Fitting into a 5 star

Having to walk into those glass doors manned by turbaned gatekeepers for the first time gives many a cold feet, even if they can afford to dine there. An unwritten/unsaid dress code”, an unfamiliar menu, and being clueless about any finer points of fine dining etiquette are the main concerns. We got people from the industry to let you in on the unwritten fine dining codes.

Decoding the dress code
Saeid Heidari, General Manager, Renaissance Mumbai, says, “Different hotels may have different policies on dress code.” The dress code for a five star also depends on the restaurant type and theme, Heidari tells us. “For  instance, our Italian restaurant Fratelli Fresh attracts a lot of expatriate guests, and the dress code has come to be more semi-formal/formal. While at Lake View Café, an all-day dining family restaurant, the dress code is casual/semi-formal.” According to Prashant Chadha, Food and Beverage Manager, ITC Maratha, five stars generally see two types of guests, “There are the formally-dressed business visitors, and there are guests who set their own trends.” He says, “While certain hotels are accommodating about dress code for Sunday Brunch, a new diner should play safe.”

Making sense of the menu
The dishes often have fancy and difficult-to-pronounce names, and sometimes, even unknown ingredients. Heidari and Chadha, however, says that there’s no need for the first-timers to worry. “All menus have a small description below the dish name, which makes it easier for the guests to understand  the menu and explain to the server what they want.” Guests can also rely on the service staff on the art of enjoying a meal, says Chadha. “It’s a common practice, and not specific to first-time diners. For instance, at Pan Asian, our oriental cuisine restaurant, servers give insights on how to hold and eat sushi.” Buffet branding, veg and non-veg dish cards, allergen declarations are among the other means to comfort the new diners, adds Chadha.

Getting the ‘tip’ right
The universal practice of tipping 10 per cent of the billing amount is a good consideration, says Chadha.  “A lot of restaurants now levy a pre-decided service charge though,” he says.   

Etiquette of fine dining
Chadha recommends that fine dining etiquette should be acquired for the guest to be more comfortable in a five star ambiance. These include resting elbows on the table with arms folded rather than arms out; cell phones on silent mode and in the pocket rather than on the table, and so on. “Many social clubs also organise lessons for patrons on etiquette of fine dining,” Chadha tells us. “A new diner can always pick up the required etiquette through information available online,” he says. But whether guests mind their table manners to the T or not, they are expected to maintain decorum and not disturb other guests, says Heidari.