20 Golden Rules for Successful Business Lunches

A business lunch can be a wonderful thing. Over a few dishes, it’s possible to find common ground, show appreciation, and resolve a relationship that seemed complicated when it was limited to virtual interactions. Yet, after years of video calls and remote work, the practice is becoming increasingly unappealing. So here’s a survival guide to reconnecting with this tradition without making a faux pas.

1. Choose your restaurant strategically

You’ll usually have between an hour and an hour and a half—so choosing the right restaurant is crucial. Long tasting menus with wine pairings are already tedious under normal circumstances; at lunchtime, they feel like a full-blown gastronomic hostage situation. And for heaven’s sake, steer clear of “sharing plates.”

2. Choose a location that’s easy to get to

The restaurant should be easy to find. Your guests shouldn’t need the skills of a great explorer like Sir Ranulph Fiennes to track down “that great little spot you’ve heard about.” If you want to nurture this professional relationship, meet them halfway geographically and work around their schedule.

3. Don’t be afraid of simplicity

Don't be afraid to keep it simple. It won't work for every situation, but simplicity often has its merits. A traditional fish and chips joint or a nice neighborhood brasserie? Why not?

4. Put away your screens

Golden rule: no computers or phones on the table. You’re in a restaurant, not the computer section of an Apple Store.

5. Limit emergency calls

Got an urgent matter at the office? You’re allowed to slip away once to make a call, even if you inevitably lose your colleagues’ attention in the process. Twice? People will think you’re leading a double life—or that you simply lack basic manners.

6. Be mindful of the people sitting next to you

Pay attention to the people around you. Avoid venturing into confidential territory or discussing sensitive financial data if half the room works in the same industry as you. Also, if the key figures for your project won’t fit on the back of a napkin, don’t try to dissect the cells of a complex spreadsheet while carving your guinea fowl.

7. Punctuality is non-negotiable

Be on time. Sorry to sound so strict, but it doesn’t matter if your spouse had a close call this morning: the clock is ticking for everyone.

8. Master the protocol for dealing with delays

When it comes to being late, the rules are strict. Ten minutes is forgivable (ask the maître d’ for a newspaper or pull out that backup novel you always keep in your pocket, but avoid frantically scrolling through your smartphone). If they’re twenty minutes late? It’s on them to pick up the tab. Thirty minutes? Order your meal on your own and enjoy some quality reading time.

9. Be an engaging guest

Show off your conversational skills. The best business lunches are those with well-read people who can share interesting stories. To be clear: no, they don’t want to see photos of your kids.

10. Learn to be quiet and listen

Shut up. Listen. It’s a skill that’s far too rare, but you’d be wise to master it as soon as possible.

11. Don’t judge cultural customs

If you’re American (or of a puritanical disposition), don’t look horrified when a European guest orders a glass of wine at lunchtime. There’s no need for you to lecture them.

12. Come with a healthy appetite

If you’re injecting semaglutide into your thigh and have a bird’s appetite right now, why did you even bother coming out? The moment you ask the server if you can get a half-portion of arugula salad, the friendly atmosphere of the meal is ruined.

13. Forget about showing off

“I won’t be having any bread myself, but please, help yourselves.” For heaven’s sake, spare us this kind of self-righteous posturing when it’s time to order. Instead, show that you’re the kind of person who can make sure everyone gets their fair share in an arrangement, even if it’s just access to the bread basket.

14. Be polite to the staff

Behave with grace—and that goes for the staff as well. At the end of an excellent lunch this week, my guest whispered to the server, “Your service was exceptional. It was truly one of the highlights of the meal.” It’s these small interactions that remind us why we enjoy working with someone.

15. Choose the right menu format

How many courses should you order? The traditional starter-and-main course combination is the unwritten rule in this setting. Ordering just a main course is also acceptable, though it might suggest that you’re in a hurry to leave. Desserts? They’re tolerated, but your business meeting might then start to feel like a Sunday lunch at Grandma’s house.

16. Be strategic with your coffee

How should you handle the end of the meal? Ordering espressos along with the check helps perk everyone up while staying on schedule. On the other hand, asking for “a pot of your best green tea” is the surest way to raise the anxiety levels of your hosts, who are on a tight schedule.

17. Know who should pay the bill

Splitting the bill at a business lunch is rarely a wise move. If you’re the one who chose the restaurant and set the pace of the meal, just pull out your credit card. On the other hand, if your guest has ventured into the priciest sections of the wine list or ordered a steak the size of a Labrador, let them pay.

18. Save the doggy bag for your own meals

Forget the takeout container. You may hate waste, but unless you work for an anti-hunger NGO, walking out with a tray of gratin dauphinois that’s slowly turning to stone won’t make you look eco-conscious—it’ll just make you look cheap.

19. Say thank you if you’re invited

Did they pick up the tab? Just remember to say thank you.

20. Say thank you even if you paid

Did you treat them? Thank them for their time and for being such great company. Well, only if that was actually the case.

To read more columns by Andrew Tuck,click here.