GROUP DINING ETIQUETTE

Large group dining etiquette

Dining out presents an opportunity to socialize with friends and family and enjoy a break from cooking. It also offers a chance to try new cuisines and support local restaurants. It likely comes as no surprise how popular dining out has become. According to a 2020 study by ICSC, nearly 64% of adults dine out at least once a week. Around 50% of respondents indicated dining out is an essential part of their lifestyles, and convenience is a prime reason for eating out. When dining out, individuals may want to share the experience with others. While large groups can have successful outings, making these experiences better for all involved comes down to focusing on etiquette. Here are some dos and don’ts of dining out with large groups.

DO

. Make a reservation with the restaurant as far in advance as possible. At the very least, call ahead to see if the establishment takes reservations (some do not) and find out their policies regarding large groups. . Bring cash along, as that makes it easier to divide the bill and the tip among diners. . Enlist a person in charge at the table to facilitate ordering and keep the momentum of the meal. This helps keep everyone on track. . Find out if the restaurant offers a “party pricing” deal.

If your crowd is large, it may make things easier to limit offerings to a set price-fixed party menu. This way everyone knows ahead of time they can expect to pay $30 per head, or whatever the cost is before added beverages.

DON’T

. Stagger the group’s arrival. Everyone should arrive at the established time for prompt service and to make it easier on the restaurant staff. Wait until your entire party has arrived before asking to be seated.

. Ignore the gratuity policies of the restaurant.

Certain establishments automatically apply a gratuity to the bill, typically around 18%, for large parties. Check the bill for such a gratuity to avoid tipping twice. . Assume that the restaurant can simply add a few more seats for last-minute invitations. Keep the restaurant apprised if someone needs to be added or removed from the reservation. Consider giving a final head count and confirm the reservation the day before. . Forget to discuss how the bill will be divided.

Some people may be amenable to splitting costs evenly. However, if someone orders filet mignon and another orders a small salad, the cost disparity is significant. Be up front with the server regarding whether you’ll need separate checks. n Highway 3 Roadhouse and Oyster Bar is noted as one of the local favorites away from downtown with plenty of sunshine. The menu features Southern cuisine with gumbo, catfish, crab cakes, po-boys and more. Oysters from Maryland are the biggest hit, serving about 400 each day. Get here early because we are only open three days a week!

Southern Cuisine · Full Bar

955 Highway 3, Durango (970) 385-7444 www.highway3roadhouse.com Wednesday-Friday 4-8 p.m.

First Place Best Seafood

Find a new place to visit in Flavor Four Corners Dining Guide. Go ahead. Snap a quick photo of the plate’s presentation or that colorful cocktail. Then share your local experience by posting a photo or review on social media. Tag the restaurant and include #FlavorFourCorners for the chance to be featured in future issues. Or advertise with us!

News • Events • Guides

1275 Main Ave., Durango (970) 247-3504 sales@bcimedia.com www.fourcornersflavor.com

Clancy’s Pub opened its doors in Durango Colorado in July of 1978. This same family-owned business opened our Farmington location on July 3, 1985. We have been serving the same great food and drink for over 35 years. Over the years, we have changed with the times and overcome many obstacles from shut downs to a fire, and always come back strong. Part of our recipe for success is that we cook the main portion of our food from scratch here in the restaurant. We also feature live music, singo, trivia and one of the best patios in town.

Signature Items

SMOTHERED CHILI BURGER

featured in Food Network Magazine as the ultimate green chili cheeseburger, served open faced on a bun or tortilla, smothered with red or green chili and melted cheese

JOLT YOUR JOURNEY ROLL

tempura asparagus, tempura green chili and cream cheese, topped with lobster chunks, eel sauce and spicy mayo

BURGER SALAD

fresh romaine lettuce topped with a chopped burger, bacon, tomatoes, cheese, pickles, onions, avocado and green chili

REUBEN O’ROURKE

corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss served on light rye bread open or closed with Thousand Island on the side

STEAK CLANCY’S

six-ounce choice sirloin tip steak cooked to order and topped with ham, green chili and Swiss cheese

GREEN CHILI PHILLY

six ounces of grilled steak strips, grilled onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese served in green chili halves with a side salad

AVOCADO BOMB

spicy tuna wrapped in avocado topped with a variety of sauces

Irish . New Mexican . Sushi

2701 East Main St., Farmington (505) 325-8176 www.clancys.net Open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sushi bar Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. & 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Outdoor dining . Catering

@clancys.cantina or orville shamus clancy @clancypub #clancysnm

Settle down with a glass from our curated wine, rotating tap, or crafted cocktail lists. Sink your teeth into house smoked meats, fire grilled steaks, hand formed burgers, or New Mexican flavors. Find your favorites amongst the 65 fresh items in our Garden Bar or Big-Texas BBQ buffet. Or start your week off right with a Sunday brunch of menu favorites, made even better by our Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar! Whether it’s an intimate dinner in a corner booth, a family get-together on our heated patio, 60 friends celebrating in our private banquette room, or 500 employees catered to at your next company gathering, Porters of Farmington is your destination for fresh steakhouse and BBQ favorites!

Signature Items

CERTIFIED ANGUS PORTERHOUSE

our ever-so-succulent cut combining filet mignon and New York Strip steaks, fire-grilled to your liking

HOUSE-SMOKED BBQ PLATES

a ranch-full of tender meats, marinated a full day then tucked into our smoker for up to 14 hours by our own chefs

CLASSIC BIG & JUICY WINGS

bone-in and like none you’ve eaten before, roasted to perfection and turned in choice of sauce

GARDEN-FRESH SALAD & SOUP BAR

pick your favorites amongst yards of fresh-cut veggies, fruits, meats, toppings and specialties

American Cuisine

2210 E. 20th St., Farmington (505) 327-5979 www.porters-farmington.com @portersfarmington Monday-Thursday: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., brunch 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Breakfast until 11 a.m. Friday-Sunday Reservations Recommended for parties of 12 or more Catering onsite up to 60, off-site up to 500

Si Señor Restaurant offers great food, great service and a truly authentic New Mexican cuisine experience. We get our chiles from the Hatch Valley, roast them in-house and bring you the true taste of New Mexico. Our flour tortillas, tortilla chips, sopapillas, rice, beans and more, are all made fresh daily. We offer dine-in, covered patio seating, takeout, online ordering, catering and drive-thru service. Dine with us and see for yourself why Si Señor has been a local favorite for over 25 years.

SAN JUAN DELUXE COMBINATION

our most popular combination plate includes a chile relleno, tamale, cheese enchilada, taco and a side of red or green chile with meat relleno, tamale, cheese enchilada, taco and a side of red or green chile with meat

SI SEÑOR STEAK

boneless ribeye steak and two rolled cheese enchiladas, served with rice, beans and guacamole

ENCHILADAS

three enchiladas filled with your choice of cheese, chicken, ground beef or shredded beef, topped with your choice of red or green chile sauce and served with rice and beans

STUFFED SOPAPILLAS

two house-made sopapillas filled with your choice of beans, chicken, ground beef or shredded beef, topped with your choice of red or green chile sauce and served with rice and beans

Signature Items

New Mexican . Family Restaurant

4015 E. 30th St., Farmington (505) 324-9050 www.sisenorfarmington.com Tuesday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Drive-thru open Tuesday-Sunday 7 a.m.-close

Online Ordering . Takeout

Relax under the shade of our cottonwood trees, towered by sandstone bluffs, and let our staff direct the most novice drinkers to the most refined palates to wines they are sure to love. We produce internationally acclaimed wines and present them to you with an easy spirit of hospitality, surrounded by the ambiance of vintage timelessness. Enjoy our 90+ point rated wines in our desert oasis, just one hour south of Durango, Colorado. Viva Vino!

REFOSCO ROSÉ

a hardy northern Italian variety, rarely vinted as a rosé, this cultivar is helping to grow our local wine industry

TEMPRANILLO

raved about by top wine writers and sommeliers of the world, a lush and fruit forward style of tempranillo, with a soft, but firm, tannic backbone

TRIBULATION RESERVE

a field blend from our vineyard, rich in the seductive dried cherry and blackberry jam, finishing with earthy hints of toasted cedar and licorice

GIRLS ARE MEANER

this wine pays homage to the perseverance and passion that the women in our lives show us each day – exotically fruity, a little spicy and a whole lot of sweetness

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

massive 40-plus year old vines produced this Cabernet, carrying intense varietal correct fruits, creating layered and complex flavors

Signature Items

Winery

233 Highway 511, Blanco, New Mexico Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday noon-5 p.m. Closed Tuesdays Closed January-March www.winesofthesanjuan.com Follow us on

Farmington

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Si Senor Restaurant

Porter's Restaurant and Steakhouse

Clancy's Pub an Irish Cantina Wines of the San Juans

Piñon Hills Blvd

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W 30th St Butler Ave

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Southside River RdBrowning Pkwy Animas River

Morningstar Dr

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Wildflower Pkwy

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Blanco 24 

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