The French have a name for having better table manners. Sitting up straighter in their chairs, or  not changing forks and knives when eating, are only a few things to remember… Anyway, relax! When  you are sitting right next to them— keep in mind some simple  rules.

1. Reservation. Reserve a table unless you’re heading to a neighborhood café. If you’re running late, call or you may arrive to find someone else sitting at your table. If you can’t honor the reservation, call and cancel as early in the day as possible. It’s only polite and most good French restaurants have a waiting list.
2. Waiters consider themselves to be professionals and expect to be treated that way. If you yell  “Garçon” to a waiter, count on being the last person in the restaurant to ever be served.
3. Elbows: Do not place them on the table. It’s considered unsanitary.
4. Tips: The tip is included in France. However, if the service has been above average (and you want to return to the restaurant sooner than later), you might add up to 5% if everything was perfect.
5. Doggie bags: The good French restaurant showed a distinct dislike of the custom. Anyway, The English phrase doggie bag is actually used. For asking if you can take home food left on your plate, tell the waiter you have a sick mother, spouse, lover… and  you too can have you next day’s meal packed!
6. Sharing: Until only a few years ago, touching another person’s plate was considered a cardinal sin. But things are easing up.  Besides, French restaurant owners don’t give portions large enough to feed a family.

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