Restaurant dinner etiquette

[4_2_it]

Assuming that the issue is the server only has two hands and is going to return shortly with the other meals then you wait.

If the server says it will be a couple of minutes then the proper thing to do would be to ask him/her to take your meal back, keep it warm and bring all the meals out together (though in a place like TGIFriday's I guess it would fine and pragmatic to go ahead and eat your chicken wings).

When I find myself in the 2nd situation, the server's tip is adversely impacted.

[punkass]

Date, wait.

With friends, I'll tell them to start eating. They will.

I'll wait until my friends tell me to start eating. They will, and I will.

With family, food is eaten when put in front of us.

I agree that restaurants should bring out food at the same time. Not that hard.

[szw]

I never even knew this was considered ettiquite until I saw it on a TV show when I was 20ish. Asian people don't care about this kind of thing.

[PhatPots]

[ QUOTE ]
If you're out for dinner with someone and your food comes before theirs, is it propper etiquette to wait for their food before you start eating? What if they tell you to start? Do you start or insist on waiting? If they get their food first, do you have any problem with them starting? I feel awkward when there is food on the table and no one is eating. For me, it depends on who I'm eating with. If I'm with a date, I'll obviously wait. Almost anyone else though and I just start eating. My family and friends don't care.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yup this is standard. If will insist on waiting ONCE and then I go ahead. I also offer the date some of what I am eating. I HATE WAITING! But you have to....... especially if its a business thing. You wait

[Autocratic]

If you're starving and with a date, I think offering her some of your food is a good way out. Once she tries it you can sneak a few bites in yourself.

Also, if you're given the go-ahead to start eating before your fellow party member's food arrives, it's nice to offer them a bite of yours.

[El Diablo]

s,

I always wait.

[octop]

when i get food i eat it
simple really

if im on a date with some dumb [censored] i might wait just like Id tell her all sorts of lies to [censored] her. But thats assuming its a girl I only want to [censored]. If its a girl I actually like Im eating when the food is there. I dont care if you call it uncivilized, its not my fault her food isnt there. I dont give a [censored] if someone else eats before I get my food.

[daryn]

yeah i have noticed that this never really happens to me EXCEPT at this local thai restaurant i go to.

[miajag]

I've also noticed this a lot at thai/other asian restaurants. It's one of my biggest dining pet peeves, and means an automatic tip-slashing.