How to Get Better Service in a Restaurant

Get great service when you eat out

When restaurant servers are rushed, they have to make instant decisions about which customers to prioritize. Generally, customers who come across as experienced diners receive the most prompt and careful service. These customers are more likely to return, to tell other people about their experience at the restaurant, and to tip better. Whether or not you actually are a frequent diner, you can learn the restaurant etiquette that gets you the kind of service as if you were.

Instructions

1. Place your napkin on your lap as soon as you are seated. Many people forget until the food comes, or just wait, but experienced diners know to do this immediately. You might not be eating right away, but you'll be protecting yourself from spills from your water glass, a server who bumps you and other potential accidents.

2. Ignore your charger plate. Charger plates, which are only decorative, are often included in the table setting of fine dining establishments to give the table a more complete appearance. Don't push it aside and don't rest silverware on it. Restaurant staff removes the charger plate for you at the appropriate time. If the charger plates are not removed before bread is served to the table, it is still customary to only use your bread plate.

3. Avoid making substitutions or special requests when ordering your food (unless you have a dietary restriction). Pick something you want and order it as is. Changes are an annoyance to waitstaff and to kitchen staff, and experienced restaurant customers typically value the thought that was put into designing dishes by trained professionals.

4. Smell the wine before tasting it when it is poured, but never smell the cork when the bottle is presented to the table.

5. Add condiments to your food only after tasting it--and do so sparingly. Many fine restaurants don't even keep salt and pepper shakers on the table, as the food is served properly seasoned. If there are no shakers, and you request them, it may identify you as an amateur restaurant diner.

6. Keep items on the table where they were placed by restaurant staff. Glasses, dishes and serving implements are set according to etiquette and allow servers to access them when necessary with minimal invasion into your meals and conversations.

7. Indicate when you are finished with your course by using proper silverware placement. Imagine the plate as a clock. The handles of your silverware should rest at 4 and point up toward 10. The knife blade should face inward.

8. Eat what you can, but if you can't finish, don't ask for a doggie bag. This practice--which is rare outside the United States--is considered a sign of cheapness and a sure indication of an inexperienced diner. Doggie bags originated as exactly that: Wealthy diners in New York City would have the bones from their meat dishes bagged to bring home to their pampered dogs.