could
be critically scrutinized on your table manners and conduct. On a practical
level, interviews that last for several hours may extend through mealtimes,
and the employer is acting as a gracious host to provide you with meals. The
meal is a time to visit and interact, and this is always more important than
the function of eating.
Q: Who should sit down first?
A: You should wait for your interviewer/host to ask you to sit down before
taking your seat. If he/she doesn't ask you to sit, wait for him/her to be
seated, then sit.
Q: Is it okay to sit with my legs crossed?
A: You should not push your chair back and cross your legs until the meal is
completely finished. During the meal, sit up straight and keep your feet
flat on the floor or cross your legs at the ankle. Crossing your legs during
the meal can cause you to slouch, and looks too casual.
Q: Which salad plate, bread and butter plate, and
drinks are mine?
A: Your salad plate and bread and butter plate are on your left, above your
fork. Your beverages are on the right above your spoon. Remember: Solids on
the left, liquids on the right.
Q: Which fork is for what?
A: Always use your silverware from the outside in. So if you have two forks,
the outside fork is for salad and the fork closest to the plate is for your
main course. The silverware will be removed as you finish each course. There
may be a third fork outside the salad fork for appetizers. Usually no more
than three utensils are placed on each side of the place setting. If a
fourth utensil is needed, it is placed above the plate and is usually for
dessert and/or for coffee to be served with dessert. (When you are seated,
don't play with your utensils or make them a topic of conversation.)
Q: What do I do with my napkin?
A: As soon as everyone is seated, unfold your napkin and
place it across your lap, folded, with the fold toward you. Do this
discreetly without flourish. If you need to leave the table, place your
napkin on your chair, folded loosely (NEVER wadded). Only after the meal is
over should you place your napkin on the table to the left side of your
plate (NEVER on your plate!).
Q: How do you wipe your mouth with the napkin? Is
it considered poor etiquette to wipe one's mouth with the napkin?
A: It is considered poor etiquette NOT to use your napkin. The purpose of
the napkins is to keep food off your face. Use it frequently to discreetly
dap or wipe (no ear to ear swiping, please) your mouth. Replace the napkin
on your lap loosely folded, not wadded and not stuffed between your legs.
Q: What do you do if you drop your napkin on the
floor?
A: If your napkin falls on the floor and it is within easy reach, retrieve
it. If you are unable to retrieve the napkin without drawing attention to
yourself, ask the server for another one.
Q: When is it okay to begin drinking and eating?
Does one wait until the host/hostess starts eating his/her meal at a
restaurant?
A: If water is on the table as you are seated, it is appropriate to sip your
water after everyone is seated and after you have placed your napkin in your
lap. For other beverages and foods, wait until everyone has been served, and
do not eat until your host/hostess has begun; when your host picks up
his/her fork, this is an indicator that you may do so. Do not help yourself
to the bread basket and other communal foods until your host has indicated
you may do so. If you pick up the bread basket, hold the basket and offer to
the person to your left, then serve yourself, and then pass the basket to
the person on your right. (Same applies to butter, salad dressings, and
other condiments that are passed.) The host/hostess may ask you to start
eating and you should comply with the request.
Q: What do you do if your host/hostess uses the
wrong utensil? Do you follow his/her lead?
A: You should eat correctly, but never point out errors of others. If you
don't know how to eat a certain food, follow the lead of your host.
Q: What should I order to drink?
A: Water, juice, or iced tea are safe choices. It is best not to order
alcohol even if the interviewer does. One glass of wine, sipped slowly, may
be acceptable. Know your own limits. You want to remain sharp and
responsive. Do not consume alcoholic beverages if you are under 21 years of
age! Coffee or hot tea after the meal is okay if this is offered and if time
allows.
Q: Is it rude or wrong to use multiple packets of
sugar/sweetener in tea or coffee?
A: Limit yourself to one or two packets of sugar. Tear one or both at the
same time ¾ of the way at the top of the packet, and leave the paper waste
at the side of the plate. Using more than two packets of sugar or artificial
sweetener may be seen as excessive.
Q: What is an
appropriate way to explain a food allergy?
A: Refrain from talking about health during meals and in business
situations. If you know the menu in advance, you can let your host know
ahead of time that you cannot eat a certain food. Be pleasant about your
request, and apologize for any inconvenience. This allows your host to make
arrangements for you. If food you cannot eat is served to you at a meal,
simply leave it. Be discreet and pleasant if you are asked why you are not
eating. In a restaurant where you are ordering from the menu, you can
explain any allergies discreetly to your server. Again, be pleasant and
don't call attention to yourself or make this a topic of conversation.
Q: What do you do if the menu is fixed and you are
served something you do not want?
A: Be polite and appreciative. Never criticize or state a dislike for a food
that is served to you (something we all should have learned by age 5). This
is insulting to your host. Simply eat foods you do like, and make an attempt
to taste unfamiliar foods. If you are asked point blank if you like
something, and it would be an obvious untruth to say you do, say something
gracious like, "It's different," or "I'm not accustomed to this flavor, but
I'm glad for the opportunity to try this." The job for which you are
interviewing may involve business travel and dining in other other cultures
than your own. You could be evaluated for you grace in such situations.
Q: What if I order from the menu but am served the
wrong thing.
A:
If it's a major mistake, you can discreetly mention this to the server
immediately so that it can be corrected. If the error is small — you didn't
want tomatoes, but they are served to you, or you received the wrong side
dish — ignore it. Fussing over food can make you look childish, finicky and
concerned with the wrong things (not assets in a job candidate). Your goal
is to appear gracious.
Q: What is appropriate to order for dinner?
A: Simple foods that are easily eaten with a fork and knife (meats, simple
salads and soups). Avoid spaghetti or other things with red sauce, huge deli
sandwiches, greasy hand held items like pizza, and gassy foods like beans,
broccoli, or cauliflower. Sometimes you may not have a choice. Follow your
host's lead.
Q: Is it best to avoid ordering a food if you can't
pronounce its name?
A: No. If you'd like it, ask the server to describe the food, and
point to it on the menu.
Q: How are things like the bread basket, butter and
salad dressings passed?
A: When your host indicates ("Please help yourself to bread," or something
similar), the person closest takes the service plate/basket, offers it to
the person on his left, helps himself, and passes to the person on his
right. Always include the service plate in passing; don't, for example, lift
the salad dressing bowl off the service plate and pass the bowl by itself.
Foods should go from the service plate to your plate, never to your mouth.
Butter should be placed on your bread and butter plate, not directly on your
bread. Don't touch other people's food, and never use your used utensils to
obtain food from a service plate.
Q: Is it okay to spread butter on my entire roll at
one time?
A: No. It is appropriate to break off a bite-sized piece of your roll,
butter it and eat it, one bite at a time. If the piece you break off is
slightly too big to make one bite, it's fine to eat it in two bites, and
much better than stuffing a too-large bite into your mouth.
Q: Is it okay to cut your salad if the lettuce
pieces are too large?
A: Yes. Cut a few bites at a time; don't slice and dice the entire salad at
once. It is preferable to cut large salad pieces than to attempt to stuff
large bites of food in your mouth.
Q: How do I eat and answer questions at the same
time?
A: By taking very small bites, so you can quickly finish and swallow the
bite before speaking. Never speak with food in your mouth. You may not have
much time to eat if you are being asked a lot of questions; remember that
the main point of the meal is to interact and eating is secondary. You can
initiate asking your host questions so that the conversation is more
balanced and you have more time to eat. Don't eat too quickly, and don't
attempt to hurridly scarf down all your food. A large, hurridly-eaten meal
can make you drowsy and uncomfortable; a disadvantage if you have
interviewing after the meal.
Q: How should soup be consumed?
A: Dip your spoon away from yourself to fill your spoon with soup. Rest your
spoon periodically. When a service plate under the soup bowl is provided,
always place your spoon on the service plate behind the bowl. If no service
plate is provided, obviously you rest your spoon in the soup bowl. Used
utensils are never placed on the table. Sip quietly. To finish the last bit
of soup, you may slightly tip your bowl to fill your spoon.
Q: Should one go
out of his/her way to use utensils when he/she is eating finger food?
A: When in doubt, eat with a utensil rather than with your fingers, even
those foods (like french fries) that you may eat by hand at home. If
something is served on a plate, you should use utensils! Chicken, or any
other meat with a bone, is not finger food; you should use the knife and
fork.
Q: If you are wearing a nametag and are having
problems with it, what is the appropriate course of action?
A: If the nametag is not sticky and keeps falling off on the table or on the
floor, remove it. If the nametag is in your way, move it.
Q: Is it better to spear or scoop food?
A: Scooping or spearing depends on the type of the food. Do not jab at your
food; try to scoop and spear in the same action.
Q: How does one indicate having finished an
appetizer or soup? Should the fork or spoon be placed in or out of the bowl?
A: When a service plate is used under the food vessel, always rest your
utensil on the service plate behind the food vessel. Obviously if there is
no service plate, rest your utensil in the food vessel. Your utensil always
rests with the handle to your right. Never place a used utensil on the
table. If plates are being cleared and you are not finished, simply lift
your utensil as though you are in the process of eating. However, don't lag
behind the rest of the diners; if everyone else is finished, and you're not,
simply leave the remaining food.
Q: Do you always pass the salt with the pepper,
even if someone asks for salt only?
A: Yes, always pass the salt and the pepper together. It is also considered
rude to use it first before passing it to the person who asked for it.
Q: Is it rude to season your food before tasting
it?
A: Yes. This is an insult to the chef. You should not salt and pepper your
food before tasting it. Try a bite first, then season if necessary. Don't
over season; this can appear childish.
Q: What do you do if there is a hair in the food?
A: You have a few choices if you find hair in the food. You can discreetly
remove it, eat around it, or politely ask the server to bring you another
plate. In any case, do not cause a scene and do not spoil the appetites of
others at the table.
Q: Do you announce to the table if you need to be
excused? What is the appropriate way?
A: You can excuse yourself from the table by saying, "Excuse me"; you do not
need to offer an explanation. If you must leave during the meal, you can
indicate whether you are finished eating through proper placement of your
utensils. Ten and four o'clock (handles at four, knife blade toward you)
indicates you are finished. Three o'clock to center (handles at three)
indicated you are not finished. Do not rest utensils or utensil handles on
the table.
Q: If a lady were to get up during the meal, should
all men get up too?
A: Yes, men should rise when a lady leaves the table. It is not necessary to
completely stand for a temporary departure. Simply rise off the seat to
acknowledge her leaving.
Q: Is it appropriate to put eye drops (for contact
lenses) in my eyes at the table?
A: Absolutely not. No grooming of any kind should be done at the table. You
should excuse yourself for this purpose.
Q: If you are a slow eater, should you finish completely or just quit when
everyone else is finished?
A: Try to stay with the pace of the meal so that you don't hold up the
remaining courses. If you are lagging behind, when the others are done
eating, don't make them wait on you too long.
Q: Is it ever OK to remove your jacket for heat or other reasons? Is it
appropriate to ask? Does this differ for males and females?
A: As a general rule, follow the lead of the host before removing your
jacket. If the host keeps on his/her jacket, keep yours on. If it is
unbelievably hot, it is appropriate to ask the host's/hostess' permission.
This applies to both men and women. Keep in mind that some restaurants/clubs
require customers to keep their jackets on during meals.
Q: What is the correct response to someone accidentally sneezing on the
table (near the food)?
A: Respond by saying "Bless you," and continue with your meal. If the person
sneezed on your meal, don't eat it, but don't make an announcement about it.
Q: Where do you place the knife when you are
eating?
A: Put the knife across the top of your plate when you are eating, blade
facing toward you.
Q: What do you do with your soup spoon when you are
momentarily not eating?
A: When you are resting, place the soup spoon on the service plate, or leave
it in the bowl if there is not a service plate. When you are finished, place
the spoon on the service plate.
Q: Is it okay to lick your fork/spoon before
putting it down?
A: Absolutely not. Remove all food from your utensil when you remove the
utensil from your mouth. Do not take partial bites off a utensil; so do not
put more food on your utensil than you can place in your mouth with one
bite.
Q: What if your dinner fork falls on the floor and
you cannot get the server's attention?
A: Do not reach pick up dropped utensils. Wait until you get the server's
attention and discreetly ask for a new utensil.
Q: How do I call the server if I need him/her?
A: You can usually catch her/his eye, but if not, you may ask a nearby
server. If the matter is not urgent, wait until the server checks at the
table to make sure everything is okay; be discreetly on the lookout for
him/her to do so, so you won't be caught with your mouth full. Avoid getting
up from the table to hunt someone down. Remember the meal is not the main
purpose for your being there.
Q: What do you do if a piece of food falls off your
plate?
A: If the food falls on the floor, leave it and don't step on it. If the
food falls on the table and it is a big piece, use your fork and move it to
a corner of your plate. Otherwise, let it be.
Q: How do you let someone know he/she has something
in his/her teeth?
A: Be subtle and quiet. Do not bring it to the attention of everyone at the
table and do not embarrass the person. If it is someone of importance, you
may not want to cause him or her any embarrassment; so let it go!
Q: What if I get something stuck in my teeth?
A: Try to remove the lodged item with your tongue. If this does not work,
excuse yourself from the table and go to the restroom. It's a good idea to
go to the restroom after the meal to check your teeth and freshen up.
Toothpicks should be used discreetly and in private; never at the table.
Q: What do I do if I have a bone in my mouth?
A: If you have a bone in your mouth, remove it unobtrusively with your fork,
and place it on the rim of your plate. Any time something needs to be
removed from your mouth, remove it be the same means (fork, spoon, fingers,
etc.) that it went in.
Q: What do I do when I don't want to swallow
something I already have in my mouth (such as an olive pit or a piece of
gristle)?
A: If it went in with your fork, it should come out with your fork and
likewise with your hands. Move it to your tongue and onto the fork and
deposit it on the rim of your plate. No one should notice you doing this,
because the fork to mouth motion is a common one made by anyone who is
eating.
Q: How do you avoid eating a certain food? (For
example, onions on a salad)
A: Discreetly eat around the food and/or move it carefully to the side of
the plate or bowl. Don't make a fuss, and don't remove it from the plate.
Q: What should I do if my food is cold or doesn't
taste good?
A: If your food needs to be warmer but is not unbearable, you should just
eat it and not call the server over to avoid a scene. However, if it is not
edible, politely call the server over and explain.
Q: What do you say when you really don't like your
meal and someone asks, "How is your meal?"
A: Be polite and say, "Fine, thank you."
Q: Is it OK to rest your wrists on the edge of the
table in between bites?
A: Yes, it is all right to rest your wrists on the edge of the table or
place your hands in your lap, but no elbows on the table!
Q: As a left-hander, is there anything one should do differently?
A: If you are allowed to choose your seat, choose a seat where you do not
hit any other person's elbows.
Q: Should you clean your plate in any particular
way? (Push all uneaten food to one side?)
A: You do not have to clean your plate. It is polite to leave some food on
your plate. Do not push the remaining food around on the plate
Q: What do I do to signal I am finished with my
meal?
A: Your silverware should be parallel to each other in the ten and four
o'clock position (as on the face of a clock), with handles at 4:00 and tops
of the utensils at 10:00. The knife blade points toward you. Never place or
rest used utensils on the table.
Q: What do I do
when the check comes?
A: Typically in an interview, you are the guest and so the meal is paid for
by the company. Your host will most likely pick up the check so you won't
have to deal with it. Remember to thank your host for the meal at its
conclusion.
Q: What should I do if I feel sick during the dinner?
A: If you really cannot make it through the dinner, just excuse yourself and
go to the rest room. Return when you are feeling better or have the server
explain that you are not feeling well.
Key Points to Remember:
- Remember the purpose of the meal.
- Follow the lead of your host or hostess.
- Be discreet.
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