1.The seating sequence in French dinners is man-woman-man-woman. So make sure you follow the sequence.
2.We may have been taught that it's impolite to have your hands on the table. However, in France, one is to keep his or her hands gently on the table all the time. It is considered rude and impolite to keep your hands under the table on your lap or on your sides. However, keeping your elbows on the table is considered impolite. This is one of the most important table manners in France, which if not followed can raise eyebrows.
3.Wait till your hostess finishes placing her napkin on her lap before you place yours on your lap. Moreover, wait for the hostess to give the toast and clink glasses with every guest seated at the table, ensuring that you make eye contact with each of them. Begin eating your meal only after the hostess has begun eating.
4.Bread, wine, and mineral water are provided all throughout the meal.
5.Bread is mostly placed on a table-napkin. Sometimes a bread plate will be provided for the bread. While eating the bread, make sure you break the bread into bite-size pieces before eating. It's considered impolite to bite from the whole bread.
6.Wine is provided with every meal and the glasses are filled three-quarters of the way.
7.Hold the fork in the left hand and knife in the right and rest the cutlery while you are not actively eating, at 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock to show you are not done with a meal.
8.Do not eat too much of the first course and do not rush through your meal. Pay attention to the pace of others dining at the table as well.
9.Salad should not be cut with knife and fork, but is to be gently folded onto the fork and eaten.
10.Avoid left-overs on your plate. Moreover, it is considered proper manners to wipe your plate clean of sauce after every course with a piece of bread (if different plates are not offered after every course). However, do this gently with the piece of bread skewered to the end of your fork. Never push the bread around the plate with your fingers.
11.If you want more wine, simply finish what you have in your wine glass and you will be served more. If you do not wish to have more wine, leave your wine glass almost full.
12.While talking during a meal, make sure you refrain from bringing up topics like religion or money.
13.The French do not hesitate to eat seafood with their hands, thus, pick oysters or mussels from their shells instead of cutting them. Eat them with your hands.
14.Placing the fork and knife together parallelly at the center of the plate indicates you are done with your meal, thus, do this once you have finished. Never place knives in crossed position, because it stands for conflict.