When to begin eating: If you wonder whether or not it is acceptable to begin eating, you should wait until the oldest woman (or oldest man if no women are present) begins to eat. The polite thing to do is wait until everyone has been served and then eat. If it is taking a long time to serve a very large group, the head of the table will often say that it is ok to start eating now and not wait. Or, you can turn to them and ask if it is ok for everyone to begin eating as the meal is getting cold. The next course (or dessert) is not served until everyone has finished eating the current course.
Tipping & leaving: If you are eating in a restaurant, you will be expected to add a 15 to 20% tip for server to your bill. In America, wait staff might occasionally stop by your table to ask how your meal is, which is considered good service. You should always ask your own waiting for help, and not just any staff person. They will also bring you your check when it seems reasonable that you are finished with your meal, however this is not necessarily an indication that you must leave right away It is ok to ask for the check, if you need to leave. Take your time to finish your meal, and unless there is a line of people waiting at the door, it is not considered rude to linger at your table.
Bar & Nightlife Etiquette
If you are in a pub or bar, It’s customary to leave a small tip on the bar for each drink ordered (usually around $1 each)If you plan to have several drinks you can leave your credit card with the bartender for future rounds (commonly called “opening a tab”), and then pay for all your
Drinks when you are ready to leave. Just make sure you let the bartender know which people or
Drinks you intend to pay for on your card, or you might end up buying drinks for more people in
Your party than you intended.