Business dining rule

Business dining can mean general business dining. Business partners, customer working lunches, even interviews all can be such events. So the rules summarized here are very general.

• Before picking a restaurant, make clear if there are food and location preferences
• Because dining focus is not the food but conversation, make sure the restaurant is not too loud or tables placed far apart, even better, private rooms
• If large dining group, the host needs to select round table or long table. The host or hostess should ask the guest of honor or business partner to sit on his or her right side.
• Avoid complicated to eat or request half-size dishes
• Don't let waiter take the plate away if you finish entree early.
  
• If the other dinners aren't ordering tea or dessert, the host will skip too.
• Order inexpensive or midrange wine because otherwise attention will be on the wine, not the business topics
• Don't let phone on the table or let it ring.
• Chitchat topics can be anything unless they get heated. This prevents getting into business right away.
• Time to discuss serious business matters before dessert.
• End the meal with a causal note.