When I eat out, my nose runs sometimes, especially if I’m eating something spicy. I’m wondering what the best way to deal with it, when you’re at a sit-down restaurant. Is it uncouth to wipe or blow one’s nose with the napkin? Does it matter whether it’s cloth or paper? I’m a young man so I wouldn’t think to carry a handkerchief normally; generally I’d rather use something dispoable. Do you carry tissues, and if so do you leave them on the table or what?
What is my best option?
Please carry your own kleenex. Do NOT use the napkin. If there are paper napkins, you can ask for an extra one, but depending on where you eat, they can be rather large and you won’t be able to dispose of them. Do not leave them on your dinner plate - make a trip to the restroom and dispose of it there.
If I’m in a restaurant with cloth napkins, I excuse myself to the ladies’ room and use some toilet paper, then dispose of said paper while still in the rest room. If I’m in a more casual type of place with paper napkins, I’ll ask for extras (or just take them, if there’s a dispenser nearby). I’ll either throw them away myself (f’rinstance, if I’m in a fast food place and there are trash cans all around), or fold them neatly and put them in my pocket for later discreet disposal.
Both **Quiddity Glomfuster ** and **norinew ** make good points: If at all avoidable, you DON’T want to wipe your nose with the cloth napkins (for one thing, if this happens mid-meal, you still have to use it for its intended purpose, right?), or leave it on your plate. Though, depending on the type of place you’re in (say, fast food restaurant), you can dispose of a tissue in a trash can or follow **norinew’s ** advice. Barring that, I might not have a big problem if you left your disposable tissue on your plate (if there’s bus service, say, in a semi-casual restaurant), but ONLY after you finish your meal, if there’s no restroom that is conveniently located, and if you can do so discreetly (and ball it up inside some other, non-snotty tissue). (Though, if possible, one wouldn’t wipe one’s nose at the meal table, anyway–at least not in public–but would go to the restroom to do so.)
You don’t say how old you are, but I’ve been carrying handkerchiefs in my back pocket for about 20 years (since I was a young man in my late teens). I never use my handkerchief for wiping my nose, though, as I tend to carry some kind of Kleenex or other disposable tissue with me everywhere. I generally use my handerchief to wipe my brow when I sweat during the summer months or to dry my hands when I use a public restroom that (ugh!) doesn’t provide a way for me to do so (the paper towels have been depleted, or the hand dryers are not working/not working adequately enough for my liking).
Get thee some handkerchiefs, dude–they’re really inexpensive. And quite handy. Oh, and make sure you wash them after use.
You know, when I read the thread title the first thing to occur to me was not a restaurant. 
Ah, indeed! 
Funny–even as a gay man, given my prurient sense of humor, I don’t normally miss those connections! I reckon that I’m just slow on the uptake this afternoon.
Im 22 ,male, and usually carry a couple of tissues in my back pocket. If I don’t have any, I’ll blow my nose on a paper napkin and also pocket it to use later. It won’t be left on the plate.
My girlfriend’s sleeve. Haha no no, that would be bad. I use the paper napkins. Blowing your nose in the cloth ones is a huge faux pas and also extremely gross for the wait staff to deal with.
Bah, to hell with conventions. I use a corner of the napkin, then fold it back onto itself so as to avoid in later use.
I doubt the stuff coming out of your nose is much worse than what’s coming out of your mouth.
Well, there’s a pretty significant difference between “wiping,” as the OP asks, and “blowing.”
Never blow your nose on a cloth napkin. It is OK to use paper napkins, but get a fresh one. If it is to be a real wild honk-fest, go outside or to the restroom.
I have the same problem with hotandsour soup or sushi, I always have to get extra napkins.
Oh my lord but this makes me think of my last g/f. She would absolutely honk up a storm into her cloth napkin. Grossed me out beyond belief.
If I was that sniffly and still decided to grace the other diners with my presence I’d head to the men’s room and use a paper towel or some tp, fer cryin’ out loud. Nobody really wants to be treated to anybody else’s mucosal blastathon.
Worst that I ever saw, btw, was back in college at the local McDonald’s. An elderly gentleman in a very sharp outfit came in, ordered some food and sat down at a table. He then proceeded to make the most vile, disgusting, hawking noises, like he was either bringing up his entire esophagus or perhaps practicing Yiddish at length. This went on for several minutes. People were starting to look ill. The guy then spat up chunks of phlegm into his hand, looked at it for a bit, and then flapped his hand around until it spattered onto the floor where a pissed-off looking McD’s employee had to mop it up.
The guy went right back to his meal.
I lost my appetite and left. Couldn’t look at pudding for some time after that.
Ugh! No, triple ugh~
My nose seems to run if I start to eat hot food (temperature) sometimes. I use a tissue from my purse or else a paper napkin. (I try not to blow, just a discreet squeeze.) The used tissue gets put in my purse. (Lucky purse.) If there are a ton of paper napkins around, I’ll wrap the nose napkin in two or three other napkins, in order to shield the world from my nose juice.
:eek:
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!
P.S.–And you know good and doggone well that Yiddish doen’st sound quite *that * bad! 
Why on earth wouldn’t the OP carry a handkerchief? Either in a trouser pocket or the top pocket of the jacket?
That’s extremely rude, if you’re talking about cloth napkins. If you want to ruin someone’s good impression of you, pull that stunt on a date or at a business dinner.
Will do.
Not sure what being young has to do with it, unless it somehow prevents you from seeing the wisdom of having a handkerchief on you.
I’m with Li’l Pluck - get in the habit of carrying a handkerchief. It has many potential benefits, and virtually no downside.
I had a quick look at Miss Manners’ Guide for the Turn-of-Millenium, but no dice. She’s got advice on everything from farting to the proper use and sharing of a snuff spoon, but when it comes to wiping your shnozz at the festive board, you’re on your own, bub. Personally, I suggest using the tie of the man seated to your left. If there’s no man, or no tie, excuse yourself and go to the washroom.
I am physically incapable of leaving home without a handkerchief in my pocket. It’s to, uh, you know, wipe my nose with. But not at the table. One at least turns away from the table to wipe the nose; leaves the table completely to blow.