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Quizzes > Society & Culture > Culture & Traditions

Test Your Dining Etiquette with 100 Table Manners Questions

Think you can ace these etiquette questions? Dive into our fun table manners quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art style utensils plate napkin conversation icons on coral background for dining etiquette quiz

Craving confidence at your next dinner gathering? Our Test Your Table Manners: Dining Etiquette Questions Quiz invites you to explore etiquette questions covering everything from cutlery conventions and bread-plate placement to polite conversation and hosting tips. Jump in to see how well you know the rules and learn handy tricks along the way in this dining etiquette quiz! Curious for more guidance? Check out our interactive etiquette quiz or dive into detailed fine dining service standards before you begin. Perfect for social butterflies and budding hosts, this table manners quiz will level up your skills in no time. Ready to prove your prowess at the table? Click Start to get going!

What is the proper way to unfold your napkin at the start of a meal?
Cover your plate with it until the host signals
Leave it on the chair until after the first course
Place it fully on your lap, tucking the edge into your waist
Crumple it and place it to the left of your plate
The correct practice is to unfold your napkin and place it on your lap shortly after everyone is seated. This signals you're ready and helps catch small spills. Keeping the napkin on your lap throughout the meal maintains cleanliness. More details can be found here.
When should you begin eating once you are served a dish?
Wait for the host or eldest guest to start
Start as soon as your food arrives
Chew quickly before others are served
Begin only after saying grace
Proper etiquette calls for waiting until the host or eldest guest begins eating before you start. This shows respect and unity at the table. Starting prematurely can be seen as rude. For more guidance, see this resource.
How should you signal to the server that you have finished eating?
Place knife and fork parallel at 4 o'clock on your plate
Push your plate to the edge of the table
Lay your napkin on the seat
Leave utensils crossed on your plate
Laying your knife and fork parallel across the plate, with handles at 4 o'clock, signals you are done. Crossed utensils or other placements can be confusing to service staff. This convention helps with smooth table clearing. Read more at this guide.
Where should you place your napkin if you need to leave the table temporarily?
Fold and place it on your chair
Leave it unfolded on your lap
Place it on the table to the right
Crumple it next to your plate
When stepping away, leave your napkin neatly folded on your chair as a placeholder. This indicates you'll return without confusing the service staff. Placing it on your lap or table is less clear. More info is available here.
What is the correct way to pass a breadbasket?
Let everyone help themselves from anywhere
Push it across the table to each guest
Offer it to the right first, then continue around the table
Pass it to the left starting with the host
The proper method is to pass the breadbasket to your right first and continue in that direction. This keeps service consistent and orderly. Pushing across is less formal and can spill. See more at this article.
When is it acceptable to rest your elbows on the table?
Only when you're finished eating
Only between courses and with both forearms
Throughout the meal casually
Never, at any time
Resting elbows on the table is acceptable briefly between courses, resting both forearms without touching the table. During active eating, elbows should stay off the table. This balance maintains decorum and comfort. Detailed guidance is at Business Insider Etiquette Tips.
Which utensil should you use to eat soup?
Table fork
Dessert spoon
Teaspoon
Soup spoon
A soup spoon, which is larger and rounder than a teaspoon, is designed to hold more liquid comfortably. Using the correct spoon makes eating soup easier and more refined. Teaspoons and dessert spoons are too small. More information is at The Spruce Eats.
When passing salt and pepper at a formal table, you should:
Ask the server to handle it
Refill your own and pass it back
Pass both together even if only one is requested
Pass only the requested one
Formal etiquette dictates passing salt and pepper together, even when only one is requested. This ensures both are available and shows thoroughness. Passing them separately can seem incomplete. For more, see Etiquette Guide.
What is the proper way to cut meat at a dinner setting?
Hold the knife and fork in the same hand
Cut all meat at once into bite-sized pieces
Cut with the fork only
Cut one piece at a time, then spear it with your fork
Etiquette recommends cutting one piece at a time, then repositioning your fork to eat. This avoids large amounts of meat on your plate and looks refined. Cutting all pieces at once is considered improper. Read more here.
When is it appropriate to ask for the check at a restaurant?
After everyone has finished and the host signals
Immediately after ordering
As soon as you make eye contact with the server
Before any food arrives
You should wait until the meal is over and the host or party leader gives a signal before requesting the check. This respects the dining flow and the host's role. Rushing the server early can seem impolite. For more, see Food & Wine.
What is the correct posture when sitting at a formal dining table?
Cross legs under the chair
Lean back against the chair
Sit up straight with feet on the floor
Perch on the edge of the seat
Proper dining posture is sitting up straight with both feet on the floor and back slightly away from the chair. This projects confidence and respect. Leaning back or perching is informal and unsuitable for formal settings. See tips at Manners Mentor.
If you spill a drink, you should first:
Blame the server
Ignore it and continue eating
Get up and fetch paper towels yourself
Apologize and ask for a napkin or assistance
The polite response to a spill is to apologize promptly and request a napkin or assistance. This acknowledges the mishap and maintains courtesy. Ignoring it or blaming someone is inappropriate. More guidance at Etiquette.org.
Which side should you place your glass on during a formal meal?
To the left of your plate
Above your forks on the left
Directly above your plate
Above your knives on the right
Glasses belong above the knives on the right-hand side because utensils are arranged in the order used from the outside in. Placing them there follows traditional place setting rules. Misplacing them can confuse service staff. See placement details here.
When buttering bread, you should:
Butter the entire slice at once
Dip the bread directly into the butter dish
Ask the server to butter it for you
Tear off a small piece and butter it on your plate
The correct method is to tear off a small piece of bread and butter it on your plate to avoid double-dipping and keep the communal dish clean. Buttering on the plate is more hygienic and controlled. More info at Epicurious.
If you need to sneeze or cough at the table, you should:
Leave the table immediately
Cover your mouth and turn away from others
Do it openly without covering
Stifle it by dropping your head on the table
Proper etiquette is to quietly cover your mouth, turn slightly away, and use your napkin if needed. This shows respect for fellow diners and hygiene. Running away or stifling both interrupt the meal. For more guidance, see Brit + Co.
In a formal place setting, which fork is used for the first course?
The smallest dessert fork
The outermost fork on the left
The innermost fork on the left
The fork on the right
Utensils are used from the outside in, so the outermost fork on the left is for the first course. This sequence helps diners navigate multiple courses without confusion. Using the wrong fork can lead to awkward service. More at Country Living.
What is the correct way to taste food being cooked by someone else at a demonstration?
Ask the cook to eat from their plate
Dip your fork into the pot directly
Lick the spoon and leave it on the counter
Use a clean spoon and taste silently
At cooking demos, etiquette dictates requesting a clean spoon each time to avoid contamination and tasting quietly. This respects hygiene and the presenter's work. Licking utensils or double-dipping is frowned upon. See best practices Food Network.
When dining French-style, how are the knife and fork held?
Fork in left hand and knife in right throughout
Fork in right hand and knife in left
Knife and fork are switched hands after cutting
Only fork is used for both cutting and eating
French style maintains the fork in the left hand and knife in the right for cutting and eating without switching. This continuous hold differentiates it from American style. It's efficient and traditional. More on styles here.
What is the correct sequence for a five-course meal from appetizer to dessert?
Salad, soup, appetizer, main course, dessert
Appetizer, salad, soup, main course, dessert
Soup, appetizer, salad, main course, dessert
Appetizer, soup, salad, main course, dessert
The traditional order is appetizer, soup, salad, main course, then dessert. This progression moves from lighter to heavier dishes and finishes sweet. Deviating can confuse pacing. A detailed menu structure is at Culinary Hill.
When serving wine, which glass do you fill first?
Red wine glass before white wine glass
Champagne flute first
White wine glass before red wine glass
Water goblet first
White wine should be served before red to maintain optimal temperature and flavor. White wines are chilled and red wines often breathe after decanting. Serving red first can warm the whites. More details at Wine Spectator.
How should you rest your utensils between bites in American style?
Cross utensils on plate
Place knife on table and hold fork
Lay both handles off the plate
Fork in right hand tines down and knife beside it
In American style, you put the fork in your right hand with tines down and place the knife beside it on the plate between bites. This shows you're pausing, not finished. Crossing utensils is ambiguous. More at Etiquette Bliss.
When addressing a host at a formal dinner, you should:
Call them by their first name immediately
Use informal nicknames
Use their title and last name unless invited otherwise
Remain silent unless spoken to
Using formal titles and last names shows respect in formal settings unless the host invites you to use their first name. Jumping to informality can be presumptive. Silence is too distant. See formal address etiquette here.
Which utensil is used to serve vegetables from a communal dish?
Tongs you bring yourself
Your personal spoon
Appropriate serving fork or spoon provided
Your personal fork
Always use the designated communal serving utensil for each dish to maintain hygiene and etiquette. Personal utensils should never be dipped into shared dishes. Providing specific servers prevents confusion. More at The Kitchn.
How much soup should you fill in your spoon when eating soup?
Completely full to the brim
About two-thirds full
Half full
Just a spoonful
Filling your spoon about two-thirds full prevents spilling while allowing you to taste comfortably. A full spoon is hard to control, and too little is inefficient. This balance is recommended by etiquette experts. Learn more here.
When offered several types of bread, which should you choose first?
Start with the largest piece
A neutral or plain bread before flavored varieties
The flavor-rich option first
The darkest bread first
Tasting a neutral bread first cleanses the palate and prepares you for bolder flavors later. Starting with strong flavors can overwhelm your taste buds. This order enhances appreciation. More at Cooks Illustrated.
What is the polite way to indicate you want seconds at a buffet?
Wait until the host gives permission or invites you
Signal the server directly
Go back immediately when you're ready
Ask another guest to get your plate
At a hosted buffet, guests should wait for the host's signal or verbal invitation before going back for more. This respects the host's pacing and ensures stock remains for all. Rushing forward can be seen as greedy. See etiquette details here.
In French "service à la russe," how is each course served?
Individually plated by servers
All dishes placed family-style
Buffet arrangement on sideboard
Guests serve themselves from platters
Service à la russe involves each guest receiving individually plated courses from the server, emphasizing presentation and timing. This contrasts with service à la française, where dishes are placed communally. It's considered more formal. Learn more here.
When attending a formal state dinner, which side do you stand on to escort a lady to her seat?
Her right side
Directly behind her
Her left side
Directly in front of her
Protocol dictates escorting a lady from her right side when seating her. This tradition originates from the assumption that swords were carried on the left hip. Standing on her right allows you to open doors and assist easily. More protocol tips at Protocol School.
In which situation is it appropriate to use the fish fork and knife provided?
When fish is served as a separate course
Only at informal buffets
For dessert when no fish course is present
To eat vegetables
Fish-specific utensils are provided when fish is served separately to prevent flavor transfer and to match the delicate structure of fish. Using them in other contexts is unnecessary. This enhances taste and formality. Details at Chef's Pencil.
What is the recommended way to break a whole cooked crab at a formal seafood meal?
Crack it with your hands directly
Use your personal knife and fork
Use a nutcracker or seafood tool provided
Ask the server to pre-break it
Formal seafood service often includes seafood tools such as nutcrackers to break shells neatly. Using these preserves your knife and fork and maintains decorum. Cracking by hand or using personal utensils can be messy. See utensil guide TODAY Seafood Etiquette.
In Russian dining etiquette, which bowl is used for a first course of borscht?
A shallow soup bowl with wide rim
A bread bowl
A deep porcelain soup tureen
A high tea cup
Borscht is traditionally served in a shallow soup bowl with a wide rim to showcase the color and allow cooling. Deep tureens are for family-style service. Bread bowls and tea cups are inappropriate. For more, visit RussianFood.com.
At a formal multi-course meal, when is the bread plate replenished?
At the end of the meal
Never till dessert
Only when guests politely request more
Automatically after each course
In formal dining, servers wait for guests to request more bread rather than automatically replenishing to avoid waste. Guests can signal by placing their bread plate at the edge. Automatic refills can be intrusive. More at Zagat.
Which utensil is placed furthest from the plate in a ten-piece place setting?
Butter knife
Soup spoon
Dessert fork
Fish knife
In a ten-piece setting, the soup spoon is placed furthest on the right because soup is often the first course. Dessert utensils are placed above the plate. Fish knives are nearer, closer to the plate. Detailed diagrams at Food & Wine.
What is the best way to drink from a wine glass without disturbing the table?
Tilt your head down to glass
Grip by bowl to sip directly
Make a loud sipping noise intentionally
Lift it gently, bringing to lips at slight angle
To avoid noise or spills, gently lift the wine glass by the stem, tilt it slightly and sip quietly. This maintains the wine's temperature and decorum. Gripping the bowl warms the wine. For more, see Wine Folly.
During a formal meal, you accidentally drop your fork. You should:
Pick it up and continue eating
Politely ask the server for a replacement
Signal another guest to pick it up
Use your knife instead
If a utensil is dropped, you should ask the server for a new one to maintain hygiene and standards. Picking it up from the floor or passing it to another guest is unsanitary. Servers are prepared for such requests. See protocols Etiquette Expert.
What is the correct procedure for cutting and eating an artichoke at dinner?
Serve as finger food without utensils
Dip whole in sauce and bite off pieces
Cut entire artichoke into wedges
Remove leaves one by one, scrape with fork, eat heart
Proper artichoke etiquette involves removing outer leaves, scraping soft flesh with your fork, and eating the heart last. This avoids mess and follows tradition. Wedges or finger eating is too casual. More instructions The Spruce Eats.
In formal steak service, where should the steak knife be placed when you pause eating?
On the right edge of the plate with blade inward
Crossed with the fork on the plate
Handle resting on table
Laid vertically above the plate
When pausing, place the steak knife on the right edge of your plate with blade facing inward and fork tines down on the left, indicating a pause. This placement avoids confusion with finished signal. Crossing utensils is unclear. Read more Business Insider.
In formal Chinese banquet etiquette, when is it customary to tap the table with two fingers?
To thank the host after a toast
To request silence
To signal you want more food
When a dish is passed to you
At Chinese banquets, tapping the table with two fingers is a subtle gesture of gratitude to the host following a toast. It originates from imperial court etiquette. Misusing it can cause confusion. For deeper context see China Highlights.
Which utensil arrangement signifies you wish to resume eating after a pause?
Utensils parallel at 6:12 position
Utensils placed in X shape
Fork and knife crossed at 10:20 position
Knife on plate, fork on table
The crossed utensil position at 10:20 on the plate is an expert-level signal showing you're resuming eating after a break. Most common signals are pause and finished - resuming is advanced. More at Food & Wine.
In professional silver service, what is the correct sequence for serving a main course?
Serve from the left with service fork and spoon
Serve dessert utensils first
Place plates first, then serve from the right
Allow guests to serve themselves
Formal silver service requires serving from the guest's left with a service fork and spoon, presenting the food onto the plate without contact. Plates are placed on the left before service. This maintains professionalism. Guidelines at Hotel Management.
What is the traditional order for resting multiple spoons after tasting in a professional luncheon?
Lay them on the tablecloth
Stack spoons on the plate
Ask the server to remove them immediately
Place spoons in a row to the right of the plate
At expert-level dining, spoons used for tastings or sampling are placed in a neat row to the right of the plate, showing order and readiness for replacement. Stacking or laying on cloth is unprofessional. See professional protocol HospitalityNet.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Proper Table Settings -

    Understand the placement and purpose of each piece of cutlery, glassware, and dinnerware to confidently navigate formal and casual dining settings.

  2. Apply Cutlery Etiquette -

    Demonstrate correct use of forks, knives, and spoons by following industry-standard etiquette questions and best practices.

  3. Observe Seating Protocols -

    Recognize proper seating arrangements and guest hierarchies to ensure respectful and smooth introductions at any dining event.

  4. Engage in Polite Conversation -

    Practice polite conversation starters and topics to foster a courteous and enjoyable atmosphere during meals.

  5. Refine Everyday Dining Habits -

    Apply key insights from the dining etiquette quiz to elevate your daily table manners and leave a lasting positive impression.

  6. Evaluate Your Etiquette Knowledge -

    Assess your understanding of common etiquette questions and identify areas for improvement through interactive quiz feedback.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Cutlery Placement & Use -

    Master the "Outside-In" rule when tackling etiquette questions: utensils are used from the outermost set inward for each course, as noted by the Emily Post Institute. For example, start with the soup spoon on the far right before moving to the fish fork next to the plate. Remember the mnemonic "S-F-M" (Soup, Fish, Main) to ace your table manners quiz.

  2. Napkin Etiquette -

    In any dining etiquette quiz or real-world setting, place the napkin on your lap immediately after seating, according to Harvard Business School Dining Etiquette guidelines. Use it to gently blot, not wipe, your mouth and refold it loosely if you leave the table temporarily. Think "Lap-Place, Gentle Dab" to lock in this essential skill for everyday or formal dining.

  3. Seating Protocol -

    When facing ettiquette questions about seating, always wait for the host or eldest guest to sit first and follow the indicated arrangement of place cards. This shows respect and prevents confusion, as highlighted by the Protocol School of Washington. Practice by visualizing a formal dinner diagram to breeze through the seating rounds on your dining etiquette quiz.

  4. Polite Conversation Tips -

    In a dining etiquette quiz context, remember that light, inclusive topics keep the table atmosphere pleasant - avoid politics or religion unless invited. Use the "ICE" approach (Insight, Curiosity, Empathy) from the Journal of Business Communication to engage: ask open-ended questions, listen actively, and offer kind feedback. This strategy ensures you're remembered for charm, not awkward lapses.

  5. Glassware & Toasting -

    For both an etiquette quiz and a real dinner, hold wine glasses by the stem to prevent warming the contents, as recommended by the Etiquette Scholar. When toasting, make eye contact and gently tap your glass at the rim - no clinking too hard. Recall "Stem, Eye, Tap" to refine this classic toast technique and score top marks on your table manners quiz.

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