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Step 1
Unfold your napkin and place it in your lap immediately after sitting down at the table. If the napkin is large, fold it loosely in half. When you stand up to leave, place your napkin neatly on the table. If you get up to use the restroom, lay the napkin neatly to the right of your plate, but never on the seat of your chair. Don't use your napkin as a handkerchief.
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Step 2
Use good posture at the table. Don't slouch. Don't put your elbows on the table, because you can knock over glasses or plates. Don't reach across the table. It's not only rude, but you might dip your sleeves in somebody's dinner.
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Step 3
Wait to take the first bite until everyone at the table has been served. Match your pace of eating to the other guests so that you don't finish much earlier or later than everybody else.
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Step 4
Take small bites and chew your food completely with your mouth closed. Don't speak with your mouth full and don't slurp or smack. Nobody want to hear the sounds of somebody else eating. Swallow your food completely before you drink your beverage.
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Step 5
Place butter on your plate before you butter your bread. Break the rolls or bread into smaller pieces no larger than two bites, and butter each one before you eat it.
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Step 6
Eat soup quietly by sipping from the side of the spoon. When you're finished eating the soup, place the spoon on the plate under the bowl or put the spoon in the bowl if necessary.
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Step 7
Use a piece of bread or your knife to get that last bite of vegetables onto your fork. Don't use your fingers.
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Step 8
Turn off your cell phone. Use of the phone at the dinner table is annoying and disrespectful to other guests.
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Step 9
Say "please" and "thank you" whenever necessary. Be gracious and thank the host for his hospitality and compliment the cook on the meal, even if you didn't really like it. The cook dedicated plenty of time and effort into preparing the meal, so it's important to find something polite to say.
