Dining Etiquette: Take the Quiz!

Dining etiquette reflects your manners and social grace during meals. From the correct use of utensils to how you interact with your dining companions, table manners are essential in both personal and professional settings. 

 

Are you confident navigating multi-course dinners and formal meals, or do you worry about making dining mistakes? Test your knowledge with this quiz to see if you have mastered the art of dining or if a refresher is in order.




1)   When dining in the UK, how should you hold your fork and knife when cutting food?

 

A) Fork in the right hand, knife in the left hand
B) Fork in the left hand, knife in the right hand
C) Both in the right hand, switch as needed
D) Fork only, no knife used

 

 

2)   If your meal arrives but others at the table haven’t been served yet, what 

should you do?


A) Start eating immediately
B) Politely wait for everyone’s food to arrive
C) Take one small bite to taste the dish and wait
D) Inform the waiter to bring everyone’s food

 

 

 

3)   When you need to excuse yourself to go to the bathroom, what should you say?

 

A) "I’m going to the bathroom."
B) "Excuse me for a moment."
C) "I’ll be back soon."
D) "I need to leave the table."

 

 

4)   How should you eat soup?


A) Scoop it directly toward you
B) Use a teaspoon instead of a soup spoon
C) Scoop it away from you
D) Sip it straight from the bowl

 

 

 

5)   If you drop your fork on the floor, what should you do?

 

A) Pick it up and continue using it
B) Leave it on the floor and ask for a new one
C) Clean it with a napkin and keep eating
D) Ask someone else to retrieve it

 

 

 

6)   What should you do if a piece of food is too hot to eat?

 

A) Spit it out discreetly into your napkin
B) Swallow it quickly
C) Let it cool in your mouth without making noise
D) Avoid eating it altogether

 

 

7)   When ordering at a restaurant, what is considered polite?

 

A) Snapping your fingers to call the waiter
B) Raising your hand slightly and making eye contact with the waiter
C) Calling out to the waiter loudly
D) Ignoring the waiter until they come to you

 

 

8)   How should bread rolls be eaten?

 

A) Tear off a piece and butter it as you go
B) Butter the whole roll at once and eat
C) Cut it with a knife and butter each half
D) Eat it plain

 

 

9)   If someone passes you a dish you didn’t ask for, what should you do?

 

A) Pass it along without taking any
B) Take a small portion out of politeness
C) Ignore it entirely
D) Refuse it directly

 

 

10)  How should you signal to the waiter that you’re ready to order?

 

A) Close your menu and place it on the table
B) Wave your menu in the air
C) Place your knife and fork together
D) Tap your glass with a spoon

 

 

11)  What is the correct way to eat peas?


A) Scoop them with your fork
B) Use a spoon for easier handling
C) Use the back of your fork to gather them
D) Avoid eating peas

 

 

12)  How should you respond if someone else at the table has food in their teeth?

 

A) Ignore it completely
B) Discreetly inform them
C) Point it out loudly for their awareness
D) Laugh and make a joke

 

 

13)  When eating fish with small bones, what should you do if you encounter a bone?

 

A) Spit it onto your plate immediately
B) Remove it with your fingers and place it on the side of your plate
C) Discreetly remove it with your fork or fingers
D) Swallow it to avoid embarrassment

 

 

14)  If your phone rings during dinner, what is the proper action?

 

A) Ignore it entirely
B) Answer it quietly at the table
C) Excuse yourself to answer it elsewhere
D) Turn it off immediately without saying anything

 

 

15)  When is it appropriate to talk about the cost of the meal during dinner?


A) Before placing your order
B) While eating
C) After the bill arrives
D) Never

 

 

16)  If you accidentally burp during the meal, what should you do?

 

A) Ignore it completely
B) Apologise softly
C) Make a joke about it
D) Excuse yourself from the table

 

 

17)  How do you handle a dish you don’t like?

 

A) Push it aside and leave it untouched
B) Eat as much as you can to avoid offending anyone
C) Politely leave it and say nothing
D) Complain to the waiter

 

 

18)  If the waiter brings the wrong dish, what is the best course of action?

 

A) Eat it anyway to avoid making a scene
B) Politely inform the waiter of the mistake
C) Demand a replacement angrily
D) Send it back without explanation

 

 

19)  How should you pay the bill when dining with friends?

 

A) Assume the host will pay for everyone
B) Split the bill evenly unless agreed otherwise
C) Only pay for what you ordered
D) Let the restaurant decide

 

 

20)  When sharing a dessert, how should it be divided?

 

A) Let everyone serve themselves
B) Divide it equally with the utensils provided
C) Use your personal utensils to divide it
D) Avoid sharing desserts

 

 

21)  What should you do if you dislike the meal, but the host asks for your opinion?


A) Lie and say it’s excellent
B) Compliment specific parts of the meal
C) Be honest and express your dissatisfaction
D) Refuse to answer

 

 

22)  Where should you place your cutlery after finishing your meal?


A) Cross them on the plate
B) Leave them on the table
C) Place them together at the 6 o’clock position on the plate
D) Lay them side by side at the edge of the plate

 

 

23)  How should asparagus be eaten in a formal setting?


A) Pick it up with your fingers
B) Use a fork and knife
C) Use a spoon
D) Avoid eating asparagus

 

 

24)  If you accidentally knock over a glass of water, what should you do?

 

A) Pretend it didn’t happen
B) Apologise and ask for help
C) Clean it up yourself
D) Wait for the waiter to handle it

 

 

25)  When should you start eating at a formal dinner? 

 

A) As soon as your plate is served
B) When the host begins
C) After the eldest person at the table begins
D) Immediately after giving thanks

 

 

26)  If a waiter asks how your meal is, what is the appropriate response?

 

A) Offer an honest critique
B) Politely say it’s fine, even if it’s not
C) Ignore the waiter
D) Complain directly

 

 

27)  How should you handle unfamiliar cutlery at a formal dinner?

 

A) Start from the outside and work your way in
B) Use the smallest utensils first
C) Ask the waiter for guidance
D) Wait to see what others do

 

 

28)  If a dish is served family-style, how should you serve yourself?

 

A) Take as much as you want in one go
B) Serve yourself small portions, allowing others to take some
C) Pass the dish without taking any
D) Wait for someone else to serve you

 

 

29)  What should you do if a dish you’re sharing runs out before everyone gets some?

 

A) Take it anyway if you’re quick enough
B) Apologise and offer to share your portion
C) Pretend not to notice
D) Let someone else handle it

 

 

30)  What is the polite way to cut spaghetti?


A) Cut it with your knife and fork
B) Use your fork to twirl it against a spoon
C) Twirl it directly on your fork
D) Ask for scissors

 

 

31)  If a guest spills food on their clothes, what should you do?

A) Offer them your napkin
B) Pretend not to notice
C) Laugh politely to ease their embarrassment
D) Hand them a cloth immediately

 

 

32) How should you handle eating chips (fries) in a casual but polite setting?

A) Eat them with your hands
B) Use a fork and knife
C) Dip them one at a time using your fingers
D) Avoid eating chips altogether

 

 

33) If you’re offered a dish you have dietary restrictions for, what should you do?

A) Accept it and eat around the restricted ingredient
B) Politely decline and explain the restriction
C) Refuse it without explanation
D) Take it and secretly dispose of it later

 

 

34) How should you deal with noisy chewing from someone else at the table?
            

A) Ignore it and focus on your meal
B) Politely ask them to chew quietly
C) Mimic the noise jokingly
D) Complain to the host

 

 

35) If the table is crowded with dishes and there’s no room for your glass, what should you do?

A) Place it in front of you regardless
B) Wait for someone to move a dish
C) Politely ask for the table to be rearranged
D) Keep it in your hand

 

 

36) What is the correct way to eat a small pastry in a formal setting?

A) Pick it up with your fingers
B) Cut it into small pieces with a knife and fork
C) Tear it apart using both hands
D) Eat it in one bite

 

 

37) How should you respond to a toast made in your honour?

A) Stand and make your own toast
B) Nod and remain silent
C) Raise your glass and say thank you
D) Ignore the toast and continue eating

 

 

38) If you accidentally drop food onto someone else’s plate, what should you do?

A) Apologise and offer to replace the dish
B) Remove the food from their plate
C) Ignore it unless they notice
D) Joke about it to lighten the mood

 

 

39) When dining at someone’s home, how should you handle a dish you’re unfamiliar with?

A) Take a small portion and try it
B) Refuse it outright
C) Ask detailed questions about the dish before trying it
D) Wait until others eat it first

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Correct Answers:

 

  1. B – Fork in the left hand, knife in the right hand
  2. B – Politely wait for everyone’s food to arrive
  3. B – "Excuse me for a moment."
  4. C – Scoop it away from you
  5. B – Leave it on the floor and ask for a new one
  6. C – Let it cool in your mouth without making noise
  7. B – Raising your hand slightly and making eye contact with the waiter
  8. A – Tear off a piece and butter it as you go
  9. A – Pass it along without taking any
  10. A – Close your menu and place it on the table
  11. C – Use the back of your fork to gather them
  12. B – Discreetly inform them
  13. C – Discreetly remove it with your fork or fingers
  14. C – Excuse yourself to answer it elsewhere
  15. C – After the bill arrives
  16. B – Apologize softly
  17. C – Politely leave it and say nothing
  18. B – Politely inform the waiter of the mistake
  19. B – Split the bill evenly unless agreed otherwise
  20. B – Divide it equally with the utensils provided
  21. B – Compliment specific parts of the meal
  22. C – Place them together at the 6 o’clock position on the plate
  23. B – Use a fork and knife
  24. B – Apologize and ask for help
  25. B – When the host begins
  26. B – Politely say it’s fine, even if it’s not
  27. A – Start from the outside and work your way in
  28. B – Serve yourself small portions, allowing others to take some
  29. B – Apologise and offer to share. 
  30. C – Twirl it directly on your fork
  31. B – Pretend not to notice
  32. A – Eat them with your hands 
  33. B – Politely decline and explain the restriction
  34. A – Ignore it and focus on your meal
  35. C – Politely ask for the table to be rearranged
  36. B – Cut it into small pieces with a knife and fork
  37. C – Raise your glass and say thank you
  38. A – Apologize and offer to replace the dish
  39. A – Take a small portion and try it

 


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