Don't Be That Dinner

Restaurant manners have long suffered from terrible public relations. The phrase suggests tiny forks, giant napkins, and the looming possibility of being judged by a dead aristocrat. But modern dining etiquette is not about pretending to be elegant. It is about making shared meals less awkward, less chaotic, and far less likely to end with someone apologizing to the server on the table's behalf.

In Don't Be That Diner, you'll learn to make reservations without creating administrative trauma, enter a restaurant like you have successfully joined a table before, order without interrogating the menu like hostile evidence, survive awkward dates and business dinners, split the bill without triggering a moral crisis, and handle phones, toasts, complaints, and shared plates like a person other people would willingly invite out again.

Funny, practical, and mercifully free of aristocratic nonsense, this is a modern guide to restaurant behavior for anyone who has ever wondered, "Is this rude?"-or worse, discovered too late that the answer was yes. Whether you panic at formal place settings, dread the arrival of the check, or want to stop being the most chaotic person at the table, this book will help you leave the meal with your dignity, your relationships, and your tip percentage intact.

Maria Ortiz is an Author, Speaker, Coach and Spiritual Teacher. She currently lives in Las Vegas with her sons Nate and Alex.