Dining for Success: 15 Tips to Avoid Business Meal Mishaps

1. If you were the one to extend the invitation, you are responsible for every part of the gathering. As the invitee, you are responsible for ensuring that every part of the business meal goes smoothly. Offer venue suggestions and make sure that you facilitate ease of access for your guest.  Give your guest options and allow him or her to make the final decision.
2. Remove pressure from your guest by familiarizing yourself with the menu in advance. By suggesting several menu items, you are subtly revealing the amount of money you are willing to spend on the meal. Demonstrate your knowledge casually by offering tips on the restaurant favorites and house specialties.
3. Drink from your own water glass and avoid your client’s bread plate. A sure way to negate your own professionalism is by drinking from your client’s water glass or eating from her bread plate. Your drink will always be placed on the right side, above your knife and soup spoon, and your bread plate will always be placed on the left side, above your fork(s).  A tip:  bring the tip of your index finger to the tip of your thumb, leaving the other three fingers straight. The right hand will make the shape of a “d” – a reminder that the drink is on the right-hand side – and the left hand will make the shape of a “b” for bread. Your salad and entrée plate will be placed in the center of the utensils, below the bread plate and water glass.
4. Remove any foreign object from your mouth by covering your mouth with your right hand and removing the object with the index finger and thumb of your left hand. If you feel too uncomfortable, excuse yourself from the table and remove the obstruction in the privacy of the restroom, away from the table.
5. Salt and pepper are married (or very happy travel companions). Salt and pepper are always passed together, even if your client only asks for one.
6. Try a bit of everything on your plate unless you have a food allergy. You will come across as juvenile if you eat only your steak and potatoes and turn up your nose at your peas and carrots.
7. Do not monopolize the conversation. Show a genuine interest in getting to know your client and ask thoughtful questions. Read the paper, listen to the news, and use the web to find out what topics might be of particular interest to your client. Try to remain relaxed and the conversation will appear effortless.
8. When leaving the table during the meal, place your napkin on your chair and push the chair back under the table. It is not important to announce where you are going, especially when you are using the restroom. Simply say, “Please excuse me” before you leave.
9. Tell your client if they have something in their teeth. While it may feel uncomfortable to broach the subject, soften the alert with “I know you would want to know.” Your client will be grateful that you didn’t let her walk around the rest of the day with something in her teeth.
10. A cough or sneeze should be directed into your left shoulder and shielded by your left hand. This gesture keeps your right hand germ-free for a goodbye handshake at the end of the meal. (Yes, people notice where your right hand has been when anticipating a handshake!)
11. If an accident at the table occurs, handle it and forget about it. It’s not necessary to drone on and on about the spilled tea in your lap. Try to divert the attention to something positive.
12. A dropped utensil stays on the floor. If you drop your knife or fork on the restaurant floor, it’s not necessary to dive under the table to retrieve it. Ask the server for another utensil and continue with conversation.
13. Review some difficult menu terms. Quiche Lorraine is not pronounced “Quickie Lou-raine” and Prix Fixe is not an expensive sports car.
14. Closing a deal is not your primary focus. Use the meal to promote a relationship rather than as an attempt to make a sale or close a deal. The focus of a business meal is generally to build or foster a relationship.
15. Follow up with a thank you note. If you were the guest at the meal, drop a handwritten thank you note to your host. It fosters good will and will distinguish you from your competitors.

source:.forbes.com