The New Rules of Dining Out: An Insider's Guide to Enjoying Restaurants

by Adam Reiner

Genres: Cooking, Food

184 pages, Hardcover

Published September 19, 2025

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This one belongs on everyone’s shelf. If you’re like me and love dining out AND ALSO want to be sure you’re treating everyone at the restaurant with the respect and consideration they want and deserve, this book’s for you. One of the craziest parts is that the writing is complex and insightful but also, strangely and wonderfully, is very funny and down to earth. I felt like I was being personally coached by an insider on what to do and not to do in modern restaurants. Wow. Required reading for any modern, caring person who loves dining.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a diner, I've been rushed, inconvenienced and sometimes forgotten altogether. But thanks to Reiner's The New Rules of Dining Out, I've never felt more welcomed.

Reiner's book is a guide for people to understand how to treat people, not just in restaurants, but in life. He reminds diners that dining out should be an experience to share with those close to us.

5 stars - give it a read!

[Loren Shumate · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The New Rules of Dining Out” is like having a savvy restaurant friend whisper tips in your ear while you eat. Adam Reiner mixes 20+ years of insider know-how with plenty of humor, turning tricky moments like sending food back or asking for wine help into easy, even fun interactions. It’s smart, relatable, and makes you realize dining out isn’t just about the food, it’s about enjoying the whole experience without the awkwardness.

[Ken Ho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true look inside the minds of those of us in the industry. Not just a peek behind the curtain, but Adam throws the curtain wide open to reveal the mindset of seasoned servers and restaurant staff. There’s insight on how to set yourself up to have a great dining experience and build a better relationship with the restaurants you love. A fun read.

[Matt G · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those books that’s probably more useful for the people who will never read it. Most of this will be familiar to anyone who regularly goes to restaurants and is a decent human being. It’s well written and I would say there is a lot of value here that will be unlocked in future decades when people look back on the norms and standards of dining post-pandemic.

[Alana Drude · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The book is filled with entertaining anecdotes from the author’s 20 year career in fine dining restaurants. It really opened my eyes to what goes on behind the scenes. I’m excited to try out some of his dining tips.”

[Tracey Dann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a food oriented person - to the extent that last year for Christmas my mother sent me a map to my own kitchen. And yet, Reiner's wit and patient experience introduced me to a culinary world I cannot wait to engage with and now feel comfortable enough to enjoy.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

All solid tips. Not much new but definitely useful.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam will always be a trusted source for restaurants and everything related

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that you may initially think is unnecessary. Don't people know how to dine out? Is there something complicated about eating in a restaurant?

The answers are No and Yes.

Reiner's argument is that dining out is a scene of complicated social interactions and that just being aware of them will often lead to better experiences. We often think of restaurants as places to serve us--which they are---but we often don't consider how what we bring to the table (so to speak) affects that experience. And this is not simply a book that says things like "Be nice to waiters" or "Don't order fish on a Monday." It examines, in enthusiastic prose, how restaurants work. Once you know more about the ecosystem of a restaurant, you'll get more out of visiting them, just as how knowing more about baseball will enrich a trip to the ballpark.

It's wholly unpretentious and fun to read, as well. Highly recommended!

[Ezana Tedla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth reading. Most tips are common sense.