A question on dining etiquitte

[Dixie]

My daily attire is a t-shirt and jeans. I basically go to the same Italian restaurant at least 3 times a week. Dudes come in with suits and ties on...

Psssttt... You're underdressed. They're all thinking, "Who's the douche wearing jeans and a wife-beater?"

[MRM]

I seem to recall that official Emilly Post-approved ettiquette states no napkins as bibs unless you are eating Italian or lobster. That being said, I disagree. I think if you are wearing a suit it is required that you are able to eat without covering yourself. It's not that hard. it requires more time and smaller bites, but that's part of manners anyway. If you can't handle that, you shouldn't be wearing a suit.

A more important rule of ettiquette is that you never cut more than four bites of food at a time. You put your knife on the rim of the plate, not on the table and not gangplank style on the plate, in between cutting. Small bites, use the napkin often, your glasses are always to the right of your plate, and you start with the silverware that is the farthest away from the plate first; and that's about all the ettiquette you need. Really, it's all about making it easy on people to watch you eat.

Now in a casual rib place where they serve by the platter, there is no ettiquete. Pile on the ribs and corn pone, dive in with both hands, quaff the beer and keep the napkins coming. But don't wear a suit.

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by Capt. Carrera

Psssttt... You're underdressed. They're all thinking, "Who's the douche wearing jeans and a wife-beater?"

a t-shirt is not a wifebeater
a sleeveless shirt is

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by red-beard

If the napkin has a button hole, use it. No button hole, keep extra shirt in the office.

maybe a spare tie or two also

[slodave]

Originally Posted by the

There is such a thing as a $600 shirt?!?

Next time you visit L.A., go for a stroll through Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, specifically, Via Rodeo at the south end (near Wilshire). Waaayy more than $600.-.

[3.2 CAB]

Work??

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

I'm with prials I would rather look like a douche stain a $600 shirt & cool tie (of course I won't wear any of my high $$$ shirts to eat Italian)...

If I had a $600 shirt, I'd want a big ole stain just so people would notice the shirt . IMO, there is no such thing as a "cool tie" unless "tie dye" counts...I used to have to wear one for my corporate gig years ago, and I can't think of anything more "uncool" than a tie .

[berettafan]

If i were wearing a suit to work every day i'd have to take a step back and re-evaluate my life choices up to that point.

I can appreciate a really nice shirt (not a $600 shirt mind you!) and pants (non-suit) but ties and jackets really lose me.

[livi]

It is not what you look like or how you dress, it is who you are and how you behave. Screw dress code, act like a gent and empty your plate.

[stealthn]

Yeah, I'm wondering why you care about how others dress, and why you care about how others see you?

[gassy]

Originally Posted by stealthn

Yeah, I'm wondering why you care about how others dress, and why you care about how others see you?

I was just askin' about a napkin in the collar man. Wasn't knockin' suits at all.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by gassy

I was just askin' about a napkin in the collar man. Wasn't knockin' suits at all.

Napkin in collar is perfectly fine in an Italian place.

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by procon

Your day at the office sounds much like mine.
Life is good, don't worry be happy!

Ditto!

[svandamme]

Originally Posted by Dottore

Napkin in collar is perfectly fine in an Italian place.

seriously, it's not

[911Rob]

I'd say its personal preference, but you wouldn't catch me doing it.

Italian food....... mmmmm; good!

Bobby,
I use to be a regular at Casa d'Italia on Center Street NE
the scampi there rocks!

There's a little saying thats gone around for years....... "Dress for Success"
I wouldn't knock a suit 'n tie man, especially a sharp dressed one.
Personally, I retired all my suits; the only way you can tell if I'm dressed up now adays is if I've got the leather flip flops on or not. FWIW

[berettafan]

Ah, i thought it was 'dress to resemble all other sheeple'.

Always wondered why that didn't rhyme. Now i know

[The Gaijin]

It is not "dressing for success" - it is please cover that fat asz of middle America that I don't care to see. The next tourist in terry shorts and flip flops, and I am going to puke.

And I am no dandy.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by livi

It is not what you look like or how you dress, it is who you are and how you behave. Screw dress code, act like a gent and empty your plate.

Markus this is just not true. Try walking into a treatment room with the white coat and without the white coat for a sub 5 year old patient.

People take you a lot more seriously depending on how you are dressed.

I ALWAYS(well, every day but Friday) wear slacks, shirt and tie to the office. It makes a big difference in how you are perceived

[Bill Douglas]

A job I has a while ago all of us boys (suits) would go for a Malasian chicken curry each Friday. And if anyone turned up wearing a wearing a white shirt it was "FOOL - it's a Friday!". Any food stains come out in the wash from colored shirts or from suits at the drycleaners.

As for the rest of Frday afternoon wear your food stains with pride

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by KC911

IMO, there is no such thing as a "cool tie" unless "tie dye" counts...I used to have to wear one for my corporate gig years ago, and I can't think of anything more "uncool" than a tie .

I have a collection of Porsche ties, dead celebrity ties, music ties, other car ties

BTW, I don't do the napkin bit either, I generally avoid messy food