Edwardian Era Restaurant Etiquette

On leaving the table, the woman follows or precedes the man, as she wishes. She should put on her gloves before leaving the table… An Edwardian Era engagement portrait of a young couple. — Image from the Etiquipedia library

It is the custom when dining at a restaurant for a woman to precede a man, when going to the table, but it is not uncommon for the man to go first, and good taste and common sense will probably make this latter the rule.

A menu card is given to the woman as well as to the man, but she has nothing to do with ordering the dinner unless the man asks her to make some selection. Even then, she should not do much suggesting.

If her escort asks her to choose a salad or her own sweet, she should do so without hesitation, as she should answer any question frankly before the food has been ordered. After the order has been given she should refrain from suggestion or critical comment.

If she wishes the waiter to give her a fork, or any other silver article that may be required through the meal, she is not to ask the waiter for it, but to tell her escort that he may send for it.

A woman is not supposed to give a waiter any order, but to act in all ways as though she were in a private house.

On leaving the table, the woman follows or precedes the man, as she wishes. She should put on her gloves before leaving the table. —From Riverside Enterprise, 1911

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