Etiquette
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Guest
We were so excited to go to a new bistro that we'd been reading about for months, we got reservations opening weekend...
Andrew Knowlton
Despite my protests, my mom makes special menu requests every time we dine out--grilled fish instead of sauted, mashed potatoes instead of fries, no bacon in the pasta carbonara. Is it just me, or are such requests totally out of line?
Andrew Knowlton
Unless you're with only one other person (okay, maybe two--I'm feeling generous) or you're 17 years old and out with a group of friends at a local chain, splitting a check is lame.
Andrew Knowlton
Have you ever hosted a dinner party guest who, by mischance, was obliged to dine in morning dress?
Michael Singer
Dear BA Foodist: I was dining out recently and found a hair on my plate. When is it okay to send the plate back or ask for a refund?
Andrew Knowlton
Dear BA Foodist: I love hosting dinner parties, but it seems that everyone has a list of food restrictions--no carbs, gluten-free, no red meat. Should I accommodate my guests?
Andrew Knowlton
Of all of the decisions surrounding a wedding, one of the most fraught is what food to serve the guests.
Lily Fink Harrington
At the dinner table, hands often trump utensils--no matter what etiquette experts say.
Andrew Knowlton
Dear BA Foodist: My wife and I like to try new restaurants, but we're also new parents. I've seen what can happen when children behave badly while dining out. Any tips?
Andrew Knowlton
Dear BA Foodist: Recently, I was eating out with three friends. We had finished our desserts and were chatting away when the manager told us it was time to leave. What gives? Can't I stay as long as I want?
Andrew Knowlton
When a restaurant's reservationist says, "Sorry, we only have tables available at 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.," am I being told the truth? Or, as I suspect, are they playing hard to get?
Andrew Knowlton
Dear BA Foodist,
Do restaurants really serve bread and butter leftover from a table to other diners?
Do restaurants really serve bread and butter leftover from a table to other diners?
Andrew Knowlton
Dear BA Foodist,
You're the tipping expert, right? Should I tip when I get takeout? What about delivery? Should I give a few bucks extra to the guy who brought me pizza in the rain?
You're the tipping expert, right? Should I tip when I get takeout? What about delivery? Should I give a few bucks extra to the guy who brought me pizza in the rain?
Andrew Knowlton
Dear BA Foodist: Everyone has sat next to the "couple from hell." Any advice on how to deal with them?
Andrew Knowlton
The number one complaint of restaurant diners is not the internal temperature of porterhouse, the crispness of fried calamari, or the martini's strength. It's service. As customers, how should we deal with a poor waiter?
Andrew Knowlton
Dear BA Foodist: Whenever I go out for sushi, I feel self-conscious. Is it okay to use your hands? Is dipping the sushi in soy sauce frowned upon? How do I use wasabi?
Andrew Knowlton
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