The 2 Plate Rules You Should Follow At Fine Dining Restaurants
Fine dining is a whole new level of culinary experience. It's unlike the quick Chick-fil-A stop or a sit-down meal at Applebee's (even though half-priced appetizers can be great — chicken wonton tacos, anyone?). Rather, fine dining is an experience. Heading to dinner at one of these spots can be daunting since it's not always easy to know the proper restaurant or menu etiquette. Thankfully, we have you covered in terms of what to do — and what not to do — when out to dinner at a fine dining restaurant.
While there is no exact threshold for what constitutes "fine dining," it is typically a sit-down experience that offers high-quality dishes, which are often met with higher prices and higher etiquette expectations (per Toast). Some fine dining restaurants offer prix-fixe meals, or even a tasting menu with multiple courses, while others allow you to order a la carte. Keeping up with all of the proper mannerisms expected at such establishments can be vexing, but there are two plate rules you should absolutely follow when enjoying one of these indulgent dinners.
It's all about what's on your plate, and where
It might be tempting to dive into your meal as soon as it reaches the table, but when you're at a fine dining restaurant, there are a few things to note before you lick the plate clean. The first rule is ... do not do that. Etiquette expert Myka Meier told Food & Wine that you should leave a bite of food on the plate rather than eating every last crumb; this is a way of signaling that your meal was delicious, but you've eaten enough and are not still hungry.
And while you're enjoying that fine meal, if you come across anything you don't want to eat, don't just leave it in the middle of your plate. "The upper left part of your plate is for discards," Meier told Food & Wine. She suggests that garnishes, such as a lemon rind that isn't meant for consumption, should be pushed to that part of the plate. In contrast, she says sauces and butter belong on the bottom right of your dish.
Other fine dining etiquette rules to consider
While eating habits are important during the experience, you should also consider factors outside of the food, such as what to wear and how you present yourself and your party. According to Toast, behavior matters. Don't make too much noise — loudly speaking isn't appropriate, nor is rambunctious laughter. Make sure to adhere to any dress codes, and avoid requesting menu substitutions unless absolutely necessary.
The dinner table is for dining only, it's not a storage unit. Etiquette expert Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick told Business Insider that guests should never place anything on the table, such as a phone or handbag, during a meal. A few other stringent rules include not sampling anyone's food, and never sending wine back (unless it's exceptionally bad).
Interestingly, when it comes to taking photos of your food — a concept that's grown in popularity with the rise of social media — Napier-Fitzpatrick told Business Insider that it's acceptable. "If it's not distracting other restaurant patrons and you can do it discretely, I would say it's okay."