While dining out, I've noticed other faux pas that can ruin the dining experience for guests. Here are the Top 5 Restaurant Etiquette Tips for Staff and Owners that will improve your guests' dining experience:
- Avoid sweeping the carpet while guests are present, especially while they are dining.
- Avoid clearing plates until all guests at the table have finished. It is inappropriate for guests to have to say, "please wait until everyone is finished" as it makes all guests at the table uncomfortable, feel rushed, and makes the staff person look inept.
- Avoid placing a soiled napkin back on the table when a guest excuses him/herself momentarily. Some restaurants find that folding the napkin that has been placed on the chair and placing it back on the table to be a "nice thing to do" and "classy." However, as the napkin has been off the table and in ones lap, it should not be placed back on the table while food is present. Rather, simply remove the soiled napkin and bring a clean napkin for the diner.
- Place both a salad knife and fork, and a main entree knife and fork for each diner. Many restaurants only provide one knife with two forks and put staff in the awkward position of saying to "keep your knife," and the diners in the uncomfortable position of using a knife (now soiled) meant for the salad with their main entree.
- At a brunch buffet, avoid asking diners to use their soiled silverware with their second or more passes through the brunch buffet line. Diners know not to place their soiled silverware on the table linens, yet staff often ask them to keep their silverware leaving diners looking around the table for a place with which to set the soiled silverware. Simply remove the soiled silverware when removing the used plates, and bring fresh silverware for the diners for each of their trips to the buffet.
