Dining out should be pleasant for everyone involved, but there are a few little things people do that instantly kill the mood in an otherwise nice room.
Snapping fingers
Sharply clicking your fingers to get a server’s attention, waving your hands around frantically, or whistling like you are calling a dog are some of the rudest things you can do at a restaurant. Waiters and waitresses are people who work for a living; they’re not your servants.
Treating severs like objects shows a severe lack of respect. A polite gesture or simple eye contact is enough to get anyone’s attention.
Phone blaring
Whether you’re watching a video, scrolling through social media with the sound on, or taking a call on speakerphone, you are forcing everyone else in the room to listen to your business. Restaurants are public spaces where patrons pay to enjoy delicious food and conversation, not to listen to your favorite TikTok creator or conference call. Take your calls and videos outside or use headphones.
Chewing open
Chewing with your mouth open or loudly smacking your lips as you chew is one of the fastest ways to earn disapproval from your fellow diners. No one likes having front row seats to the visual and/or audible disintegration of their meal as they try to eat. Closing your lips around your food is one of the simplest principles of communal dining.
Stacking dishes
You may believe you’re doing the busser a favor by stacking all your dirty plates, bowls, and utensils into one towering stack, but you’re likely making it more difficult for them to carry without dropping or spilling anything on their way to the kitchen.
Restaurant servers learn how to carry dishes and trays for a reason. And placing your used, crumpled napkin in your partially full glass of soda just makes their job of cleaning up after you disgusting.
Treating poorly
The truest test of a person’s manners is how they treat service people. Getting angry with a server because the kitchen messed up, talking down to service people, or stiffing them on a tip because you’re unhappy reflects utter disregard for others and elementary social skills. Someone with class would quietly and politely let the server know they got the wrong order.
Pretentious tasting
Having the waiter pour you a small splash of wine to taste isn’t about impressing him with your knowledge. You’re simply trying to ascertain that the bottle isn’t bad or corked. Make a big production out of sniffing, swooping, and slobbering all over the glass while loudly spouting off about geography, and you’ll just look foolish. If you aren’t a sommelier checking the quality of a vintage bottle, take a quick taste and say it’s fine.
Stealing space
Leaving your personal belongings (winter coat, large shopping bags, purse, keys) strewn about on chairs around you or on empty tables is extremely inconsiderate. Restaurants are small spaces, and leaving walkways crowded with items you aren’t using doesn’t allow room for waiters to pass between your tables with plates of food safely. Keep your items under your seat or hang them on the coat rack.
Messy leaving
Digging into your meal and then leaving behind a disaster zone of torn sugar packets, napkins crumpled and tossed on the ground, and food slopped carelessly on the table is super trashy. Sure, it’s the employees’ job to clean the table when you leave, but treating the dining area like a dumpster shows that you expect others to clean up your mindless messes. Leaving a relatively clean table shows respect for the staff’s hard work.
Squatting long
Occupying a table for hours after paying your check when there are people waiting outside to eat is extremely rude to the business and employees. Servers need to turn tables to make money from tips, and if you’re hogging a table, you’re stopping them from doing that. Take your long catch-up conversation with friends to a nearby bar or coffee shop.
Grooming publicly
Flossing your teeth, clipping your nails, brushing your hair, or applying heavy sprays at the dining room table is rude and offensive to those seated around you. No one wants loose hairs, floating perfume, or debris from meals spraying onto their plate. If you need to check your teeth or touch up your look, excuse yourself to the restroom.
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