More than just table manners: Dining Etiquette 101

Estimated Completion Time
5 min
More than just table manners: Dining Etiquette 101
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About This Quiz

Do you always chew with your mouth closed and keep your elbows off the table? Do you cross your knife and fork over your plate to signal that you are done eating? If you do all of this, and more, you could probably pass Etiquette 101, but there's so much more to remember. If you think you know all there is to know about dining etiquette, then this is the quiz for you. Let's get started to find out if you could really dine with the Queen or if you are better suited for the King.... Burger King, that is.

Let's be serious, most of us don't even come close to observing proper dining etiquette every time we sit down at the table. But even if we don't use these skills often, knowing the rules can make all the difference between fitting in at a formal dinner party and looking like you were raised by wolves. So, even if you don't ever plan on using proper table manners, learn and practice them occasionally. You never know when the Queen could show up for a spot of tea.

If you think you could hang with the Brits, take this dining etiquette quiz to see if you would really fit in.

Which item should you keep off the table?
keys
phone
sunglasses
all of these
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If it's not food, or your napkin, keep it off the table.

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How much should you tip?
10 percent
20 percent
30 percent
40 percent
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the U.S., it's polite to tip 15 to 20 percent for satisfactory service. If you thought things were above and beyond, take it up to 25 percent.

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When is tea time, traditionally?
11 a.m.
12 p.m.
4 p.m.
6 p.m.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although it often falls between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., tea time is traditionally at 4 p.m.

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Where should you keep your left hand during a meal?
at your side
holding your water glass
in your lap
on the table
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the U.S., it's polite to keep your left hand in your lap, unless you need to use it.

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What's considered a no-no when you're using chopsticks?
biting or licking them
resting them over the bowl or plate
sticking them upright in your rice bowl
all of these
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's polite to avoid doing all of these things with your chopsticks, as well as skewing food, pointing with them and more.

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Which glass is usually larger at a formal dinner?
water goblet
white wine
red wine
they're all the same size
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're attending a formal dinner, you'll see your water goblet is larger than the red wine and white wine glasses.

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Which fork do you use, when?
use the biggest first
use the smallest first
work from the inside-out
work from the outside-in
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's best policy to work from the outside-in when choosing which silverware to use.

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In a restaurant, when is it polite to begin eating?
when everyone has been served
when 50 percent of the table has been served
when you've been served
when your host has been served
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When eating with others in a restaurant, it's polite to wait until everyone is served before beginning to eat.

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Which type of sushi should be eaten in one bite?
maki rolls
nigiri sushi
sashimi
all of these
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Maki rolls, nigiri sushi and sashimi are all supposed to be eaten as one bite.

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Where is it impolite to eat with your left hand?
the Middle East
India
certain parts of Africa
all of these
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In some countries, including India, parts of Africa, and those in the Middle East, it's impolite to eat with your left hand.

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Who pays?
the guest
the host
individual checks, please
you get it this time, I'll get it next time
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The person who does the inviting (the host) is the person who pays.

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What always gets passed together?
bread and butter
forks and knives
ketchup and mustard
salt and pepper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Please pass the salt -- and pepper. The pair is always passed together.

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Which part of the stemware should you hold on a wine glass?
bowl
foot
rim
stem
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When you drink from a stemmed glass, hold the stem.

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Placing your fork and knife where indicates to the waiter you've finished?
together, on your plate
together, to the right of your plate
fork on the left of your plate, and knife on the right
fork on the right of your plate, and knife on the left
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Following American style, when finished with your meal, you should place your fork and knife together (parallel, not crossed) at the 11 o’clock position on your plate. Fork tines should be facing up.

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When should you use a round soup spoon, as opposed to an oval one?
with broths
with cream-based soups
with purees
all of these
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The spoon shape depends on the consistency of the soup you're eating. A round soup spoon is good for eating purees, broths or clear soaps. An oval spoon, on the other hand, can handle hearty soups that contain pieces of food, such as minestrone.

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Could you actually catch germs from double dipping?
yes, it spreads germs
yes, but it's only a problem with salsa
no, but it's gross
no, it's harmless
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You don't have to have a fever, cough or sneeze to pass on germs. In fact, strains of streptococcus, prevotella and veillonella all live in a healthy person’s mouth. Researchers have found double-dipping chips significantly increases the level of germs in the dip. Don't be the next Typhoid Mary; don't double dip.

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You're attending a dinner party and you'd like to add some salt to your dish. What do you do?
ask for it to be passed to you
never season your hostess' food
reach for it
wait until it's being passed for someone else, and use it
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Never reach. And never intercept a salt shaker pass. If you need the salt -- or anything else from the table -- ask for it to be passed to you.

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Where will you find the dinner knife?
the innermost knife, on the right side of the plate
the innermost knife, on the left side of the plate
the outermost knife, on the right side of the plate
the knife above the plate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The dinner knife is the knife closest to the right side of the plate. From outside-in, you'll find your soup spoon, teaspoon, salad knife, and then, the dinner knife.

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When you stand up to use the restroom where should you place your napkin?
to the left of your plate
to the right of your plate
carefully refolded, on the table
on your seat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Place your napkin on the seat of your chair when you stand up.

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When should you place your napkin on your lap?
as soon as you're served your first course
just after you sit down
only when there's food on your plate
never, it stays on the table
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As soon as you're seated, it's time to place your napkin on your lap.

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Which seat at the table is considered the "place of honor"?
seated across from the host
seated to the left of the host
seated to the right of the host
there is no place of honor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The "place of honor" is the seat to the right of the host.

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Within how many days of receiving a dining invitation should you RSVP?
24 hours
3 days
5 days
7 days
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Aim to RSVP to an invitation within 3 days of receiving it.

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What's true after you use a utensil?
it shouldn't be set back on the table
it shouldn't be set back on the plate
it shouldn't be used to serve food
it should be replaced
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Once you've used a utensil, you shouldn't set it back down on the table. Instead, rest it on the side of your plate.

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What does "BMW" stand for?
bowl, meal, water
bread, meal, water
bread, meat, water
brew, meat, wafer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

BMW is a mnemonic way to remember that the proper order, from left to right, is bread, then meal, then water.

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When should you arrive for a 7 p.m. dinner date?
at 7 p.m.
about 6:50 p.m.
about 6:40 p.m.
about 6:30 p.m.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Aim to arrive for dinner about 10 minutes early, about 6:50 p.m.

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Which is the salad fork?
the innermost fork, on the right side of the plate
the outermost fork, on the left side of the plate
the outermost fork, on the right side of the plate
the fork above the plate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The salad fork is the outermost fork, next to the dinner fork, on the left side of the plate.

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How often should you use your napkin while dining?
after every bite
after every 2 or 3 bites
after about 4 or 5 bites
only when you've spilled
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's best to use your napkin every two or three bites.

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Should you bring your cocktail glass to the dinner table?
always
only if you're still drinking
only if you expect to have another cocktail
no
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's best to leave any cocktail glasses and small plates where they were served.

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Which is not a polite way to collect unwieldly peas on your plate?
with your fork
with your knife and fork
spear them with the tines of your fork
mash them and spoon them up
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Refrain from mashing them up and spooning them into your mouth.

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What's the correct way to finish the following sentence: "Bring your 1.____ to your 2.____, not your 3.____ to the 4.____"?
1. bite; 2. face; 3. face; 4. plate
1. face; 2. food; 3. food; 4. face
1. food; 2. face; 3. face; 4. food
1. fork; 2. mouth; 3. mouth; 4. fork
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The correct version is, "bring your food to your face, not your face to the food." (1. food; 2. face; 3. face; 4. food)

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In what direction should dishes be passed at your holiday dinner?
clockwise
counter-clockwise
east
west
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Always pass the potatoes in a a counter-clockwise direction (that's the opposite direction as a clock).

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Putting no more than how much soup in a soup spoon will avoid spills?
no more than 1/3 full
no more than 1/2 full
no more than 2/3 full
no more than 3/4 full
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Resist going all the way to the top and keep your soup spoon only 2/3 full.

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How much wine should you pour?
2 ounces
3 ounces
4 ounces
it depends on the type of wine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It depends. If it's white wine or rosé, the glass should be 1/3 full (which is 3 ounces). But if it's red wine, fill the glass halfway (about 4 ounces).

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If your guest orders an appetizer or dessert, should you?
yes
only if you're hungry
no, you'll just steal bites from other plate
no
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Always. It's impolite to leave your guest eating alone, so try to match courses 1-for-1.

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You're running about 20 minutes late for your dinner reservations. What shouldn't you do?
arrive 20 minutes late
call to let the restaurant know
call to cancel your reservation
call to rebook your reservation
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Arriving any more than 15 minutes late is a no-no. Always call when you'll be late.

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