Customers and restaurateurs can make dining out a more pleasant experience with these Top 10 Points of Restaurant Etiquette, none of which involve learning which one is the salad fork. These tidbits are listed in the order of the typical dining experience – from making a reservation to leaving a tip.

1. Timing is Everything

Restaurant reservations are like any other appointment. If you make a reservation, stick to it. Call ahead if you’re going to be more than 15 minutes late, and cancel as far in advance as possible if your plans change so that someone else can get a table. It is fine to make multiple reservations for a single evening as long as you cancel the unwanted bookings, again as far in advance as possible.

On the service side, a host or hostess who receives a head’s up call from a patron who is running late should be gracious– either reassure the patron that his table will be waiting, or courteously explain that because of high demand, you can only hold the table for half an hour, after which you will do your best to accommodate the guest upon arrival.

2. What is Casual Dress?

According to the 2004 Zagat Survey Guide, over two dozen restaurants in New York City still require gentlemen to wear jackets and ties. But these are exceptions in a restaurant world where jeans and sneakers have become the new casual-chic. As fine dining restaurants move away from the old jacket-required policy, it raises the question of just what exactly is appropriate to wear when dining out.  Casual attire to one person may mean jeans and a sweatshirt; to another, khakis and penny loafers. If you’re headed to a restaurant for the first time and are unsure about how to dress, call and ask the host outright what the dress code is. When in doubt, it’s safer to wear something more conservative.

The trickier issue is for the host. How should you treat an underdressed guest? The general manager of a famous, very expensive New York City restaurant once said that he didn’t enforce a dress code among patrons because if Mick Jagger showed up in torn jeans and sneakers, they wouldn’t refuse him service. Just because a customer is underdressed doesn’t mean he doesn’t have money to spend or fine taste in food and wine. Our advice is to seat an ill-dressed customer out of the way, without commenting on the attire. Chances are they will take in the dress of the other patrons and realize their gaffe.

 3. Table Setting

What would an article on restaurant etiquette be without a section on table setting? In this case, we’re less concerned with what fork to use and more concerned that all the silverware be clean. Likewise the glasses, plates and napkins. All it takes is a little extra attention to make sure that the table is set properly. This point may seem like the first lesson in Table Waiting 101, but after a recent dining incident in which the waiter set a severely cracked wine glass in front of us – sharp edges and all – without even looking at it, we thought a brief mention was worthwhile.

In the inevitable event that you are dining out and receive a less than satisfactory table setting, it is appropriate to notify your waiter and politely request a new one.

4. Substitutions and Sending Dishes Back

The latest popular diet, not to mention diners’ peculiar food preferences, should never be dismissed by the waitstaff. Servers should make reasonable substitutions and accommodations to customers’ requests without grumbling about them. Often the unwillingness to accommodate a diner’s request when ordering is driven by the kitchen and has nothing to do with the waiter. If that is the case, the waiter should say so.

As for customers, it’s always a bummer when everyone in your party is served and your meal is not properly cooked. Do you suffer in silence and pick around the plate without sending it back? If you send it back, you’ll have to wait while everyone else eats and then the timing of the whole meal is off. If your order is unsatisfactory, there’s no need to be aggressive with the waitstaff, but it is appropriate to say something so the chef and waiter have an opportunity to rectify the situation.

5. Cell Phones

Telephones shouldn’t be answered during family meals at home, and it’s no different in a restaurant. Turn off your cell phone or switch it to silent mode before sitting down to eat, and leave it in your pocket or purse.

For the peeved waiter whose customer has breached the cell-phone etiquette, a courteous reminder – after the call is completed – is appropriate. Suggest that the customer take calls in the bar or waiting area.

(To be continued)

Source : http://www.starchefs.com/features/editors_dish/etiquette/index.shtml#timing