Most Americans adhere to at least some — but not all — traditional table manners while dining out with others, a recent YouGov survey finds. The most universally observed etiquette rule among those asked about is chewing with one's mouth closed: 89% of Americans always or usually follow this practice. Nearly as many (81%) say they typically avoid talking with food in their mouth. Three-quarters (73%) of American adults say they ask for items to be passed instead of reaching across the table, and 69% say they wait to eat until everyone at the table has their food.
69% of people say they usually arrange their dishes in preparation for waitstaff clearing the table. 38% say they regularly use cutlery from the outside in when eating multiple courses.
Two practices that Americans are divided on are keeping their elbows off the table (58% always or usually do this) and putting their napkin in their lap while eating (55%). In each case, around 40% do this sometimes or less often.
Women are more likely than men to say they always or usually follow table manners. This is especially true when it comes to tasting food before seasoning it — a practice that can be seen as respectful to the chef who prepared it: 67% of women say they always or usually do this, compared to 54% of men. Women also are more likely to say they always or usually keep their elbows off the table while eating (63% vs. 52%) and to say they put their napkin in their lap while eating (60% vs. 50%).
Younger adults are less likely than older ones to say they typically follow most manners asked about. Americans 45 and older are more likely than adults under 45 to say they always or usually put their napkin in their lap while dining (66% vs. 41%). They are also more likely to say they ask for items to be passed instead of reaching for them (82% vs. 63%), and to say they excuse themselves when leaving the table (76% vs. 57%).
Related: The unwritten rules of eating out: What Americans think about restaurant etiquette
— Carl Bialik contributed to this article
See the results for this YouGov poll
Methodology: This poll was conducted online on April 26 - 29, 2024 among 1,139 U.S. adult citizens. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel using sample matching. A random sample (stratified by gender, age, race, education, geographic region, and voter registration) was selected from the 2019 American Community Survey. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification, and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondent’s most recent answer given prior to November 1, 2022, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (33% Democratic, 31% Republican). The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 4%. Some items included in the survey are not presented in this article.
Image: Getty
