Take The Dining Etiquette Quiz!

It is considered polite to excuse yourself if you need to leave the table during a meal. This shows respect for the other diners and acknowledges that you are temporarily leaving the social setting. It is a common etiquette practice to excuse oneself before leaving the table, whether it is to use the restroom, take a phone call, or attend to any other urgent matter.

The statement advises to sit up straight and keep your elbows off the table, particularly while eating. This is considered good etiquette in many cultures as it demonstrates respect and proper table manners. Sitting up straight shows attentiveness and respect towards the meal and the people you are dining with. Keeping elbows off the table helps to maintain cleanliness and avoid knocking over any items on the table. Therefore, the correct answer is true.

Spitting bones out directly onto your plate is not considered appropriate table manners. It is generally expected that if you encounter bones in your food, you discreetly remove them from your mouth using a napkin or utensil and place them on the side of your plate. This helps maintain a neat and tidy dining experience for yourself and others.

The given statement suggests that the water and wine glasses are placed on the right side of the plate. This aligns with the traditional table setting etiquette, where the water glass is typically placed directly above the knife, and the wine glass is positioned to the right of the water glass. Therefore, the statement is true.

It is important to always go to the bathroom to remove food caught in your teeth because it is considered more hygienic and socially acceptable to do so in a private space. Removing food from your teeth in public can be seen as unappealing and can make others uncomfortable. Additionally, going to the bathroom allows for proper disposal of the food particles, ensuring cleanliness.

The statement suggests that if your fork falls on the floor, you should apologize, pick it up, clean it with your napkin, and continue using it. However, this is incorrect. If your fork falls on the floor, it is considered unhygienic to continue using it without properly washing it. It is better to ask for a clean fork or use a different utensil.

It is not proper to explain in elaborate detail to others at the table why you do not like a certain type of food. While it is acceptable to politely decline the food, it is unnecessary and may come across as rude or offensive to provide a lengthy explanation. It is important to respect others' choices and preferences without needing to justify your own.

When dining as a guest, it is considered polite to be mindful of your host's preferences and budget. Ordering the most expensive item on the menu without any guidance or recommendation from the host may be seen as presumptuous or inconsiderate. Therefore, it is generally advisable to avoid ordering the most expensive item unless your host specifically suggests or encourages you to do so. This ensures that you are respectful of your host's choices and maintain a harmonious dining experience.

Blowing your nose into a napkin is not considered appropriate etiquette, regardless of whether it is done quietly or not. It is generally more polite to excuse yourself and use a tissue or handkerchief in a more discreet manner.

The correct answer is true because it is a common dining etiquette to use the bread plate located on the left side of your place setting. This plate is specifically designated for holding bread or rolls during the meal. Using the bread plate on the left ensures that you are following proper table manners and not encroaching on someone else's space.

This statement is true because it is a proper etiquette to spoon soup away from oneself and sip it from the side of the spoon. This practice is considered polite and prevents any spills or messes while consuming the soup.

Burping throughout a meal is generally considered impolite regardless of whether one says "Excuse me" or not. It is generally expected to suppress or control the urge to burp in public settings, as it is seen as a sign of poor manners. Therefore, the statement that it is okay to burp throughout a meal as long as one says "Excuse me" is false.

Passing both the salt and pepper even if only one is asked for is considered good table manners. It ensures that everyone at the table has access to both condiments if they desire. By doing so, it shows consideration and avoids the need for others to ask for the missing condiment. Additionally, passing both the salt and pepper together is a common practice and promotes a sense of unity and equality among diners.

Placing the fork and knife back on the table where they were before is not the correct way to signal to the waiter that you have finished your meal. In most dining etiquette, the proper way to indicate that you have finished eating is to place your utensils parallel to each other, with the handles pointing towards the bottom right corner of the plate. This position is known as the "resting position" and it signals to the waiter that you are done with your meal. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

Proper dining etiquette typically dictates that you wait until everyone at the table has been served before beginning to eat, unless the host or the person who has not been served encourages you to start. This shows consideration and respect for all the diners at the table.

In a formal place setting, the dessert spoon and fork are usually placed above your plate. This is because in a formal setting, the utensils are arranged in the order they will be used, from the outside in. Since the dessert course typically comes after the main course, the dessert spoon and fork are placed above the plate, closer to the center of the table, indicating that they will be used last.

The statement is false because when you have finished eating, you should place your napkin to the left of your plate, not in the center. Placing the napkin in the center of the plate is considered improper table etiquette.

Arriving at a party at least half an hour before it starts is not necessarily a display of good manners or enthusiasm. Different cultures and social circles have different expectations for arrival times, and it is important to be aware of and respect these norms. Some parties may even specify a specific arrival time to ensure that guests arrive when the hosts are ready to receive them. Therefore, the statement is false as it generalizes a specific behavior as universally good manners.

Holding a glass of white wine by the bowl is incorrect. The correct way to hold a glass of white wine is by the stem. This helps to prevent the wine from warming up due to the heat from the hand, thus preserving its temperature and flavor. Holding the glass by the bowl can also leave fingerprints on the glass, affecting the overall presentation of the wine.