Etiquette Tuesday: Shut It
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood
Recently, I treated someone to dinner. As frugal as I am, this is a rare occasion that should not be taken lightly. This person did, however, and needless to say there will be many days in between the next time this happens again. So I treat them to dinner and after they had finished the first thing out of their mouth is how horrible the food tasted. *Le sigh* (1). It was free. (2.) It was free and um, (3.) Yeah, it was free. Even if you felt this way, it was the thought that counted and your negative comments could have been saved for a later review of the restaurant…say, when I suggested going again, that would have been a good time to share some of that disdain.
Tact is what it boils down to. Sharing your opinion on a restaurant is not prohibited, it should just be censored. After someone has treated you to a meal just to be kind, the polite thing to do when you do not like it is to simply not talk about it or take a mental note not to order from there the next time. Please exclude those times when it is for a media event or some other survey style event where negative and positive comments are encouraged. This in no way makes you a liar or keeps you from speaking your mind but it does keep you from looking like the ungrateful recipient of a kind gesture. Like Mama said, when you don’t have anything nice to say, maybe it’s best not to say anything at all…
Category: Etiquette Tuesday, Food.Fun.Stuff.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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