10 Easy Ways to Shape Up When Dining Out for Mother's Day

Arlington Heights, Ill., May 6, 2009—Restaurant.com, the trusted and valued source connecting diners and restaurants nationwide, thinks that a Mother’s Day meal is the perfect time to show mom you care by dazzling her with polished tableside manners. Turning off mobile devices, respecting the wait staff, keeping language clean, leaving belches at the bar and remembering that mom is also a “Lady” were among 10 tips suggested by in-house Restaurant.com employees, who are also moms.

“As we prepare to pay tribute to mom, we wanted to suggest ways to help make sure Mother’s Day meals go smoothly and to do mom proud,” said Cary Chessick, president and CEO of Restaurant.com. “You’ve heard the phrase that ‘mother knows best.’ To compile the list, I turned to some of my dedicated staffers who also have the full time job of being a mom. I asked, ‘What table manners should your children remember this holiday?’ And did I get some feedback!”

Straight from the mouth of moms, Restaurant.com offers etiquette tips that individuals, young and old, should keep in mind as they sit down to enjoy a nice meal with family.

1. Chew it, Don’t Spew it – “Sometimes my kids have so much to say and although I love hearing their stories, I don’t like seeing their food. Chew. Swallow. Then, speak. In that order, please.” ~ Diane Dexl, customer support
2.  Pocket the Mobile Devices – “There is nothing ruder than when my kids text and use their cell phones at the dinner table. Put your phone away, forget about texting your ‘BFF’ and enjoy the company of people at the table.” ~ Heather Gross, partner support
3. Don’t Just Dig In – “You may be famished, but remember to wait until everyone is served at the table before you dig into your own plate. Also, slow down and enjoy your food.” ~ Sara Ginal, director of search marketing 
4. Let Ladies Go First – “I always remind my sons to open the door and pull out the chair for a woman and let them order first when dining out. I would appreciate that too. Remember that mom is a lady too, so you should treat her like one, especially on Mother’s Day!” ~ Vanessa Schroeder, customer support
5. Keep the Language Clean – “The only four letter word that should come up at Mother’s Day dinner is ‘LOVE’. Don’t use foul language at the dinner table—your mother didn’t raise you to swear.” ~ Gulnaz Banu, quality assurance analyst
6. Use Your Napkin Properly – “The food may be great, but don’t lick your fingers. Use your napkin to clean your hands. And remember that the napkin goes on your lap not around your neck!” ~ Renee Lee, customer support
7. Deliver Flowers to the Restaurant – “If dining out is part of the plan, I would love to receive flowers at the restaurant, or to bring them along!”
   ~ Melissa Powell, meeting coordinator
8. Treat Your Servers Well—Expect quality service, but respect your servers—they can make a Mother’s Day outing even more memorable. Reward stellar service with a generous tip on the total bill.” ~ Linda O’Dekirk, VP of consumer marketing
9. Leave the Burps for the Bar – “Belching at the dinner table is one definite way to ruin a Mother’s Day meal. Eat nicely and slowly, and resist the urge to burp.” ~ Jeni Forster, meeting coordinator
10. Don’t be Cheap – “Moms sacrifice a lot and if she wants steak and lobster, let her have it! Splurge for her and remember that you can be cheap for the other 364 days of the year.” ~ Linda Welch, director of HR

In honor of Mother’s Day, Restaurant.com is demonstrating good manners by running a special 60 percent off promotion on all gift certificates available through the site. Through the promotion, for example, $25 gift certificates that traditionally sell for $10 are available for $4. To take advantage of the savings consumers should enter the code “GIFT” at check-out.

“What better way to show mom you care than by treating to her to a well-served meal at a great restaurant?” said Chessick. “I want to encourage everyone to celebrate the mothers in their lives who work hard year round. Take at least one day to be on your best behavior and remind her how special she is.”
 

About Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com connects restaurant seekers and food lovers to savings at more than 10,000 restaurants nationwide and to various online retailers. As the nation’s leading online directory of restaurants and restaurant gift certificate provider, the company brings people together to relax, converse and enjoy well-prepared and -served meals at affordable prices. To date, Restaurant.com customers have saved more than $75 million through the gift certificate program. Restaurant.com has operated since 1999 and is based in Arlington Heights, Ill.