1.It is inappropriate to ask for a doggy bag when you are a guest. Save the

doggy bag for informal dining situations.

2.Do not order alcoholic beverages. Drinking too much when dining out is one of the most disliked behaviors.

3.Do not smoke while dining out.

4.Sit up straight at the table. It makes a good impression.

5.When you are not eating, keep your hands on your lap or resting on the table (with wrists on the edge of the table). Elbows on the table are acceptable only between courses, not while you are eating.

6.Never chew with your mouth open or make loud noises when you eat. Although it is possible to talk with a small piece of food in your mouth, do not talk with your mouth full.

7.Do not slurp soup from a spoon. Spoon the soup away from you when you take it out of the bowl and sip it from the side of the spoon. If your soup is too hot to eat, let it sit until it cools; do not blow on it.

8.If food gets caught between your teeth and you can`t remove it with your tongue, leave the table and go to a mirror where you can remove the food from your teeth in private.

9.Engage in table conversation that is pleasant but entirely free of controversial subjects.

10.You should not leave the table during the meal except in an emergency. If you must go to the bathroom or if you suddenly become sick, simply excuse yourself. Later you can apologize to the host by saying that you didn`t feel well.

11.If a piece of your silverware falls onto the floor, pick it up if you can reach it and let the server know you need a clean one. If you cannot reach it, tell the server you dropped a piece of your silverware and ask for a clean one.

12.If food spills off your plate, you may pick it up with a piece of your silverware and place it on the edge of your plate.

13.Never spit a piece of bad food or tough gristle into your napkin. Remove the food from your mouth using the same utensil it went in with. Place the piece of food on the edge of your plate. If possible, cover it with some other food from your plate.