10 Items Not To Do In A Restaurant

Here are 10 guidelines of things you should never do at a restaurant, written by Adam Roberts, who classifies himself as 'The Amateur Gourmet'.

1.Do Not Accept Just Any Table.
If you find yourself shown to a table beside a screaming family of children, or in a dark gloomy corner, when you were looking for a quiet peaceful meal, ask to be moved. Most of the time you will be quietly taken to a new table.

However, if they say "There won't be another table for at least an hour," you are better off leaving. You won't enjoy your meal anyway.

2.Don't Ask For Your Waiter/ress Choice.
Your server's opinion is clouded by their own taste buds, even though they may be a great source of information of what's fresh and good on the menu. You need to listen to what you are looking for. In top restaurants every dish will be as good as any other.

3.Ask Questions.
If you don't understand some fancy title on the menu, ask for an explanation. Even if you don’t get the pronunciation correct, you need to know what you are ordering.

4.Plan Your Entire Meal
Before you order work out your priorities first, so each dish is complimentary to the next one. Pre-decide if you are going to wade on through to the dessert. Some restaurants have a bland type dessert menu, because so few people ask for it. Other restaurants are known for their fantastic desserts.

5.Drink Wine You Like.
You may not enjoy the particular type of wine everyone else wants. Order a glass of wine to suit your taste and your meal.

6.Don't Add Condiments To Your Food Before Tasting It.
The chef work hard to make a balanced dish, correctly seasoned, that will please your palette. Reaching for the sauce bottle, or salt shaker is an insult to a chef. Taste first, then reach for the condiments.

7.Asking The Kitchen To Leave An Element Out Upsets The Balance
Asking a chef to leave something off is quite likely to disturb the chef, as each component is there for a purpose. However, many people are allergic to certain things. Where possible choose another dish that is without the offending item.

Always check if you are not allergic to something. It is not the chef's fault if you do not notify the waiter you are allergic to something in particular.

8.Don't Go To The Bathroom When The Next Course Is Due.
Go to the bathroom right after they take your dishes away and don't wait until just before the next course is due. At the best restaurants the staff carefully watch your table before bringing out your order, to ensure everyone is seated. If not, they will wait. This might cause a dish to deteriorate and even need to be thrown away and prepared again.

9.Stay Aware Of Other Customers.
Always remember to you keep your voice to a pleasant conversational level. Nothing is more annoying than after several glasses of wine the people at the next table become raucous and loud. No matter how much wine has been consumed, courtesy towards one another goes a long way.

10. Don't Keep Your Dissatisfaction To Yourself.
Tell your waiter/ress if there was something wrong with the food. Restaurants, like much other business, thrive on word of mouth. When that word is negative, give the business the opportunity to correct it.