How To Behave On a Dinner Date

Making a good first impression is important. If your first date involves a meal here are some basic dining etiquette tips to help you:

• BE ON TIME

• If meeting outside the restaurant or showing up together allow him to hold open the door. When the waitress seats you, be the first to follow her.

• If the restaurant has chairs, give him a chance to pull yours out for you. Do not sit in the chair and scoot forward but place your feet where you need to sit and then gracefully pull the chair under you and be seated that way.

• Keep your phone in your purse and turn it on silent. Maintain a safe distance from the table with your purse. Unless you're in the bathroom, don't check your phone during the date. It makes no difference whether he is checking his or not.

• Place your napkin on your lap after your date does.

• Be sure to thank the waitstaff every time water is refilled, etc.

• Hold the glass by the stem if you're sipping wine. Take your time when sipping your wine. It's not water, so don't drink it like that. Wait till your date has their drink in hand before you start drinking (he may want to say a few words or cheers first).

• Put butter on your plate if bread and butter (or oil, depending on the location) are brought out. Instead of dumping the entire slice of bread into the butter, tear it into small pieces and consume them gently. Break the roll up in sections rather than breaking it all at once.

• Do not be the first to eat, wait until all of the food has arrived and your date has commenced eating. Eat at the same pace as him.

• Start on the outside and work your way in if you're at a restaurant with many forks and spoons for each course.

• If your date requests that you pass the salt or pepper, do so simultaneously. Do not place in his hands; instead, place near him on the table. If he requests something else (coffee creamer, for example), pass it to him with the handle facing him.

• Don’t talk with your mouth full, wait until you have finished chewing.

• Scoop food away from you, not towards you.

• To keep your meal cool, don't blow on it. Wait until it has cooled down before proceeding. Do not, under any circumstances, blow on soup.

• If you drop a utensil at any point, pick it up and set it aside and do not use it again. If you cannot reach it, let the waitstaff know when they are at the table and ask for a new utensil.

• If you're going to chop your food with a knife, put it on top of your plate with the blade facing you when you're done. Only cut the bits you're planning to consume right away. Don't slice everything up all at once.

• If you order soup, do not eat the soup directly out of the bowl. Do not tear up bread or crumble crackers and put it in your soup. Tip your soup bowl away from you, put your spoon in towards that direction, fill your spoon ¾ of the way and put in your mouth sideways. Do not slurp.

• Never put elbows on the table. Rest your hands in your lap. Keep good posture and sit straight up even if you are in a booth style of seating.

• Never leave cutlery on the table that have been used. Keep them on your to-do list. Simply leave the dishware where it is once you've finished dining. Things should not be moved or stacked on top of one another.

• Try to avoid using the restroom halfway through the date, if you absolutely need to then be sure to be polite and say “please excuse me.” Do not mention that you are using the restroom. Leave your napkin on the side of your plate, do not leave it on the chair.

• Never re-apply makeup at the dinner table.

• Never remove food from or pick at your teeth at the dinner table.

• After the check has come be sure to thank him for the delicious dinner.

Please note: Some certain types of restaurants have different unique rules, such as Moroccan food or a Sushi restaurant. Research and behave accordingly.