Main Entry: ban·quettePronunciation: \baŋ-ˈket, ban-, 1b is also ˈbaŋ-kət\
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from Old Occitan banqueta, diminutive of banc bench, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English benc bench.
a) : a long upholstered bench b) : a sofa having one roll-over arm c) : a built-in usually upholstered bench along a wall
I love this lesson in etiquette. This is taken directly, or almost so, from Emily Post's book. I think this is information most of us do not know and would benefit from.
When at a restaurant with banquette seating and a long table, two people dining together are seated side by side against the wall.
At a narrower table, two diners, who might other wise be seated side by side, are seated opposite each other. The lady would be seated on the banquette with the gentleman facing her.
If there are four, the women are seated on the banquette and the men face them across the table.
In a restaurant with booths, the women go in first and sit against the far wall, facing each other across the table. The men then sit next to them on the outside.
If a woman and two men are lunching or dining, the woman takes her place first against the wall. If one of the men is related to her, he sits across from her, and the one not related sits beside her. If this grouping is reversed, the two ladies sit next to the wall, and the man who is the husband of one sits beside the other.
I think this is because the banquette seating provides the better view of the surroundings, and is usually more comfortable. On one of the worst dates of my life, the fellow (let's call him David (I think that was his name)) took me to a little Italian place in Ocean Beach (I was living in San Diego at the time). I had a nice view out of the window onto the lovely environs of O.B. I commented on this, "my having a better view than him", to which he responded, looking meaningfully into my eyes, that "actually he had the better view, because he could see me". hahahaha.... ok, had I actually fancied the fellow, then maybe, MAYBE, that wouldn't have been the cheesiest line EVER! But, only maybe. I have a low tolerance for ostentatious OR premature sentimentality.
