Guest Author: Darren Wilson
Now and then, you go out on a fancy dining experience for work, a social engagement, or to treat your family to something special. There are many fine-dining restaurants Eastern Suburbs, so you’re certainly spoilt for choice. After all, the Eastern Suburbs is one of the metropolitan regions in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. As its name suggests, this area is located to the direct east and south-east of the central business district, making it the perfect destination for your gastronomic feast.
The most famous suburban neighbourhoods in this region are Bondi, Bondi Junction, Coogee, Bronte, Bellevue Hill, Darling Point, and more. The most popular spots here are Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach, plied with numerous restaurants from family favourites, fish and chips shops, diners, and the like. If you’re in search of a lux dining experience to impress a client, co-worker, or your lover, you will be delighted with your options in the Eastern Suburbs.
Apart from choosing where to have dinner, it would help if you remembered to be mindful of your eating habits. Your dining etiquette speaks volumes about your character when you are in this kind of social setting. Here are some tips to help you get through a luxurious dinner, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many utensils and goblets that are on the table.
Make Appropriate Reservations
If you are the host, you have to make proper reservations in advance. The last thing you want is to be refused entry when you’re already dressed to the nines for your night out. Request a quiet table if you are having a meeting. It is also good manners to know the food restrictions of your companions, so be sure that you don’t bring a vegetarian to a steakhouse.
Moreover, since you’re the one that made the booking, you know best how to dress up. Brief your companions about your restaurant choice, so they can match their clothes to the location. You don’t want your mates showing up in board shorts and wellies!
Be Considerate to Everyone
Proper etiquette is not just for the table, but it extends to your overall behaviour when you are in the restaurant. Be mindful of your companions. It is perfectly okay to open doors and help someone with their chair. Whether you are male or female, it shows that you’re well-raised if you are always quick to offer a helping hand.
Manners Make a Man
Indeed, good manners make a man, so remember to be on your best behaviour. You are not in a local fish and chips stall. You’re enjoying an expensive meal with your companions. When you’re pulling up a chair, remember not to make an excessive amount of noise. Set down with poise and gently place the table napkin on your lap.
Your mother was right: make sure that your elbows are always off the table, especially when you are slicing your food. Clip those elbows so you won’t hit anyone. Do your best to take small bites, chew your food slowly, and gently dab the sides of your mouth with the cloth napkin.
Know the Proper Locations of the Utensils
If the table is set correctly, you will notice that there are several kinds of forks, spoons, and goblets. There’s a dinner fork, salad fork, dessert fork, fish fork, soup spoon, teaspoon, butter knife, steak knife, water goblet, wine glass, and the like. Whew! That’s certainly a lot of cutlery compared to what you’re used to at home. If you don’t know what to do with the silverware and glassware while you are in one of the many fine-dining restaurants in the Eastern Suburbs, be prepared to fake it so you’ll make it.
Just follow the simple rule: make your way from the outside to the inside as each course is served. If you want to cheat, it’s perfectly alright. Just wait for your companions and see which utensil they pick up. Learning as you go is not a problem.
Break Bread With Bare Hands
Most think it is uncouth to break bread with your hands during a fancy dinner. The real answer here is that you should never use a knife to cut your bread as it decimates the bread and makes a lot of crumbs. The polite thing to do is to break it with your hands, then using the butter knife to spread whatever condiment you like on your bread.
Know the Proper Utensil Positions
It is critical to know that there is a finished and resting position for your utensils when you’re eating a fancy meal. If you’re not done with your food, place your knife and fork in the resting position. Do this by putting the knife on the top part of the plate, while the fork goes on the middle section.
This signals that you are not done so that the waiter won’t take away your plate. However, if you have completed your meal, use the finished position wherein you put the fork and knife close together and lay it diagonally across your plate.
Bottom Line
If you’re going out on a fancy dinner engagement in one of the many formal dining restaurants in the East Suburbs, make sure your manners are on point. There is truth to the saying that money can’t buy class. Prove with your actions that you genuinely understand what right conduct is all about. Always remember to say please and thank you. Be generous with your smiles. Aside from the food and ambience, one of the things that will impress people the most is your graciousness.
