Although they might seem like incredibly different experiences, dining out has a few fascinating similarities to a ballet. Sure, you could show up and wing it—as a diner or dancer. But it’s going to work out better for every individual involved if you come prepared, whether that means studying up on how to be a better restaurant customer and the mistakes you might be making at restaurants or practicing the sequence of moves.
Unlike ballet, which is optional, humans must eat—and we do so multiple times per day. At home, approaching etiquette in an informal way is often A-OK. However, the steps in the dance change when you dine out; something hospitality industry experts estimate the average American does five times per month.
To help you be the best restaurant patron you can be, we’ve coached you through how to smoothly split the bill, whether you should stack your plates after eating, and how to navigate the wine tasting sequence at the start of service. During my last dinner out, I found myself in another scenario I wasn’t quite certain how to pirouette through: “should I place my napkin on my plate after I’m finished?”
Our Panel of Savvy Restaurant Staff Members
- Matthew O’Haver, general manager of Golden Steer at One Fifth in New York City
- Dan Phan, founder of the San Jose, California restaurant group MO Hospitality
- Alexander Pratts, manager of Heirloom Restaurant at The Study at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut
- Kristen Prigatano-Singh, event planner at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California
- Maurice van der Linden, restaurant manager at Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort in Aruba
- Ashley Woodham, director of restaurants for PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Should You Place Your Napkins on Your Plate After You’re Finished Eating?
Soon after I arrived home, I phoned a friend—actually six, all of them restaurant managers. Each one had the same answer: If you’re using a cloth napkin, please don’t place it on your plate or in your bowl to signal that you’re done…