Photograph from massdistraction on Flickr Do you present the certificate to your server right at the beginning of the meal or wait? Tim Carman, food columnist at the Washington City Paper, says wait. The server does not have to perform some top-secret, three-key, nuclear-missile-code transaction at the register to accept your certificate. They just punch a different button. It’s no big deal. So if you’re worried that tipping off your waiter will affect your service, just keep the information to yourself. Sure, the server might "label you a Ruby Tuesday rube," Carman says (my favorite part of the piece). Maybe they'll give you attitude. But at good restaurants, the well-trained staff shouldn't make such judgment calls—or at least not...
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If you're eating in a restaurant where you're spending at least $50 for dinner, you check your coat. But if you're just having a sandwich or a burger or a couple of tapas or a pizza and you're spending less than $20, should you be under that same obligation?
Shouldn't we be able to save those two bucks without feeling guilty?
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Photograph from daveknoph on Flickr At some restaurants, servers can electronically punch in “L” for “lady" to ensure the gals get their menus and meals first. But at the recently-opened bar Apiary in Manhattan, this isn't an option—and in this day and age, the management thinks that's just fine. This week, Frank Bruni weighed in on the gender role situation while dining. Us ladies here at Serious Eats have been mulling it over. Here's what we think, after the jump....
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©iStockphoto.com/MaicaFirst dates are awkward, but even if sparks don't fly and emotions don't run high right away, you should take certain food precautions. The Guardian has a guide to first dinner dates, with tips like forgoing Brussels sprouts, curry, and fresh pasta since the "effects" don't always kick in for another five hours. They even say to avoid coffee. It's worse than garlic breath, and might interfere with the invite up "for a cup of tea" later. What strategic eating tricks do you have up your sleeve for first dates? Do you stress over the dinner part? Let them pick the spot? Show off your restaurant knowledge? Order pasta anyway?...
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What's your take: do you mind seeing people chompin' down on a sandwich on the bus or a commuter train? Should a no-food rule be enforced?
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Slate's Christopher Hitchens tells his readers to "Fight back against restaurants' cruel abuse of wine drinkers," the abuse being the act of abruptly refilling your wine glass during your meal, thus interrupting the conversation of the table and conveying the message, "Hurry up and order another bottle."...
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When I heard the Georgian Room, Seattle's fanciest hotel restaurant, would be holding an etiquette class for 8- to 13-year-olds, I had one question for instructor (and Georgian Room maitre d') Tony D'Agostino: are any kids going to come to the class on their own accord? Not likely, he admitted. "How many kids go, 'Mom, I want to go learn etiquette?'" D'Agostino said. "It's right up with the adult classes, though. You go around the table and ask, 'Why are you here?' The husbands go, 'My wife is bringing me.'" So how do you keep a captive and potentially unruly audience entertained? In a word, snacks. And not those cucumber sandwiches, either. The tiered tea trays will hold scones and...
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From Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David's technique for dealing with people talking on their cellphones in restaurants. (video)...
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