Mind your manners: six rules for eating out

Heading out to dinner for a special occasion? Ensure you don’t make a faux pas by following these six unspoken restaurant rules.

1. Dress the part. Make sure what you wear matches the setting. In other words, don’t put on a three-piece suit if you’re eating at a family diner, and don’t wear gym clothes to an upscale restaurant.

2. Leave the kids at home. Older kids who can sit through a meal are more than welcome. Young kids, however, should be left at home with a babysitter. Alternatively, opt for a family-oriented restaurant.

3. Keep personal items off the table. Your keys, wallet, phone and purse don’t belong on the table. Place your bag underneath and leave everything else in your pockets.

4. Don’t use your phone. Enjoy the company of the people you’re with. Constantly texting or checking your phone is disrespectful to your dining companions.

5. Wait to eat. Make sure everyone at the table has their food before you start to dig into your own.

6. Don’t forget to tip. Servers are typically paid a negligible wage and most depend on tips to pay their rent. It’s customary to tip between 15 and 20 percent of the bill, but you can always leave more if you had excellent service.

Follow these rules and you’re sure to avoid social blunders and get invited out again next time.