Pandemic Dining Etiquette

The etiquette of the dining table has taken a different tone since the pandemic as everyone is much more mindful of sharing germs. Knowing how to navigate the rules of the table has always been an important professional skill. However, some of the etiquette tips that were once a gold standard have had to be adjusted in light of the recent events. Professionals will continue to do business over a meal and job interviews will often include lunch. Other social gatherings such as dates, celebrations and routine entertainment will continue to come back to life as the vaccine unfolds. You may be wondering how to safely navigate pandemic dining etiquette. 

Here are my tips on how to comfortably adjust your dining etiquette skills and still be confident, polite and professional.

Pandemic Dining Etiquette:

Review the Menu in Advance

Most restaurants are currently offering a bar code to scan when you sit down at the table which will pull up their menu. Some people find it difficult for a myriad of reasons and ask for the paper menu instead. To alleviate the confusion or the extra time it takes to look at a small screen, do a quick web search before getting to the restaurant. Having some familiarity with your food options will make the ordering process go more smoothly.

Place Setting and Utensils

The place setting will continue to remain the same. However, spreading out your utensils on the table when you take a seat should be put on hold temporarily. For sanitary reasons, you can wait until you are ready to eat and then unfold your napkin, take out your knife and fork, place your napkin on your lap and begin to use your utensils. The rule of the table is, “Once your utensils leave the table, they don’t return to the table.” If you must remove a utensil, ask for another napkin or small plate to rest your utensils while waiting for your food.

Wash Your Hands

On a job interview, you may feel uncomfortable leaving the table. Carry a small wipe, and one for your table mate, and offer them the opportunity to sanitize their hands. It’s somewhat of a distraction to pull out a bottle of sanitizer, but most people will understand and appreciate your efforts.

Napkin Etiquette

The protocol of a napkin is to place it on the table when you leave temporarily and back on your lap when you return. Even pre-pandemic many people, understandably, had an issue with placing the napkin on a chair. Today, I encourage you to place your napkin back up on the table, left side of the plate, as you would in the finished position.  

Bread Basket

The commonly shared loaf of bread in the middle of the table is difficult to maneuver under any circumstances. Unless it arrives at the table with a deep score for breaking apart without a great deal of effort, it’s a breeding ground for germs. Rolls and small sections of bread are much more convenient to eat. If you are offered a loaf of bread rather than small rolls, ask for a linen napkin to break the bread apart. If you are on a job interview, skip the bread unless the host takes the lead and asks for an alternative option.

Salt and Pepper

The etiquette of seasoning your food is very specific. You don’t ask for salt and pepper until you take a few bites of the meal. And when you are in someone’s home and the seasonings are not offered on the table, don’t ask at all. At a restaurant, salt and pepper shakers are generally always set in the middle of the table and passed around the table together. Right now you may notice you have to make a special request and they usually bring you little packets. Feel free to ask for salt and pepper if your food needs extra seasoning, but only after you have sampled your food.

Face Masks

Your face mask should be worn when you enter the restaurant, walk to your table, and order your food. When you leave the table for any reason, a face mask is still an expected accessory.

You may also like Your Dream Job Has Become a Nightmare. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on Huff Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.