Tips for Casual Dining - as part of the expert series by GeoBeats. At a personal dinner with family and friends I have seen many times the following boo-boos and errors. Please do not make the following: I have seen people begin their meal prior to the head of the table doing so. I have seen them take their napkins and tuck it into their shirt collars. And I have seen people pick up full pieces of bread and eat it. What are you thinking? And I have seen elbows on the table. All wrong. I see people seasoning their soup prior to tasting it. I see them blowing on it. And I see them reaching across with their fork to help themselves to someone else's food from their plate. When it comes to paying the bill, decide ahead of time how the bill's going to be handled. Say to the wait staff, "Separate checks, thank you" or say to them, "I will be taking the bill tonight for everyone, thank you". You want to make sure you address the person by their name, not "Hey you" or "Hey man, the last time we met you did this". And, be very aware about reaching across, about the elbow on the table, about leaning, and about chewing with your mouth open. And do not you dare have gum at the table.