I love all the ritualized behaviour, secret meanings and unexpected taboos - standing up when someone of higher status stands, elaborate rules for serving and eating, tapping the table to thank the server, never refuse a toast from a superior, stuff like that.
Whether it’s about meals or anything else, I’d love to hear about any uncommon politeness standard or similar social behaviour that goes on in your location, culture or restaurant!
We don’t do that here (UK), there’s no order in which people are served their food. It doesn’t really matter, as it’s “polite” here to only start once everyone has got their food.
I think it might depend on the level of formality; pretty sure in very formal British ettiquette it goes clockwise from the person to the right of the host.
I don’t really understand how they would be able to know the age of everyone like @Waker describes though.
No one is going to behead you if you get the ages wrong for some reason.
But as you said, it’s only done in very very formal situations. Usually army/navy/airforce dinners and such. You almost never see it anywhere else.
Interesting! What part of the world do you live in, if you don’t mind me asking?
Portugal
Thanks, this is good to know!