#dining-etiquette

#dining-etiquette

"You used to have to dress up to go out to lunch," says the fashion designer, cabaret singer, and foremost man-about-town Isaac Mizrahi. "I really liked the idea of having a reason to put on a coat and tie. But over the years, everything has become much more casual. Now you go in a sweatshirt, and it's okay because everybody around you is dressed like that."

If this has become a social norm, I am as unaware as you are. When guests are invited to a celebration, it is the host's responsibility to treat them unless it is understood when the invitation is issued that everyone will be expected to pay for the meal. The next time this person invites you somewhere, make sure to ask whether you will be splitting the bill. That way there will be no surprises.

Holidays can be notoriously challenging to manage dinner reservations, particularly at quality establishments that are high in demand. Valentine's Day is one such event that calls for a certain amount of finesse. While it might be tempting to skip off to one of the restaurant chains advertising Valentine's Day deals rather than one of the most romantic restaurants in the U.S., a bit of intentional planning can help you and your loved one enjoy a relaxed and romantic evening.

I'm glad many of you out there are feelin' good and lookin' svelte, but if we're friends going out to dinner together and you're taking Ozempic or any other GLP-1s, I feel like you need to disclose this when we're deciding where to go since you won't be eating or drinking very much. Like, let's skip the tasting menu or the dim sum feast and get sushi instead.

Apparently, the former prime minister began by painstakingly checking what every other occupant of the table was planning to have, canvassed the waiter's opinion, then spent 10 minutes fussing about whether the dover sole was too big, before asking the waiter (answer: no), then trying, unsuccessfully, to get his mate to enter into a coalition and share the sole with him, before capitulating and plumping for the penne arrabbiata.

French cuisine is celebrated the world over for its delicious sauces, use of locally sourced seasonal ingredients, innovative chefs, and intricate, centuries-old traditions and techniques. While French restaurants evoke images of haute cuisine - fancy kitchens, world-famous chefs, and artfully presented plates of delicately flavored food - French cooking is also a gastronomic feast of rustic cooking, soups, stews, and roasted meats that balance sophistication and simplicity, tradition and taste.

Jenna Bush Hager, the former president's daughter, revealed her father's hack on an episode of the Today show. She explained, "He'll call the restaurant and order the meal before we get there so we don't have to wait. He has a little bit of a restless personality." Bush apparently has someone on his staff send him over the menu, and then call his family to take their order, too. It speeds up the process so much that they can be finished eating in 30 minutes.

You should feel proud of yourself for handling an awkward situation graciously.

When dining at a European restaurant, it's crucial to understand the difference between ordering à la carte and requesting a menu, as this can significantly affect your dining experience.

"I don't drink and I should not have to subsidize others' bar bills," Oakland Park resident Mary Damiano wrote.

At ramen restaurants, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili oil aren't meant for ramen; they're designed for gyoza, a popular dipping dish.

Miss Manners suggests that the question about the soda water's availability should be clarified with each restaurant to ensure adherence to their policies.