Dining Out Etiquette

Most Americans love eating out including me. I've worked in the restaurant business for over ten years now and there are a lot of people that just don't know what to do or how to act when they go out to eat.

When you go out to eat first and foremost, please shower and look nice. I know this sounds mean or funny but I've seen so many people walk into a nice restaurant with holes in their shirts and they haven't bathed. Thats wrong to do.

If you have a really good waitor or waitress then tip them good 10% is not good. They only make $2 an hour and if you had a wonderful experience then why wouldn't you give them the respect that they deserve.

If you have children with you then keep an eye on them. Servers are not there to babysit for you. They aren't there to clean up a huge mess that you leave them because you don't want to pick up after your own kids.

If you aren't ready to order and don't know what you want then say something to them. They probably have other tables besides you. Its very inconsiderate of people to just take there time on ordering. Don't get me wrong, if you need suggestions then they will give them to you but if you aren't ready to order then don't say that you are and then have them wait ten minutes on you.

If you need things from the server then try and ask them for everything at once. Its a lot of running for one table of four if each person has the server go back and forth just once for each person. Most of the time the server will have to come back several times for small things such as steak sauces, extra dressings, or extra napkins. If you ask ahead of time then the server will be glad to get everything at once and have everything ready for you when its time for you to eat.

If you drink a lot then ask the server for and extra cup. Its not rude but sometimes when servers get real busy its hard to keep your cup full and its better for you to have something to drink then sit there and wait on someone.

If you have special requests for your food, make sure the server understands what it is you want or want done to your food. A lot of people have allergies and you should make sure the server knows whats going on. If you need no seasoning on something then make sure they know it.

Enjoy your experience and your food. Talk, joke, or socialize with your waitor. Get to know them and you will get better service. Ask for their favorites or what they think is the best thing on the menu. The servers normally know what the best and worst things are on the menus. After all they do work there and they are there way more than you are.

If you find a place you like and a particular server you like then go back to that restaurant and ask specifically for that person. The more you get to know that person and the more they wait on you, the better the service everytime. Make suer though that you tip those people better because if you are a poor tipping regular then your really aren't helping you situation of getting the best of the best service.

The biggest thing is just to be respectful to the server and staff and they will in turn respect you and you will get great service everytime.