It has been confusing to me on what the etiquette is with wearing a mask at a restaurant in the Hamptons. At first I thought that we were all going to wear masks at restaurants even while sitting down and only take it off of our face in between bites of eating food and sips of drinks, but that quickly turned into the odd rule of “you can take the mask off when you sit down at your table but not upon entering the restaurant.”
This creates an awkward situation when you first walk into the restaurant wearing a mask and look out at the horizon of people sitting down and dining who are all not wearing masks. The first thing you think is, wow look at all of these people not wearing masks. And then the second thing you think is, what is the point of me wearing a mask right now?
I really don’t know how we got here, but I am noticing that mask enforcement is becoming less and less important to people at restaurants these days because for some reason it has taken us this long to realize that there is no difference between sitting at your table unmasked and standing unmasked.
At this point, it has turned into an etiquette type of thing. So here are the rules for those that don’t know.
1. Upon entering the restaurant you must be masked.
2. Upon walking to your table, the mask must be on and you must have the following conversation with your fellow diners as you approach your table, “Don’t you think it’s so weird that we have to wear a mask when we walk to our table but we can take it off when we sit down at our table?“
“I know, it doesn’t make any sense.”
“Well, you have to do what you can I guess.”
3. When you’re butt hits the chair at your table it is proper Hamptons etiquette to look around the room as if you were concerned that you were about to take off the mask and that everyone was okay with it. You then must place the mask in your pocket, NOT on the table.
4. It is inappropriate to sit at your table wearing the mask under all circumstances. If you choose to wear the mask at your table when there is no food on the table everyone at the table will assume that you’re sick and you should be prepared to explain yourself.
5. If you get up to go to the bathroom, you must wear a mask before standing. If you fumble your way while walking towards the bathroom putting on your mask, this is the equivalent of licking the floor.
6. If you sneeze inside of the restaurant, you must apologize and say the words, “Don’t worry I am double vaccinated and boosted and recently had a Covid test.”
7. Do you not use your napkin as a mask and do not use your mask as a napkin.
8. When your waiter comes to your table and is wearing a mask that has sweat stains all over it and looks like it has had several days of use, just don’t say anything about it.
Follow these rules and you should be ok.
