Restaurant Etiquette

In Australian restaurants some of the essential principles of Australian dining etiquette are:

  • Close your menu to indicate you are ready to order.
  • Place the serviette on your lap.
  • Use cutlery starting from the outside first.
  • Use your serviette to wipe fingers
  • Do not wave cutlery
  • When resting between mouthfuls place your knife and fork along the edges of the plate, not allowing any part of the cutlery to touch the table.
  • To show you are finished place your knife and fork together on an angle in the 5pm position on your plate.
  • Say ''please excuse me'' if you need to leave the table.
  • Gentlemen may choose to stand when a lady arrives or returns to the table, and may like to assist with her chair.
  • If you are satisfied with the table service you may like to leave a tip.