It is impolite to reach over someone to pick up food or other items. Diners should always ask for items to be passed along the table to them.[3] In the same vein, diners should pass those items directly to the person who asked.[1] It is also rude to slurp food, eat noisily or make noise with cutlery.
When one has finished eating, this should be communicated to other diners and waiting staff by placing the knife and fork together on the plate, with the fork on the left, its tines facing upwards. Napkins should be placed unfolded on the table when the meal is finished.[3]
At family meals, children are often expected to ask permission to leave the table at the end of the meal.
Should a mobile telephone (or any other modern device) ring or if a text message is received, the diner should ignore the call. In exceptional cases where the diner feels the call may be of an urgent nature, he should ask to be excused, leave the room and take the call (or read the text message) out of earshot of the other diners.
Placing a phone or other devices like keys on the dinner table is considered rude.