Going out to a high-end restaurant can be a luxurious experience. But for patrons who are used to more casual dining experiences, eating at a fancy restaurant can be stressful.
To learn more about everything from how to dress to how to interact with the waitstaff, Business Insider asked Elaine Swann, a lifestyle and etiquette expert, to identify four common mistakes diners should avoid making at high-end restaurants. Here’s what she said.
Disregarding the waitstaff
When dining at a high-end restaurant, patrons should expect to receive a higher level of service. Therefore, Swann said it’s important to build rapport with the waitstaff.
“I’ve heard people say, ‘Don’t interact with waitstaff,’ and that’s incorrect, and I think that’s quite snobbish,” Swann said.
“Instead, you should communicate effectively with the staff; find out their name,” she told BI.
She also suggested calling the server by name when making specific requests or asking questions about the menu, which can help set the tone for an enjoyable dining experience.
Dressing inappropriately
Swann said another common mistake diners make is not dressing appropriately for the occasion.
To avoid this faux pas, she recommends finding out the dress code in advance to ensure you’re wearing the proper attire.
“You can check the website or call ahead,” she told BI. “And then another thing that I encourage people to do is look up photos.”
Swann said looking up the restaurant’s social media pages can also give diners an idea of what appropriate attire may look like. She added that it can help to look at the restaurant’s hashtags to see what other people who have dined there have worn.
Showing up late to the reservation
Swann said another mistake guests tend to make at high-end restaurants is showing up “fashionably late.” She said showing up on time helps ensure the service goes as planned.
“The service at the high-end restaurant is based upon everyone being there at the same time, on time,” she said.
Swann said being late can impede the flow of the service.
“It’s important to respect people’s time. When someone gives you a time to show up, they’re expecting to start within the flow they have designed,” she told BI. “And It’s quite disrespectful to show up late.”
Forgetting to leave a tip
“You should always leave a tip at every restaurant you dine at, regardless of if it’s high-end or your standard mom-and-pop restaurant,” Swann said.
She added that although 20% of the bill is the standard tip at a regular restaurant, the tip at a high-end restaurant should be a minimum of 20%.
This story was originally published on September 9, 2024, and most recently updated on January 16, 2026.
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