Eat like a pro

Eat like a pro:

But there are simple steps you can take that can make any dining experience a little better--that is, a little more attuned to your personal tastes.

And so, after consulting with some of my other dining colleagues, I assembled the following tips, consisting of insider information, professional tips and assertiveness training. It's theoretically possible to employ all 10 tips in a single restaurant visit, but that isn't necessary. If there's one common theme to these suggestions, it's that flexibility is a good thing.

Dine on Wednesday nights. Why are some customers greeted by name at the door, while the rest of us settle for obscurity? The fawned-over ones generally are famous, very rich and/or regular customers. Fame and riches being beyond the grasp of most of us, the best strategy is to become a regular, and the most cost-effective way of doing that is to visit on a quiet night, when you're one of the few paying customers and more likely to be noticed. To be sure you'll be remembered, chat up the manager or the owner, rave about the food or service or decor. On your way out, make a reservation for another Wednesday night. Do that a couple-three times and you too can be welcomed like family, treated to the occasional extra dessert or quickly seated on a packed-to-the-rafters weekend night.

Turns out, there's more to it than chewing with your mouth closed. Baby steps.