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table etiquette
• Find & unfold your napkin and place it in your lap as soon as you sit down at the table.
• Start with the utensils on the outside and work in.
• The dinner fork goes on the left side of the plate, then the salad fork on the left of the dinner fork.
• If you have a seafood or appetizer fork, it would be put to the left of the salad fork.
• The knife goes on the right side of the plate (blade facing the plate), then the spoon on the right of the knife.
• If you need a soupspoon, it would go to the right of the teaspoon.
• Sometimes the dessert utensils are put at the top of the plate and sometimes they are brought out when the dessert is served.
• Beverage glasses are put on the upper right hand side of the dinner plate.
• Salad and/or bread plates on the upper left hand side of the dinner plate.
• Use the butter knife to take a small portion of butter from the butter dish. Put the “pat” of butter on your bread plate. Use this “pat” to butter your roll/bread.
• When eating your bread, break off a small portion and butter it. Eat and repeat as necessary. Do not butter the entire roll/bread at once.
• Spoon your soup toward the back of the bowl. This will help eliminate drips and spills.
• Stand behind your chair until your hostess asks you to be seated.
• Wait to begin eating until everyone is at the table and the hostess picks up her fork/spoon.
• Do not reach for an item. Asked for it to be passed to you.
• Always say “Please” and “Thank You”.
• If you need to leave the table say, “May I be excused from the table” or “Excuse me for a moment please”.
• Always excuse yourself from the table if you need to blow you nose - never do that at the table.
• Sit with good posture.
• Try to keep your elbows as close to your sides when using your knife and fork as possible. You do not need to “flap your wings”. You’re eating, not flying.
• Do not talk with food in your mouth.
• Enter your chair from your left - the chair’s right hand side.
• Never put your napkin on the table until everyone is finished eating - if you must leave the table, put your napkin on your chair.
• Pass the food to the right when serving family style.
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