Miss Manners: I couldn’t look away from the couple groping each other at dinner
Cleveland
Last updated: May 21, 2026
The writer describes an uncomfortable dining experience where a couple at a nearby table engaged in overtly sexual behavior, distracting and repulsing other diners. The question posed is how to appropriately handle such a situation, specifically whether to inform staff or address the couple directly.
- Miss Manners advises that direct confrontation, like telling the couple to "get a room," is unlikely to be effective and may result in embarrassment for the person attempting it. She suggests that the most practical approach is to request a table change, even mid-meal. This action is intended to signal the seriousness of the issue to the restaurant manager, prompting them to intervene with the offending couple or otherwise improve the dining environment for the complaining party. The goal is to either stop the behavior or mitigate its impact on other patrons.
