Dinner date dilemmas revealed in new Yelp etiquette guide, including who should pay the bill

Yelp released its first-ever etiquette guide for do's and don'ts related to dining out. 

After surveying nearly 2,000 Yelp users who have completed restaurant reviews in the past, Yelp consulted etiquette expert Myka Meier on some of the most debatable table manners in today’s world — including who pays the bill and how people handle their phones.  

One of the most popular debates surrounding dining at a restaurant concerned the proper amount of phone usage at the table. 

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Eighty percent of Yelp respondents said they believe phones should be put away while at the dinner table — specifically while on a date — while only 54% of those surveyed said they should be put away during family meals. 

When it came to dining with friends, 50% said they put their phones away to enjoy the meal.

Putting the phone away at the dinner table was an agreed-upon sentiment by 80% of the Yelp users surveyed.  (iStock)

To remain in good graces in terms of etiquette, Meier recommended that diners who must have their phone on the table during a meal explain the reasoning to their companion.

"Modern etiquette means keeping personal items like wallets, sunglasses and — unfortunately — cellphones off the table while dining," she told Yelp. 

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"Transparency is a courteous gesture."

Another question asked of the Yelp respondents was about which person on a date should pay the bill.  

Sixty-eight percent of people thought the person who initiated the date should pay for the occasion.  (iStock)

Yelp found that 68% of people thought the person who initiated the date should pick up the check. 

Of those surveyed who were located in the southern portion of the United States, 74% of respondents thought this to be true. 

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Meier recommended simplicity for this process — saying it’s better to limit the number of cards on the table and use a money-sharing app later to settle up, if the bill is being split. 

"This approach streamlines the process for the server and allows you to split the bill evenly, or divide it up based on each other’s order," she said. 

An etiquette expert weighed in on the proper way to handle a bill on a date. (iStock)

Yelp also found that 65% of those asked in the South said they ask the server to split the check per person — while 34% of those in the Northeast prefer that one person pays upfront. 

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Being timely to a restaurant reservation was also brought up as a sign of proper etiquette. 

Seventy-six percent of survey participants said it’s unacceptable to run late by 10 minutes or more to a sit-down restaurant appointment. 

Opinions on the timeliness subject did change based on gender, age and geographical location, however. 

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More men from the study than women found any amount of tardiness to be unacceptable. 

Yelp also found that those 25–34 years of age were more lenient about arriving on time. 

(Yelp surveyed users by asking their opinions on proper dining etiquette — then had an etiquette expert weigh in on those opinions. )

With the rise in various locations such as coffee shops and fast-food spots asking for tips, Yelp asked the survey participants what percentage they typically tip. 

At a sit-down restaurant, 65% of people said they tip the standard 20% of a bill, but almost 90% said they prefer to tip as much as they see fit, while also appreciating the advanced notice of any automatic tipping added to the final bill. 

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"Advance notice of automatic tipping policies is key to avoiding surprises," Meier said. 

She added, "When tipping, always consider the service you’ve received and remember that generosity and gratitude go a long way in creating a positive dining experience for everyone involved."