International Knigge: Restaurant

Cross cultural dining etiquette involves considering the following points:

• Seating - is there a protocol as to who sits where? Should one wait to be seated? Is it acceptable etiquette for men/women to sit next to one another?
• Eating - what utensils, if any, are used? Is it a knife and fork, hands or chopsticks? Is there any etiquette around using them?
• Body language - how should one sit? Is it bad etiquette to rest elbows on the table? If seated on the floor what is the correct position?
• Conversation - is the meal the proper place to engage in conversation? If so, is discussing business appropriate?
• The food - what foods are common to eat? Is it good etiquette to compliment the cook and how? Does one finish everything on the plate? Is it polite to ask for more.
• Home/restaurant - what differences in etiquette or protocol would there be? Does one take a gift to the home? Who pays the bill at a restaurant?

USA Knigge: Restaurant

Am Eingang
Betritt man ein Restaurant, wartet man bis die Bedienung einen zum Tisch bringt.
Die Fleischesser
Hat man ein Fleischgericht bestellt, so schneidet man mehrere Stücke ab, legt das Messer am rechten Tellerrand ab und führt die Stücke mit der Gabel in der rechten Hand nacheinander zum Mund. Die linke Hand wird währenddessen auf dem Schoß abgelegt.

Aufgegessen?
Ganz anders als in Deutschland, wird, sobald man aufgegessen hat, der Teller weggeräumt, auch wenn die übrigen Personen am Tisch noch nicht fertig sind. Hat man das Essen beendet und möchte aufstehen, legt man die benutzte Serviette auf den Sitz, nicht neben den Teller. In guten Restaurants steht man nach dem Essen zügig auf.
Bezahlen!
Die Rechnung muss nicht erst bestellt werden, sondern wird nach dem Beenden der Mahlzeit gebracht. Getrennt zahlen ist absolut unüblich.
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Deutschland Knigge: Restaurant/ home

• To beckon a waiter, raise your hand and say, "Herr Ober." To beckon a waitress, raise your hand and say, "Fräulein."
• Business breakfasts are arranged, but more often a business lunch is preferred.
• Lunch with business colleagues generally involves social conversation. Do not discuss business during lunch or dinner unless your German host initiates the conversation.
• Business entertaining is usually done in restaurants.
• Spouses are generally not included in business dinners.
• Nobody drinks at a dinner party before the host has drunk. The host will raise his glass to the woman on his right and then toast to the health of the group. Thereafter, people may drink as they see fit.
• When toasting as a guest, hold the glass only at the stem, clink your glass with everyone near you at the table and say Prosit, then take a drink. Then look into the eyes of someone at your table and lift your glass just slightly, then bring your glass down to the table.
• Guten Appetit is said before eating and means "enjoy your meal". It is the host's way of saying, "please start". Guests can respond by saying Guten Appetit or Danke ebenfalls, which means, "thank you."
• A guest of honor is seated to the left of the hostess if it is a man and to the right of the host if it is a woman.
• Keep your hands on the table at all times during a meal -- not in your lap. However, take care to keep your elbows off the table.
• Use a knife and fork to eat sandwiches, fruit, and most food.
• Do not use a knife to cut potatoes or dumplings (suggests food is not tender). The general rule is whatever does not need a knife, should not be touched with your knife.
• Never cut fish with anything but a fish knife. If a fish knife is not offered, two forks are acceptable.
• Do not leave any food on your plate when you are finished eating.
• Do not smoke until after dinner is finished and coffee is served. Then ask permission.
• When finished eating, place knife and fork side by side on the plate at the 5:25 position.
• If you are taking a break during the meal, but would like to continue eating or would like more food, cross the knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife.
• Germans don't tend to stay long after dinner. The honored guests are expected to make the first move to leave.
• A "thank you" is usually done in person or with a telephone call.
• Do not ask for a tour of your host's home, it would be considered impolite.

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