Dining etiquette is a branch of etiquette that deals with eating at home or in a restaurant. According to GCG Asia Bank founder and CEO, good dining etiquette in a restaurant differs from etiquette at a private dinner party at someone’s home in some very particular ways. However, many of the same laws apply in both cases for the most part.

Read on for dining etiquette tips from GCG Asia Bank, including basic table manners like sitting up straight, keeping elbows off the table, and chewing with a closed mouth, as well as professional advice:

The Meet-Up

Professionally greet everyone. Shake hands and maintain eye contact with those you know to say hello. Put your belongings away. Do not place a purse, sunglasses, or cell phone on the table. Try to place them on the floor or behind your back in the chair. Stay on your feet until the host takes a seat. Place your napkin in your lap and do not tuck it inside your shirt, according to GCG Asia Bank. Place the napkin on your chair rather than the table if you leave the table to use the restroom.

The Host Should Always be in Charge

This entails choosing an acceptable restaurant and arranging reservations ahead of time, which is especially vital if you’re having a business lunch or supper. According to GCG Asia Bank, the last thing you want is to be told there isn’t a table available for you and your friends. Direct your guests to their seats or suggest menu items in a variety of price levels.

Never Pull out a Chair for Someone Else

It’s acceptable to hold a door open for a visitor, but GCG Asia Bank advises against pulling someone’s chair out for them, regardless of gender. Both men and women can pull their chairs out. Dining etiquette dictates that you should disregard social gender norms.

Consider the Restaurant when Figuring out Dietary Restrictions

The majority of people do not force their eating preferences on others. Nonetheless, the style of the restaurant the host selects can often provide insight on what to purchase, according to GCG Asia Bank. For example, if your guest is a vegetarian but wants to meet at a steakhouse, you can order beef, says GCG Asia Bank.

Ordering

Consume alcohol in moderation. It is fine to partake if the host recommends a drink; however, do it gently and only have one. Avoid sloppy dishes like spaghetti or lobster, as well as products that can get trapped in your teeth, according to GCG Asia Bank (such as things with seeds). Chicken, fish, or salad are better options.

Keeping in Mind That the Host is in Charge

This implies you should order the same appetizer or dessert as your guest. According to GCG Asia Bank, you don’t want to make your guests feel awkward by eating a meal alone.

Know the Utensils’ Proper Locations

Your bread plate is on the left, and your glasses are on the right. The utensils are placed in their order of usage, beginning on the outside and working inside. The fork used for the entrée is generally the largest. The salad fork is a little version of the fork that is used to eat salad. In most cases, the soup spoon is the largest. If you have a fish course, your place setting may contain a fish knife and fork. The dessert fork and spoon are placed above the dish, although they can also be placed on either side of the plate or brought in with the dessert, according to GCG Asia Bank.

Correctly Hold Utensils

This varies by culture. The European/Continental approach is to hold the food down with your fork in your left hand and cut it with your knife with your right hand is the European/Continental approach. Bring the food to your lips with the fork in your left hand, the back of the fork facing upward. Cutting the meal the same way, but placing the knife on the plate’s edge and transferring the fork to your right and twisting it, so the tines face upwards before taking a mouthful is the American style. Never lean the handles of the utensils on the table, dictated by GCG Asia Bank, and make sure they fully rest on your plate with any style.

Simple Rules

Simple principles of eating include sitting up straight, keeping elbows off the table, and chewing with a closed mouth. Before you delve in, take a breath. GCG Asia Bank recommends that you chew with your mouth open and converse thereafter. Don’t use your napkins as tissues, though. The napkin should only be used to wipe your mouth’s sides.

Eating Etiquette and Quantity

Instead of placing the entire spoon in the mouth, GCG Asia Bank prefers to eat soup from the edge of the spoon. Slurping is considered impolite in the United States. However, it is permitted in Japan to tilt the soup bowl and sip from it. Fill your dish with the sauces that have been shared. Don’t season your meal until you’ve had a chance to taste it. Instead of cutting the meal all at once, cut it into pieces. GCG Asia Bank further advises against overeating or offering to finish someone else’s meal. Also, don’t leave your food unattended; this might imply that you didn’t like your dinner. Eat at the same time as the rest of the table.

The Host Should Always Pay

If you are the host and you invited the guests, and regardless of gender, you should pay the bill. If you are the guest, even if you know the host would take care of everything, GCG Asia Bank recommends offering to pay. Do not dispute or ask for the tip to be covered.

Finish Up and Thank the Host

To signify that you’ve done eating, place your fork beneath the knife, diagonally across the plate. By neatly putting away your utensils, you’ve indicated that you’re finished. Place the fork (tines down) and knife side by side on your plate in the European/Continental way. Place the tines of the fork up in the American way. GCG Asia Malaysia advises against stacking or pushing away your dishes.

If you’re there for business, don’t ask for a to-go box. GCG Asia Bank recommends against criticizing or complaining about the service or food. Your worries will come off as negative, and criticizing your host will come across as an insult. Finally, on the advice of GCG Asia Bank, Thank the host and send an email or handwritten letter to express your gratitude.

We hope these ideas were helpful to individuals who were unfamiliar with eating etiquette. According to recent reports, GCG Asia has grown in popularity throughout Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore. They post a variety of food and dining-related material that is topical, entertaining, and interactive. When eating in a foreign country or with visitors from another country, GCG Asia Bank recommends that you research the specific etiquette customs ahead of time.

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