5 Dining Etiquette Rules Every Man Should Abide By

By SLC@MRKOACHMAN | August 31, 2022

According to Bill Kelly, “Good manners are just a way of showing other people that we have respect for them.” It’s important to note that without proper dining etiquette, one stands a chance of messing up an important dining event.

Today we’ll be looking at 5 Dining Etiquette rules every man should abide by.

Now, these 5 great tips cover every type of dining engagement you would go for. Be it a romantic dinner with your partner, a dining event with your boss or colleagues at work, a formal dining occasion with guests and so much more.

So let’s jump right in, and look at the five major dining etiquette tips for every gentleman.

 

5 Dining Etiquette Every Man Must Have

 

#1: GOOD DINING ETIQUETTE SUGGESTS YOU ARRIVE EARLY

 

Now first things first, showing up early is a great first impression you’ll make when attending or hosting a dining event. It shows that you respect your host or that you’re privileged to host whoever you’re inviting. So be on time, but seriously, not more than 5 to 10 minutes early. Arriving five to ten minutes beforehand is best, and, it’s rude and disrespectful to arrive too early. So don’t arrive more than 15 minutes early.

Showing up late for dinner engagements can be very disrespectful – anything more than 3-5 minutes after the set time is really late. I know, sometimes we can excuse the ladies for taking “an eternity” to dress up, but as a gentleman, showing up early is the perfect good impression you need to establish for that dining engagement.

#2: DRESSING THE PART 

 

Having established the first point, we can then move to the next, DRESSING THE PART. This is also an important good impression to “paste in the plate”. Be it dinner with your formal environment or dinner with your date, dressing up nicely will always give you an upper hand.

If you have a problem with choosing what to wear for that dinner date, we have a number of exclusive publications on how to show up for that dinner date here. Check out our pre-date checklist.

#3: GENERAL DINING ETIQUETTE

 

Now I’ll be listing a number of basic table manners you should have when eating out.

• DINING ETIQUETTE SUGGESTS THAT YOU KEEP YOUR PHONES OUT!!

It is worthy to note that your phones should be turned OFF, or better still, ‘put on silent’ during dinner.

Being interrupted by incessant chimes and rings from your phones can be very disturbing and disgusting to your hosts and can form a very bad impression.

It also allows you to be present, not just physically, but socially during the dining occasion.

• EAT SLOWLY – TAKE IN MEALS IN BITS ONE AT A TIME

This point is also an important one to mark. The way you take in food to your mouth can literally determine the way people access you, and trust me, doing this the wrong way can be very disgusting.

When you eat, make sure your food is drawn closer to you, and not you pushing your face to the food. Avoid mouth irritating sounds like slurping soup, moaning when munching food, and if at all you want to cough, take the serviette (or napkin) and cover your mouth.

• AVOID REACHING INTO OTHER PEOPLE’S SPACE ON THE TABLE

Whenever you want to get something that is across the table, do not have your hands around other people’s meals- that’s bad manners. Simply ask someone to pass it down for you.

Also, avoid placing your elbows on the table during dinner.

• IF A CONVERSATION IS NECESSARY, AVOID “OFF-TOPICS”

Now if you really want to speak during dinner, note that the topic should be centred around happy events and probably the meal being eaten. Avoid sad, depressing, disturbing, controversial, and irritating topics.

Also when you talk, make sure they are no food crumbs left in your mouth. Your mouth should be totally munch free before you start talking. It is so irritating watching someone talk with their mouth full.

• HAVE A GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF CUTLERIES

When going for formal dinners, you should equip yourself with adequate knowledge of the use of cutlery. Ranging from knives, forks, spoons, e.t.c.

#5: NEVER FORGET TO PAY THE BILLS

 

 

Now, this point depends largely on the type of dinner engagements you’re attending. If it’s dinner with your girlfriend, then you shouldn’t expect her to pay. By all means insist you do and if she also persists after some time, you can leave her to do the needful. Do not try to pay behind her back though, you would want to build your trust with her.

However, if it is a business date, then the host of course will sort the bills. If you’re the host, then it’s more polite not to ask for contributions. If it’s a social gathering with your buddies, then you could plan the date and contribute all-around.

#5: OFFER HER A RIDE HOME

This last point covers romantic dates with your girlfriend. After a romantic date with your girl, you should offer her a ride home. Even if you assume she’ll reject, it’s best to just allow her to be the judge instead of assuming matters.

Most especially when you’re the host, this gesture is polite and shows that you acknowledge having that moment with her.

FINAL NOTE

On a final note, the above-mentioned etiquettes can only be mastered when practised regularly either at home or in any restaurant. You cannot continue having bad table manners and keep on telling yourself that will change.

The change should start now that you’ve been equipped with the knowledge pertaining to proper dining etiquette.

You don’t know what sort of dining occasion you’ll find yourself in the nearest future. Trust me, by following these little details, that dinner will be a success.

Thank you so much for stopping by and for reading till the end. Until next time, continue to do well, live well, and dress really well. Stay Classy, always!

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