Latest news with #restaurantEtiquette
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Common Restaurant Etiquette Rule You Probably Break Every Time
For a small handful of people, bossing the wait staff around is all part of the fun of eating out. For these individuals, it's just not a good night unless they get to send back a perfectly cooked steak, claim they ordered the opposite of what they originally said, or (Cardinal sin of service culture) click their fingers at a member of staff who's battling every facial muscle to keep their smile in place. Fortunately, these diners are in the minority and most people view being polite to servers as a basic part of restaurant etiquette. But even well-meaning folks can sometimes commit a dining faux pas. Maybe you want to save the busy wait-staff time by stacking your plates or you want to avoid rudely waving so you push your plate away instead, collecting all the crockery in the center of the table. Believe me, as someone who worked in service, I know (and appreciate) that you're trying to help, but sometimes these habits can actually make clearing your table harder for the staff. Los Angeles-based restaurant and hospitality consultant at Savory Hospitality, Salar Sheik, confirms this. Known as the Restaurant Rescue Guy with more than 20 years in the industry, Sheik explains that, "Pushing your plate away can make it awkward for servers to reach, especially in tight spaces or when trying to maintain safety and cleanliness. Servers are trained to stack plates a certain way to avoid spills and injury. The best thing you can do is leave your items neatly placed and accessible." Read more: 12 Things You Should Never Say When Ordering Steak While yelling and snapping your fingers are definite no-nos, Sheik acknowledges it can be hard to know the best way to get your server's attention when you've finished eating. What makes things even more confusing is that etiquette varies based on the type of restaurant you're in -- for example, fine dining rules are very different from what's expected in more casual settings. Sheik explains that, "Fine dining tends to rely more on nonverbal cues, while casual service expects more direct communication." According to Sheik, the best way to signal to your server in a fine dining restaurant is to "lay your napkin loosely to the left of your plate (not on the plate itself). For utensils, place your knife and fork together in the 4 o'clock position on your plate — parallel with the handles resting at the bottom right." However, in a casual restaurant, servers won't be so tuned in to these types of signals, so you may need to make eye contact to get a staff member's attention. Other cues Sheik recommends include leaning back in your chair or simply closing your cutlery on your plate to show you've finished. Sheik also notes that "a polite, 'We're all set here when you have a moment,' works well." For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How To Properly Order Food When You Can't Pronounce The Dish
We've all been there: You're visiting the Amalfi Coast, and you've navigated the Italian menu like a pro, made the perfect selection, and are ready to order. There's just one small problem: You have no idea how to pronounce the dish. Whether you're halfway across the world and the menu doesn't contain a word of English or you're simply trying something new at a traditional restaurant stateside, not knowing exactly how to pronounce a menu item is a completely normal and inevitable part of the restaurant-going experience. There's no reason to fear it, or worse, let it keep you from ordering what you truly want and trying new (to you) cuisines and dishes. Still, we'd all rather avoid making major restaurant etiquette mistakes at Japanese restaurants, for example. With a few key tips in mind, politely and properly ordering a dish you have no idea how to pronounce is no sweat. First of all, don't underestimate the power of gestures and body language (especially if you're in a country or region where you don't speak the language). Smiling, clearly pointing at the menu, and attempting to say a few keywords that describe the dish can go a long way. Pointing accompanied by a smile and a few apologetic words is arguably the clearest and most effective way to communicate your order. Read more: 8 Chain Restaurants To Visit If You're Looking For High-Quality Steak, And 7 To Avoid When ordering a dish you don't know how to pronounce, honesty is the best policy. Try saying something along the lines of "I'm not sure how to pronounce it, but I'd like this dish," accompanied by pointing at the menu. If clearly pointing at the menu isn't so easy (for example, it's one of those controversial QR code menus), start by saying you're not sure how to pronounce the dish, and then attempt to say it as best you can. Most waiters will be understanding and appreciate your efforts. Waiters are used to customers pronouncing menu items in various ways, some more creative than others, and with varying confidence levels (don't worry, no one else knows how to say "gyro" either). As long as you're polite, humble, and honest, they're usually more than happy to help -- and may even give you a free lesson in pronunciation for future orders. At the end of the day, communication is what counts. If you keep a friendly attitude and use gestures and words you do know how to pronounce to place your order, you'll be golden. Lastly (and most importantly), remember to enjoy your well-earned meal -- ordering a dish you don't know how to pronounce is a great sign that you're trying something new, and you may even find a new favorite. For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more! Read the original article on The Takeout.
