Man and woman sitting in restaurant etiquette

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I was once told it was polite to sit facing the wall so that the woman could have the view of the restaurant, other men etc. Do you agree?

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 10:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah, but I once heard that it was polite (if you were the waiter) to seat the woman facing the wall just in case they were a couple having an affair, so that the woman would be less likely to be seen and recognised. I wonder if restaurants really observe this bizarre practice?

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 10:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Srely unless your table is right in the corner then neither of you has to face the wall?

― Sofa King Alternative (Sofa King Alternative), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 11:16 (twenty-three years ago)

you could just book a table in the centre of the room, thus avoiding walls altogether

― blueski, Tuesday, 15 October 2002 11:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, yes. I mean given a wall situation.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 11:46 (twenty-three years ago)

Would it not be more polite to ask your partner at which side of the table she/he would like to sit? Or is that just being practical and not adhering to etiquette at all?

― lol p xx, Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:09 (twenty-three years ago)

I once read that when you go to a restaurant with a guy, you should always pick the seat which better allows you a view of everyone else. I think it's supposed to be empowering.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:12 (twenty-three years ago)

No lol, because the man must be THE MASTER. If you ask the woman to choose for herself she will get all flustered and lose respect for you.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:14 (twenty-three years ago)

It's already too late at that point for N. -- the woman has already met him.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Ah, Dastoorsan, I bow to your superior ways with women. If only I had known that when I took Sarah Cracknell out down the Kismet Tandoori in Colchester the other week. I tried to make up for it by telling her that her skin smelled just like pebbles, and saying stupid things I knew she'd like, but of course after a faux pas like that she would have none of it.

― lol p xx, Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:25 (twenty-three years ago)

I always like to sit with my back to the wall; if someone comes through the front door looking to shoot me I won't be taken by surprise. However Emma B always sits there instead, exposing us to the fancies of passing marauders.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Emma B off Radio 1???

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:41 (twenty-three years ago)

You are just an E! True Hollywood Story in the making.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:44 (twenty-three years ago)

This isn't the first time I've mentioned my lovely Emma B, Nick.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:45 (twenty-three years ago)

I also have a pathological desire to sit with my back to the wall, as I am easily annoyed by being able to sense people walking behind me but not being able to see them. This is also why I had to sit in the back in class. I have used the "not facing the wall so I won't get shot" excuse in the past as well, Tracer, just admit to your insecurities.

― Nick A., Tuesday, 15 October 2002 12:56 (twenty-three years ago)

I suppose wanting to sit with your back to the wall so you can see everyone else in the restaurant reveals a worrying lack of faith in your dinner partner's powers to entertain you.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 13:04 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.myhampstead.co.uk/images/celebs&gossip/EmmaB100.jpg

Would YOU want her facing the entire restaurant??

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 13:07 (twenty-three years ago)

I mean sure, she looks fine there but she's always pulling faces.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/images/djs/emma/emma_chat_cheeky200x150.jpg

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 13:21 (twenty-three years ago)

are you thinking of dating a woman from the 18th century or something?

― g-kit (g-kit), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 13:59 (twenty-three years ago)

I read in an article in Working Woman or somewhere that when you go to lunch with your boss you're supposed to say to her "Would you like the banquette?" It seems that the seat with the back against the wall is acknowledged as the preferred seat.

wait, I meant to post that to "Boss and subordinate sitting in restaurant thread"

― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 15:58 (twenty-three years ago)

right felicity. "boss and subordinate", "man and woman" like the thread said.

(oops! that wasn't offensive right? momus to thread!)

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 18:22 (twenty-three years ago)

haha, sorry for being redundant!

― felicity (felicity), Tuesday, 15 October 2002 18:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Maybe the man should be sat facing the door so he can jump up and kill any maraudering peasants that enter. As the woman does not need to protect herself it is not important for her to have a view of the door, as soon as he jumps up that can be her cue to dive under the table.

In a restaurant I used to work at the table in the front window had a reserved sign on it and we were only allowed to seat groups of attractive, young women at it as the bosses believed that such eye-candy would draw in many more customers.

― toraneko (toraneko), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 02:29 (twenty-three years ago)

One of the great posts there, Toraneko.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 11:46 (twenty-three years ago)

I tend to encourage whoever I'm with to sit in the seat that I would rather sit at (usually the booth or the one with the best view).

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 15:16 (twenty-three years ago)

*burp*

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 17:01 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't care. I usually need to be in the seat most facing the door and closest to the wall. luckily my girl understands.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 16 October 2002 17:35 (twenty-three years ago)

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