Proper restaurant etiquette is crucial for a successful business lunch or dinner. The host should welcome guests, set an example for ordering, and follow general etiquette rules like placing napkins on laps. Guests should discreetly deal with the bill and the host should see them out with a handshake.
A business lunch or dinner can be a great way to network with potential customers, but it can also be a complicated endeavor if the host is inexperienced with proper restaurant etiquette. While many of the rules and customs of corporate dining etiquette are the same as the general rules of etiquette and manners, a few additional practices can help the host make a great impression and provide attendees with a positive and comfortable experience.
First, the host must be sure to meet his guests at the door and show them where they should be seated. This small but important step will put guests at ease and make them feel welcome. It is important to remember that the host’s main responsibility is to make his guests feel welcome, and he must be sure to introduce himself to each other. The guest should also consider proper restaurant etiquette when ordering. If the host orders alcohol, the guests will also feel comfortable. If the host orders an appetizer, guests will take a cue from him and feel comfortable ordering an appetizer as well. The host will set the example for the table and will also set the tone for the end of the business meeting. The host must be sure to be polite and confident; he has to take the initiative to start the meal.
Proper business etiquette will also follow normal etiquette rules. For example, all guests, including the host, should place napkins on their laps at the start of the meal. The napkins should stay there until it’s time to leave the table. If the host has to leave the table for any reason, she should place the napkin to the left of the plate until she returns to the table. Guests generally wait for the host to start eating before starting themselves, so the host needs to be sure not to keep them waiting. The guest should chew with their mouth closed and should not talk with food in their mouth.
When it comes time to pay the bill, proper corporate dining etiquette dictates that the guest should deal with the bill discreetly. Shouldn’t make a show of paying the bill; drawing attention to the checkout will make guests feel self-conscious. After the meal has been concluded and all business has been taken care of, the host must be sure to see his guests at the door and leave them with a handshake.
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