Whenever you are in a formal dinner setting, often so many things on the table can leave you confused, especially the napkins. No matter how complex the cutlery, napkins, or the arrangement looks, once you learn what to use when and how, you will never be jittery in a restaurant, irrespective of its social status.
In this piece, you will learn to use the napkins on a formal dinner table. They are crucial to catching accidental spills and swiping food off your face to prevent embarrassment. No matter where you are, a few tricks will help you stay on top of your game and leave everyone impressed with your table etiquette.
Pick The Napkin And Unfold
If you are at a dinner with no formal host, the best thing to do is to pick up the napkin and unfold it on your lap. Let it be folded in half and placed on your thighs. However, if there is a host, wait for them to start the process and follow their lead. It will showcase that you are courteous and respectable to the person who invited you for a meal. If the napkin is enveloped in a ring, remove it and place it on the top left corner of the dinner plate, right above the forks.
Use The Napkin To Catch Spills
The idea is to unfold the napkin and keep it on your lap to prevent accidental spills on your dress. If you think that there is food in your mouth, take the top left corner of the cloth, gently dab it on the spot, and keep the napkin again on your lap like it was before. Don’t use the cloth napkin to clean the bread crumbs or spills on the table. It is better to use paper napkins for that or ask the staff gently to help you with it.
Don’t Pick Up The Napkin During The Meal
Whether you are at a restaurant for a three-course meal or simply dinner, keep the napkin on your lap throughout the time. Avoid toying with it or removing it from your lap unless you have to discreetly clean your mouth or use the powder room. If you don’t have to excuse yourself, keep the napkin where it is to avoid cluttering the table and creating a mess. It’s not considered appropriate to place an unfolded napkin on the dinner table.
Keep Napkin On Table Or Chair When You Need To Excuse
In case, you have to leave the dinner table, excuse yourself and keep the napkin on the left side of the plate beside the forks. You can also leave it on the chair indicating that you will be coming back soon to join the rest of the party and the host. Make sure when you keep the napkin on a table or chair, it is folded and not laid down haphazardly.
Place Napkin On Table Once You're Done
At the end of the meal, clean your hands with the tissue paper and keep it on the dinner plate. If the staff brings you warm water with lemon or sanitising tissues, use either of the two to clean your hands and remove any food particles or colour on your fingers and nails. Use the cloth napkin to dap your hands gently, fold it nicely, and keep it on the left of the dinner plate. You don’t have to fold it like it was before you began the meal.
Hide Anything Spilled On The Napkin
If you have used the cloth napkin to blot your hands or spilled something on it, you don’t have to worry about it. The staff washes them before using them the next time. However, when you are done with your meals, fold the napkin in a way that you hide the spill or stains. Along with this, lay your fork and knife parallel to each other and diagonally on the dinner plate to indicate that you are done with the meal.