There are few greater pleasures in life than dining out. The table is set, the food is cooked by somebody else, filling the dishwasher is somebody else’s problem, and if you choose wisely, the food will be delicious.
But as anybody who has ever been seated next to a family screening Paw Patrol at full volume can acknowledge, the enjoyment of a meal can be quickly undone by the antics of fellow diners. Dining etiquette isn’t about starched napkins or memorising which fork is which; it’s about creating an environment that everybody can enjoy.
The Phone Call Offenders
Over a recent lunch in a perfectly lovely restaurant, the man at the next table decided it was the ideal time for a full-blown video catch-up with his bestie. Phone propped against his water glass, no headphones, and absolutely no sense of shame.
I didn’t say a word, quietly seething inside (cowardice disguised as politeness), but the meal was rui
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