Readers Offer Their Own Restaurant Rules

I think it’s permissible to stick a fork in the eye of a server who calls me “honey” or “sweetie” because I’m of a certain age. — Rosemary Molloy

Never, ever serve food over a baby/child. If you scald a newborn, there’s a chance the father will take your life. — Peter

When you seat me, please do not put the dirty, frequently handled menu directly on top of my silverware. It’s gross. — MCM

Don’t scrape uneaten food from plates in view of your guests. — ronaldo

Always yield to the guest no matter what. (read: move aside and let the guest pass you by) When serving, always face the guest, never present your back when placing down a plate or glass. — Jake

I don’t KNOW if my food requires pepper until I have TASTED it. And when I say, “I’ll let you know just as soon as I’ve tasted it,” don’t then disappear with the pepper mill. — Jeff Woodman

Why is it that a pepper mill must be brought and administered? For a few hundred bucks, why can a restaurant not just set one out at each table? — Ellen

When a diner leaves the table intending to return — e.g., after making a telephone call or a trip to the restroom — he/she correctly places the napkin on his/her chair. This signals the waitperson that the diner is not finished and intends to return to the table. In such situations, do not pick up the diner’s napkin, semi-fold it and place it on the table. The waitperson’s hands should not contaminate it. — barbara w

Look at the name on the credit card. When I’m using my card and the check goes back to my husband, guess how generous I am with the tip! — M. J.

So many times I have been out with my boyfriend, and even though I am the one to order the wine, it is presented to the man rather than the woman for the first taste. — Marisa Geoghegan

Do not spontaneously suggest a wine choice. Do not assume a 27-year-old doesn’t know anything about wine. Do not automatically recommend the most expensive, or nearly most expensive, wine. — D

Waiters should suggest wines to go with specials. We call this wine pairing in the industry. It is quite common and extremely successful. Not everyone who drinks wine knows what goes well together. — mg

If you happen to see guests saying grace before the meal, pause for them to finish. — jiminboulder

WAIT STAFF PLEASE DON’T EVER EXTEND A HAND FOR A HANDSHAKE!! This falls under the category of never touch a customer but this issue needs to be specifically addressed. It suggests a level of familiarity that is inappropriate and I have zero interest in touching the hand that is exposed to all of the dirt, germs and yuckiness of dirty plates, food etc. — michael

Tea bags are bad enough for tea drinkers, but to be asked if I would like more hot water for a used tea bag is worse. Please bring another tea bag with the hot water. — caw