I'm taking my girlfriend to a really nice restaurant (http://www.thelodgerestaurant.com) for her bday in a few days. I don't wear suits much, but I had kind of a silly question. Do I take my suit coat off when we get to the table or eat with it on? I'm thinking leave it on, but wanted to know what others opinions are.

Jason

Eat with your jacket on (some restaurants require this, in fact). Make sure you undo the button as you sit, though.

Have a great dinner!

Agreed. Keep the jacket on... unbuttoned is fine.

Another "not so well known" fact: if you get up from the table during dinner, place your napkin on your chair, not the table.

Have a great time! :tu:

Some places will have a place to 'check' your coat. (Forget what they call that..) otherwise, like John said,

'undo the button as you sit'

:gl: Looks like a really nice place, 26 year old ex. chef, nice!

i suggest you take some tips from borat (from ali g)
damn he is one funny man :D

Another "not so well known" fact: if you get up from the table during dinner, place your napkin on your chair, not the table.

That's a good tip. I always see people put it back on the table.

Also, do all the normal stuff: make sure to open doors and motion for anybody of the opposite sex to go through (as well as anyone they're with), pull the chair out for your date, help her take her coat off if she has one, start on the outside with the silverware and work in.

Never stab anything. When eating meat: hold your fork in the left, and knife in the right, rest the fork curved side down on the meat to hold it in place, draw the knife over the meat to cut a bite size piece, put the knife down, transfer the fork to your right hand, scoop up the meat, and then place it in your mouth. Repeat this process.

Thanks for the replies guys, we had a GREAT time! I obviously scrapped my diet today because the food was way too good.
Here is what I had:

Salad:Mixed Green Salad with Fuji Apples, Texas Goat Cheese, Fried Parsnips and Red-Wine Vinaigrette

Appetizer:Spanish Style Shrimp with toasted sourdough bread

Pasta:Italian Braised Pork Ragu with Rigatoni, Smokey Red Peppers, Baby Arugula and Pecorino Romano

Entree:Pancetta Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Yukon Gold Potatoes, Braised Endive, Roasted Gala Apples and Grain Mustard Sauce

Dessert:Fried Texas Peaches with Caramel and homemeade peach Ice Cream.

Here is a picture we took before we left :)

she's a cutey :D

Salad:Mixed Green Salad with Fuji Apples, Texas Goat Cheese, Fried Parsnips and Red-Wine Vinaigrette

Appetizer:Spanish Style Shrimp with toasted sourdough bread

Pasta:Italian Braised Pork Ragu with Rigatoni, Smokey Red Peppers, Baby Arugula and Pecorino Romano

Entree:Pancetta Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Yukon Gold Potatoes, Braised Endive, Roasted Gala Apples and Grain Mustard Sauce

Dessert:Fried Texas Peaches with Caramel and homemeade peach Ice Cream.

Wow, that menu sounds very good! Nice pic too!! Whatcha end up doing with the coat??

Wow, that menu sounds very good! Nice pic too!! Whatcha end up doing with the coat??

It was fantastic. I have never had a "course meal" and it was pretty cool. We had 5 courses served over a 2 hour period. I didn't feel full at all even though we had generous size portions.

I went ahead and left the coat on, but after a few gin and tonics, it started to warm up a bit, so I ended up taking it off and folding it over my seat. :D

Jason

A good looking couple! :tu:

Looks like you got a haircut too man...you look very clean cut!
I'm sure your g/f appreciated The Lodge, that place looks amazing!
Great sounding dinner too, what was the best course?

glad you had a great time! That Pork Tenderloin made my mouth water...whew! And it isnt even lunch time.

You both look Good!