ETIQUETTE & PERSONALITY

Table Manners and Dining Etiquette Every Man Should Master

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Dining etiquette is a valuable skill, both professionally and personally. Having knowledge of proper table manners and settings can make formal situations more comfortable and allow a person to shine.

table manners

In the words of Colin Firth – the stylish smooth secret agent in the film Kingsman: The Secret Service, he said Manners Maketh Man.

Well, I couldn’t agree more, a man without manners is disrespectful and he is not a gentleman. Let’s face it, manners are not something that we are born with but rather it’s something we learn over time as a result of influences and encounters we have in life.

Good manners are something that we learn from our parents, society, our friends, books, movies, and sometimes the people we look up to in life – our mentors.

Today we talk about Table manners.

This is something that everyone should know, especially if their job or any of their activities that require this type of manners rely on them. Bad eating manners can easily disgust the people around you resulting in them avoiding you.

If you are attending some special meeting, business meeting or dinner with your colleagues, then you should learn good table manners.

The purpose of this article is to teach you the basics of table manners that everyone should know. Enjoy.

 

10 Essential Dining Etiquette & Tabe Manner Rules EVERYONE Should Know

 

1: The napkin should sit on your lap and not on the table.

When the food arrives unfold it, and place it on your lap then use it frequently as you eat to ensure your face is free of debris.

If you have to get up while you are eating, say go to the bathroom, you should excuse yourself and gently place your napkin next to your plate or on your chair, don’t fold it. As soon as you return and sit down, keep it back on your laps.

 table manners

2: Don’t eat until everyone’s ready to eat.

If new people arrive after the meal has started, make sure to stand up and greet them to then sit and continue your meal.

See also  The Gentleman’s Staple Drinks | Cocktails, Whisky and Wine

3: You start with the fork on the far left corner and with the knife on the far right.

And eating with the cutlery starting from out to inside.

 table manners

4: Keep your mouth closed when you eat.

No one in your company wants to watch you eat your food. Or hear you smacking!

5: You should avoid leaning over your food.

Bring your food to your mouth, gently, not your mouth to your food.

6:  Say “please”, “thank you”, or “excuse me” to every situation in which they may be appropriate.

Use words and phrases such as mentioned above and always say “excuse me” when you get up from the table. It will show that you respect others that are sitting at the table with you.

7: Keep your elbows low, don’t put them on the table.

There is enough cutlery on the table and the elbows aren’t any of it.

table manners

 

8: Use body language to get the attention of your waiter.

Never call for him loudly or snap your fingers.

9: Don’t touch your phone when eating.

This isn’t the time to toy with your phone or gadget. You should give your company full attention this time.

10: When you’re finished eating, place your cutlery parallel to one another on your plate and keep your space clean.

Once the knife has been used, it should never touch the tablecloth. While many people rest the blade on the plate and the handle on the table, it is proper manners to rest the entire knife on the edge of the plate when not in use.

See also  How To Eat Healthy This Holiday Season | 5 Tips

Once you have finished eating, the fork and knife should be placed parallel to one another at the ten o’clock/four o’clock position on the plate.

 

5 BONUS ETIQUETTE:

  • Be careful with liquor consumption. A drink after dinner is acceptable, but you still need to maintain professionalism.
  • Avoid ordering meals that you eat with your hands.
  • Be careful when eating messy meals like pasta or burgers.
  • If you invite someone for a meal, you should pick up the check.
  • At buffets, do not overload your plate.
  • Hold your drink in your left hand so your right is not cold and moist for handshakes.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

table manners

There are lots of other manners that you should know and apply. But the ten (10) we have covered here are the laying foundations that indicate you are a well-mannered person.

To learn the 20 rules every true gentleman must abide by, check it out here – THE RULES TO ALWAYS BEING A TRUE GENTLEMAN

Until next time Gents, Continue to do well, live well and dress really well. Be Classy!

Recommended: The Gentleman’s Staple Drinks | Cocktails, Whisky and Wine

 

Yours in Style,

Kobi O. Mbagwu (Mr. Kobi)
Founder, MrKoachman.com
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Mr. Kobi

My name is Kobi O. Mbagwu, a professional image consultant, menswear style expert, and entrepreneur who uses fashion, style and clothing as key tools in transforming ordinary men into extraordinary classy gentlemen.
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My personal goal is to help gentlemen dress better, live well, do well and develop a unique personal style that matches their lifestyle and goals. I believe that success can be built through style. I believe that fashion is a tool that can be used to change people’s lives positively. I also strongly believe that if you dress well, you look good, and if you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you worry less, and the less you worry the more you are able to stay motivated and focused on your goals pursuit and by so doing you are able to live a more fulfilling and successful life.

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My name is Kobi O. Mbagwu, a professional image consultant, menswear style expert, and entrepreneur who uses fashion, style and clothing as key tools in transforming ordinary men into extraordinary classy gentlemen. My personal goal is to help gentlemen dress better, live well, do well and develop a unique personal style that matches their lifestyle and goals. I believe that success can be built through style. I believe that fashion is a tool that can be used to change people’s lives positively. I also strongly believe that if you dress well, you look good, and if you look good, you feel good and when you feel good, you worry less, and the less you worry the more you are able to stay motivated and focused on your goals pursuit and by so doing you are able to live a more fulfilling and successful life.

4 Comments

  1. Geoffrey Rothwell

    August 4, 2016 at 10:30 PM

    You seem to assume only Americans read this or Americans need to be trained in late life to eat with some so-called manners. This is only one set of manners.

    For example when going to eat with a French woman, one of the set of the sexist women in the world, to be a gentleman you ALWAYS let them sit facing the crowd, with your back to other members of the same set of the sexist women in the world and NEVER let your eyes wonder to anyone in that set.

    A true gentleman knows the manners of every country, so please be a little more worldly!

    • Mr. Kobi

      August 4, 2016 at 11:45 PM

      Hello Geoffrey, thanks for your feedback. It will interest you to know that I’m not American neither do I assume my readers are American. I’m from Africa, Nigeria precisely and my articles except when clearly stated relates to all races. Having said that, this article was simply about general Table Manners for every gentleman and not specifically about Restaurant/Dinning Etiquette for specific races or country. Thanks all the same.

  2. Jab

    August 7, 2016 at 12:08 PM

    Dear Geoffrey, I agree with Mr Kobi, it’s a general set of rules which applies to everyone not just men, or Americans. We all know what our tradition requires and as such can apply them to this basic table manners. I still have to say it is a very good point you raised Geoffrey

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