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There are a few things customers should never do at a fancy restaurant.Wengen Ling/Getty ImagesBusiness Insider asked an etiquette expert what people should avoid doing at high-end restaurants.She said diners should never disregard the waitstaff or arrive late to their reservation.She also recommended checking the restaurant's dress code to avoid dressing inappropriately.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 waitstaffNoSystem images/Getty ImagesWhen 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 inappropriatelyDjelicS/Getty ImagesSwann 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 reservationMint Images/Getty ImagesSwann 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 tipGrace Cary/Getty Images"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.Read the original article on Business Insider

Taco Bell has five new items on its luxe value menu, all priced $3 or under.Courtesy of Taco BellWe tried the five new items on Taco Bell's Luxe Value menu, which is all priced under $3.The new menu features premium options, such as a nacho supreme dip and a beefy, potato-loaded griller.Our favorite dish was the mini taco salad, which was a huge surprise.Taco Bell believes that luxury can still come wrapped in paper. It's why the fast-food chain expanded its Luxe Value menu with five new items.The new menu aims to offer more premium-adjacent options without straying far from its budget-friendly roots — something that Taco Bell fans have come to expect from the brand.The move comes as diners continue to look to fast-food chains for more affordable meals, and as chains across the industry compete to make their value offerings feel more satisfying — and more indulgent — than ever.The menu, which launches on January 22, includes five new items and five returning fan-favorites, all priced under $3.We tried the five brand-new items coming to the Luxe Value menu and ranked them from worst to best — and our favorite item might surprise you.The new chips and nacho supreme dip were our least favorite of the new items, but they were still good.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderThe new nacho supreme dip ($2.49) is made with seasoned beef, refried beans, nacho cheese sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, pico de gallo, and a three-cheese blend. It's served with tortilla chips.It was the first item we tried on the new value menu, and also the most forgettable.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderAnneta thought that the dip bowl was pretty small, so her first bite was really overpowered by the sour cream on top.She was able to taste the warm and cheesy goodness underneath after mixing everything together, but she thought there wasn't enough beef, and its flavor got lost in the dish.Erin also thought the refried beans lacked flavor, and they were overall a little too salty. We'll stick to the chain's guacamole next time.Up next was the avocado ranch chicken stacker.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderIt's made with grilled all-white-meat chicken, Avocado Ranch Sauce, three-cheese blend, lettuce, and tomatoes. It retails for $2.99.This folded wrap tasted similar to a McDonald's snack wrap.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderAnneta was bummed when Taco Bell discontinued its Chipotle Ranch Grilled Chicken Burrito in 2024, so she was very excited to see this new stacker.The creamy ranch sauce, fresh-tasting tomatoes, and lettuce gave a similar flavor profile to McDonald's Ranch Snack Wraps — which we both love.It had the same freshness as Anneta's favorite defunct burrito, with tender, flavorful chicken paired with the deliciously creamy avocado ranch sauce.However, we both found a lack of filling inside, so you get a lot of tortilla in each bite. It's a nice snack, but we'd still order something from Taco Bell's Cantina Chicken menu instead.The salted caramel churros landed in the middle of the pack.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderAnneta said that she doesn't usually get dessert at Taco Bell, but these salted caramel churros were extremely hard to resist.Dusted in salted caramel sugar and filled with cream, these churros were a tasty sweet treat to end our meal.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderThey're a perfect study in contrasts — crunchy and soft, salty and sweet. We both thought they perfectly balanced the rest of our meal.This is a limited-time offering, so if you want to grab this dessert for $1.99, you'll have to try it sooner rather than later.Our second-favorite item was the beefy potato-loaded griller.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderDesigned for on-the-go eating, this smaller burrito ($2.49) features seasoned beef, crispy potato bites, nacho cheese sauce, creamy chipotle sauce, and reduced-fat sour cream.It was super saucy and flavorful.Erin McDowell/Business InsiderThis is…

The author struggled to adjust to civilian life after the Marines.jacoblund/Getty ImagesI planned to be in the Marines for my entire career, but I left early to pursue entrepreneurship.Some of the skills I learned in the Marines, like discipline, helped me in the real world.But I also felt lost in civilian life because everyone had different motivations.When I left the Marines, it was not because I disliked the work. I had originally planned to serve 20 years and retire in uniform, but over time, new interests began pulling me in different directions.The Marines are a 24-hour responsibility. Once you commit, your personal ambitions take a backseat. Eventually, I reached a point where I wanted to explore those ambitions — specifically, entrepreneurship — while I was still young enough to act on them.I made the decision to leave the service during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic — even though the civilian job market felt uncertain, and many encouraged me to stay.But retired service members who had built businesses offered a different message. They helped me realize that the military equips people with more transferable skills than they often think. The transition resources on base reinforced that point, so I felt ready to move on.My military experience gave me options, but not a single directionIn the Marines, I worked on amphibious operations and rotated through several roles. That variety helped me grow, but it also made choosing a civilian path harder.I had multiple strengths and enjoyed different aspects of my job, which meant I didn't leave with a single, defined plan. I had possibilities, but no fixed route.Once I committed to transitioning, I wrote my goals down and worked toward them before my end date. Even with that preparation, the hardest part was simply starting. In the military, the steps are usually provided. In civilian life, you take every step on your own.I started to feel directionless, taking jobs in truck driving, sales, and real estate.The habits I learned in the Marines became my biggest advantagesI didn't realize how prepared I was until I stepped into civilian life. Public speaking, counseling skills, emotional discipline, and the habit of double-checking paperwork all became essential. Writing things down remained one of my strongest habits.Those small details sharpened my mind and made me more reliable. Clear communication and consistent structure helped me as I moved toward consulting and supporting clients.My experience also helped me advance at key moments. One employer took a chance on me specifically because I had served in the military. Veterans continued to mentor me even when they could not offer opportunities. When I started consulting, I leaned heavily on my military experience, especially in developing structure and communication systems for clients.But some parts of military life made the transition harderWorking multiple military jobs gave me broad experience, but entrepreneurship requires long-term focus. If you jump between strengths too quickly, you never grow one fully. I had to learn to slow myself down and commit to the task.The cultural difference between military and civilian workplaces was larger than I expected. In the Marines, keeping everyone informed is a core rule. In civilian environments, information moves at different speeds. People communicate based on their roles, goals, or personal habits. Especially in smaller workplaces, communication can be inconsistent. I had to learn not to take those gaps personally.Accountability also functions differently. In the Marines, you trust that everyone is committed to the same mission. In civilian workplaces, people have different motivations. Some individuals seek career advancement, others desire stability, and others simply need a steady income. I struggled to adapt to that.The Marines prepared me well, but left gapsThe military provided me with leadership experience, diverse skills, and a foundation…

Après un week-end tronqué par de nombreux reports, les clubs de National 3 jouent la treizième journée pour finir la phase aller du championnat. GROUPE ASamedi 17 janvier 202618 heuresBlagnac FC – US Lège Cap-Ferret18 heures 30US Castanet-Tolosan – SAG Cestas19 heuresAnglet Genêts Foot – Canet-Roussillon FCFC Bassin d’Arcachon – Toulouse FC 2Pau FC 2

Duel de fin de classement ce vendredi lors de la 17ème journée du National entre QRM et le Stade Briochin. L’entraîneur des Griffons Guillaume Allanou s’est confié à notre partenaire Ouest-France avant la rencontre. « Que le résultat nous soit favorable ou non, il y aura encore toute la poule retour à effectuer derrière, nuance le coach