6 Tips for a Successful Business Lunch

This handy guide lays out all the ingredients for a seamless business lunch or dinner.

Plan Ahead

This article originally appeared on LearnVest.com. 

Let’s face it, going out to lunch with a prospective new boss or business partner can be awkward. Who pays? What do you order? How much small talk do you make?

The key, it turns out, lies in accepting one basic concept: It’s not about the food. That means you might need to skip your favorite dish if it’s too messy or too expensive (or too cheap, for that matter).

You also need to get a sense of the menu ahead of time, so you can order relatively quickly. And if you’re the one who’s hosting—look through our slide show for an easy tip on how to figure that out—consider giving the restaurant your credit card in advance to avoid all the confusion over who’s going to pay. It can ruin an otherwise smooth meal.