Well, the answer seems to be both (or neither) are correct. If you google "où mettre la serviette quand on mange" you'll get some sources that tell you on the lap, some that tell you on the table to your right, and even some that tell you on the table to your left. Tonight at dinner, I saw two French women dining together, one left the napkin on the table, the other put it on her lap.
A good, useful summary. Re napkins, I've not noticed that French people eat leaving the napkins on the table, but rather that they leave the napkin on the table until they start to eat, and only then put it on their lap (as opposed to immediately putting it on their lap when they sit down, which Americans do). But I'll watch in the next few days and report back if I see confirmation of what you have reported.
Well, the answer seems to be both (or neither) are correct. If you google "où mettre la serviette quand on mange" you'll get some sources that tell you on the lap, some that tell you on the table to your right, and even some that tell you on the table to your left. Tonight at dinner, I saw two French women dining together, one left the napkin on the table, the other put it on her lap.
A good, useful summary. Re napkins, I've not noticed that French people eat leaving the napkins on the table, but rather that they leave the napkin on the table until they start to eat, and only then put it on their lap (as opposed to immediately putting it on their lap when they sit down, which Americans do). But I'll watch in the next few days and report back if I see confirmation of what you have reported.
Thank you Claude! I’m looking forward to your update.