Etiquette Tuesday: Go Johnna, It’s Your Birthday!

[ 4 ] August 9, 2011 | Johnna

After celebrating another 20-odd something birthday, I am more in tune with my favorite birthday gift: love. Lots o’ lots o’ love and that’s just what I received this year and every year. This week’s Etiquette Tuesday focuses on the birthday girl etiquette: It’s my party, but let’s be considerate here. While skimming through some of my favorite requests for Etiquette posts, I came across one on what to do when a friend wants to do their birthday dinner at an extravagant restaurant. Birthday folks, though it’s your day you should be considerate of everyone…and their wallets.

Now my rule of thumb for birthday’s is to pick a restaurant that is moderate but not necessarily a place me and the gals would go on an arbitrary Friday night to grub. In other words, I would not pick Marcel’s for a large birthday dinner rather I would opt for a place like Tosca or Bibiana, but I would not choose a Shake Shack or Lost Society for the dinner. Now this is not to say Shake Shack and Lost Society are not great, these are just places we go so regularly. My reservation on choosing a place like Marcel’s is that dinner could run you $100 a pop. Now, of course, I have my disclaimers and exceptions: mind you most of my circle is made up of up and coming future millionaires young adults but right now, we are all working on a budget. If your circle is full of cash and jewels, I say make that reservation at Citronelle ASAP. If not, however, Galileo III is just as good and not a place you would frequent every Friday night with your girlfriends.

Birthdays are your day to shine and I’m all about being the center of attention on that day, but who can be the center of attention when no one can afford to put the spotlight on you?? Think about it!

Tags: birthday, dining etiquette, Etiquette Tuesday

Category: Etiquette Tuesday

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.