Luncheon Etiquette | 9 Table Manner Necessities

I started working in corporate America at a pretty early age. I began a co-op program with Shell when I was a junior in high school and stayed with them until my sophomore year of college so I was acquainted with corporate culture before any of my friends had stepped foot into their actual careers. In Public Relations especially, I spend a lot of time out at luncheons or event dinners and I’m always amazed at the lack of etiquette other grown adults possess. You would think things like chewing with their mouth closed and not slurping their drink of choice would be second nature to professionals but that’s inaccurate. These are the simplest ways I’ve learned to exercise not only mealtime table manners, but also cleanliness while sharing meals with others.

Speak to every person seated at your table

If you don’t know who they are, shake their hands and introduce yourself. If you’re going to have to ask someone to pass the butter or sugar, you better get comfortable quickly. The easiest way to do so? By speaking.

Use your napkin

When it’s time to eat, place it in your lap and use it as needed to pat your mouth or wipe your hands. I see people leave their napkin on the table only to use the back of their hands to wipe their mouths. If you get up from the table to go to the restroom, loosely fold your napkin and leave it in your seat.

Don’t overindulge

In other words, don’t order something that you wouldn’t pay for yourself. On top of it being inconsiderate of the host, consider something happens where you would have to pay for your six ounce filet and market price lobster. Not so appetizing now, is it?

Break dinner rolls apart

Tear enough bread off for a single bite and butter it. It’s pretty unsanitary for you to bite a piece off of your bread and use your knife to butter the piece you just put in your mouth. Same concept as double dipping, don’t do it. Speaking of double dip….

Don’t double dip

As a matter of fact, avoid dipping your food entirely. If anything they’re serving comes with a sauce, spoon some of the sauce onto your plate and stray from dipping food into the serving dish.

Pass to the left and right

If anyone asks you to pass the salt and pepper (always pass these together) or coffee creamer, pass it to your right or left, never across the table or over anyone’s plate.

Don’t scrape your plate

Try your best to avoid clinking your silverware against your plate or teeth. The sound of 15 people doing this can easily overpower any conversation trying to be had. It’s also especially distracting when there’s a presentation going on while you’re eating.

Wait to eat

Wait to dig in until everyone at your table has their plate of food in front of them. Meals are served a table at a time, so don’t worry about your food getting cold.

Start on the outside and work your way in

In professional settings most table settings won’t have this many items involved, but it’s important you recognize what’s what. Most venues will arrange the table setting to accommodate whatever they’ve decided to serve so you can comfortably begin using the utensils on the outside and work your way in. In an informal setup it’s perfectly fine to use your teaspoon to stir your coffee or iced tea and then later for your dessert.