Before we begin, the first rule that should always be remembered is that you are dining out for a reason. Don’t forget what that reason or occasion is. Don’t let the “do’s and don’ts” of the formal dining experience weigh you down to the point that you do not enjoy your experience.

There are many facets to proper behavior to display at a restaurant, so I have broken it down simply to ensure you have the proper level of knowledge from when you walk through the door to leaving the tip.

Timing is everything: Restaurant reservations should be treated like any other appointment. Call ahead if you are going to be more than 15 minutes late. If you are later than what you communicated to the restaurant staff, you can expect a longer delay upon arrival or even a cancellation on the restaurants behalf. Be on time and conscious of the restaurant’s scheduling protocol.

Attire: Even if a restaurant has a “casual” dress code, remember the definition of “casual” can mean one thing to one person and a something completely different to another. For some, casual could be interpreted as holey jeans and sneakers; on the other hand it could mean kaki pants and penny loafers. The best rule of thumb when dressing for a restaurant is to do so conservatively. If you think maybe you shouldn’t wear sneakers, don’t! If you are still in doubt simply contact the restaurant staff and ask what would be appropriate attire dining at their establishment.

Arrival at the table: Do not order any food until your entire party arrives. A lot of restaurants will not even seat a partial party. So it is a good idea to get your entire group together at the lounge and be ready to be seated at your scheduled reservation time. Once you have been seated, some restaurants will served bread or a small appetizer. If you are the host of the group, be the last to partake; and never eat the last of anything on the table.

Table Setting: When ding at a fine restaurant, most people are intimidated by all of the silverware and glasses they see sprawled before them. As a basic rule of thumb is to start from the outside of the setting and work your way in. The smaller utensils are used for appetizers and salads, while the larger ones are used for the entrée itself.

Depending on the type of restaurant, you may see five or more glasses in front of you. Don’t worry about which one you use however. The wait staff will fill the appropriate glasses and remove the rest depending on what you order. For example, you will have a tall glass for white wine, a large round glass for red wine, a water glass, and a flute for champagne. If you order wine for the table, like a nice white wine, then all glasses except for your water glass and the appropriate wine glass will remain. This brings us to our next point, selecting the best wine for both your meal and your budget.

Wine Selection: Most people are not quite sure how to choose a wine that compliments the meal and the occasion, even as it matches their budget. If you are not sure, it is quite acceptable to ask the for the wait person’s or wine steward’s advice Once your selection arrives at your table, it will be corked at your table.

If you choose a red wine, the wine server will uncork the win and pour a small amount into the host’s glass and the server will leave the bottle on your table. If you are the host, don’t drink the wine in your glass, and don’t pour the wine into your glass if you are a guest. The server is allowing the wine to breathe and will return in about five minutes. When the server arrives, sparingly taste the wine to see if it is what you expected. If so, say something complimentary like, “thank you, very nice.” The server will then fill the rest of your glass and your guest’s glasses.

If you choose a white wine, the tasting process will be similar to the red wine, with the exception of the breathing process. White wine can be tasted and enjoyed upon its corkage.

If you have a special wine of your own that you would like to enjoy at the restaurant, most venues allow you to bring in your own selection for a nominal corking fee.

The Meal: This will be covered very briefly, as the manners you were taught as a child should suffice. Eat slowly and in small bites, allow time for conversation and make sure not to rush your guests.

If your entrée is not properly cooked or is not too your satisfaction, it is acceptable to graciously inform the server there was an error in your meal. While some chefs have earned reputations of being temperamental in their craft, they are professional artists who will take your comments as positive and ensure your meal is prepared to your satisfaction.

Tipping: Tipping can be a tricky subject. Generally, you should tip leave about 15 percent of the bill as your tip. While it may not be easy to calculate the tip in your head, do not bring out a calculator. Instead, double the amount owed on the tax, and you will be able to arrive at a figure which generally comes out to 15 percent of the bill. But don’t forget to take the level of service into consideration. If the service was acceptable, a 15 percent tip should suffice, however, if you received excellent service, you should consider tipping more, and leave a 20 to 30 percent tip.

Following these very simple hints will allow you to be the captain of the table and maybe even impress your guests with your extensive knowledge of the fine art of dining; even though you may be sweating under your casual jacket.

Bon Apetit!

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I am not ashamed to say it: My favorite meal in the whole world is a big juicy burger. Nowadays, burgers are made from everything from turkey to emu; but for the purpose of this search, I will stick to the classic beef burger.

As I travel the country I always make a point to get a burger at every destination. Some have been better on my taste buds than others, but we will cover “burgers to avoid” in a future edition.

The top 10 places to get a burger in the country:

10. LA Buns, West Hollywood, CA This very small “greasy spoon” has become a permanent staple for bruger lovers on the busy Santa Monica Blvd thoroughfare. Don’t let its small exterior or its location next to the car wash fool ya…this is a place where any burger on the menu will be to your liking, both on your taste buds and your wallet.

9. Red Robin, National Chain Red Robin dedicates one page of its unique menu to just my favorite thing, burgers. Of course you can put anything on a burger to give it a theme, but the right ingredients combined with a thick ¼ pound all-beef patty is a true work of “moo art.” You can expect to pay close to $10 for a signature burger, which is accompanied by their trademark bottomless fries.

8. Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, HI The name Ritz Carlton is of course synonymous with luxury and the best that money can buy. This is very true of their house cheeseburger. Granted, to get the best you have to pay for it…this enormous 1lb angus-beef burger will run you close to $25.00, but its money well spent. Served simply with the classic toppings, onions, lettuce, mayo, ketchup, and a pickle on the side, this burger has all that is needed. It is a juicy and filling delight. As always, the best burger is cooked no longer than medium.

7. Johnny Rockets, National Chain Johnny Rockets is reminiscent of a 50’s style burger and malt joint. Johnny Rockets is known for their burgers and chili-cheese fries and for good reason. Moderately priced, the burgers are cooked on a flat grill, just like in the fifties and garnished simply with relish, ketchup, and mustard. If you need just a little more on your burger, I suggest the chili burger, definitely filling, and definitely delightful, top this one with a malt for the whole retro experience!

6. Gear Jammer Truck Stop, Mountain Home, ID Who hasn’t heard that truck stops have the best food? Well I can at least vouch for this truck stop’s signature Gearjammer burger. Cooked medium, of course, this ½lb monster burger is topped with grilled onion and mushrooms and served plain. Adding any other condiments to this meal on a bun would be a travesty. Next time you are in Southern Idaho and have a craving for a really good burger, take the time to stop at the Gear Jammer!

5. Ruby Tuesdays, National Chain Ruby Tuesdays has a burger dish that almost went the way of the 1950’s, the sliders. Ruby Tuesday’s serves up 4 mini burgers on dinner roll buns dressed up simply with just the basic pickle, ketchup, and mustard. The burgers are moderately priced and pack an explosive taste in a small package.

4. Fatburger, Soon-to-be National Chain. Used to be you could only find a Fatburger in California, but thankfully, the chain is rapidly expanding from its California roots. Just as the name implies, the burgers are fat, big and juicy. Made from 100% aged beef, grilled to perfection, expertly garnished with the classic condiments, Fatburger is a definite “destination” restaurant. Thankfully for the country, the “destination” no longer requires airfare to the West Coast.

3. Hamburger Hamlet, Regional Chain Some restaurants that have the word “burger” on their sign but don’t necessarily live upto its name. This is not the case for the Hamburger Hamlet. This classic eatery has a very nice, eclectic menu with prices ranging from very moderate to moderately expensive. But of course, my favorite dish is their burger. Their menu has many types of hamburgers with many different themes, all are mouth-watering and a definite delight to the burger lover.

2. In N Out, Regional Chain Fast food burgers aren’t usually a memorable experience, nor will you see them listed in restaurant and food reviews; but In N Out does nothing but burgers and fries. The “double-double” is their signature classic. Their burgers are made to order on a flat grill and can be served up many different ways to include grilled onions or protein style, for the carb-conscious. However you fix it up or wrap it up, In N Out earned its incredible reputation for serving up a really great burger and deserves to be the number two spot in this review.

1. Ahh, for the number one spot for best burger in the country is a very small burger, in a very small town, available exclusively at a very small restaurant. Hickies is located in New Boston, Ohio. Near the banks of the Ohio River, this small diner has become a staple of good food for this remote area. Hickies maintains a closely guarded recipe for their burgers, which are one size; small. I suggest ordering at least 5 of these mini delights and maybe 5 to go for the drive home. Each burger patty is hand pressed and grilled up home-style. The made-to-order burgers are then placed on a steamed dinner roll. Not that this regional delicacy requires any additional flavors, but it is served with onion, pickle and mustard. The burgers are is simple and aromatic in its flavor. Hickies is always packed with customers and is overwhelmed with phone orders. If you ever wind up traveling to this small and quaint river town in southern Ohio, Hickies is a definite dining stop for a great burger, actually the Best Burger in the Country.

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What if there were a place where you could combine your love of sports and your love of the traditional Bar & Grill hangout spot?

There are a few, but the most appropriate comes from our favorite sports cable channel—ESPN and it’s called the ESPN Zone.

Each location is anchored by a big screen, high definition television and as many monitors you can jam into one place without causing seizures from sensory overload.

Plus, there are a plethora of interactive games and other attractions that will keep any sports enthusiast occupied for hours, ranging from boxing to golf and from basketball to hockey.

Each location has its own highlighted game special and in the Chicago location, fans can get into the 15 foot Madden NFL Football Game on a giant projection screen, allowing four-person play with current team rosters, ground-breaking graphics and audio that is so powerful it’s palpable.

Before or after the gaming, patrons can take advantage of more than generous portions of traditional American grill items, including thematic specialties such as the ESPN Burger, the Zone Cheese Steak and the Baby Back, Back, Back ribs.

Open up the eating session with your own tailgate party, the Ultimate Tailgate, which is a sampler of the most popular appetizers, including Spicy Cheese Sauce and Chips, Buffalo and Barbecue Wings, Sliders, Chicken Tenders and Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Dip.

Close things out with the best sports-oriented dessert you can get, the Sudden Death Brownie, a chocolate chip and walnut brownie under vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, and whipped cream.

It’s a Bar & Grill, so whatever you drink, they have, even if it’s one of those Nancy concoctions with sugar and pretty colors.

This is a true ESPN experience, so if you love sports and want it served up in a sports-authentic Bar & Grill, ESPN Zone is the place to go.

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