What Table Etiquette Should Be Followed While Dining?

Table manners make dinner or luncheons a pleasant experience as there is nothing more annoying than sharing a meal with an uncultured person. While dining etiquette can vary from country to country, the general guidelines remain the same. Here we present you a list of table manners that should be followed every time you dine with someone whether that’s a friend, family, or a business client:

1)Before starting the meal, greet everyone already sitting at the table. Be sure not to sit until your host remains standing. If someone joins the table after you, then welcome him/her by standing from your seat and shaking hands.

2) As soon as you sit on the table, place a napkin on your lap instead of tucking it on your collar. Start eating the meals, only when the food has been served to everyone sitting there.

3) It’s important to maintain a proper sitting posture while dining- sprawling or banging your legs, tapping your hands, and using the table as a prop for resting your elbows are strictly prohibited.

4) Do not fling your arms while cutting the food and learn to use the fork and spoon smoothly without making any noise. Also, no not jab your elbows into other sitting beside you while cutting your food.

5) Do not reach across the table for something that is too far away as it may lead to accidental spilling or getting your sleeves in someone else's food. So, ask someone to pass it to you. If you are supposed to pass a food bowl or anything else, then move it counterclockwise around the table.

6) Always taste your food before adding salt or spices as adding anything to it before actually eating shows a lack of respect towards it. Also, before having water or wine, make sure you wipe your lips with the tissue paper to avoid the food sticking at the lips from falling in the glass.

7)If you need to leave the dining table during the meal, keep your napkin on your chair and stash the chair back under the table. There is no need to announce where you are going, or what you will be doing when you get there.

8) Avoid coughing or sneezing at the table. However, if it's a random one, then make sure you shield it by your left hand, keeping your right-hand germ free.

9) Speaking of germs: if you drop your fork on the floor, leave it there. It’s not necessary to dive under the table to fetch it. Simply ask your server for another one.

10) If you have finished your meal, then rest your fork and knife blade inward, with the handles resting at five o’clock and the tips pointing to ten o’clock on your plate.

11) Once the dinner is over, offer warm gratitude to your host for offering you the treat and make him/her assured that it was a wonderful time. However, if you are the host, then express your thanks to your guests for joining you there.

With these tips in mind, you are sure to leave a good impression on anyone who you are dining with. At the same time, we suggest you to match the mannerism with others as table manners may vary from one culture to another.