It seems universally accepted when dining at a restaurant to place a Napkin on your Lap. I never did like this practice, and instead, I will gently crumple my napkin and place it to my left on the table top. Hal
If it's a cloth napkin I put it on my lap...it usually falls to the floor though and then I have to ask for another one. I don't like using the cloth ones though..prefer paper. Especially if eating something messy....don't want to put it back on my lap. Plus...cloth napkins if unfolded take up lots of room on a usually already crowded table.
Napkins are of no use when choosing to eat at a buffet of any kind, too much up and down. I'm a tabletop person whether paper or cloth for easy access after experiencing napkins fallen on the floor, Where the heck is my napkin!?
I use lots of paper napkins. I'm a messy eater. If I'm eating somewhere fancy that has cloth napkins, I place it on my lap like a well bred lady...……………….. and eat very carefully.
Not into the pastime of dropping edibles on my lap, I will forego that activity and will instead fold a cloth napkin into quarters and place it to the left of my dinner plate. In restaurants that supply only paper napkins, I will ask for a small stack of them which I will keep on the table top, to the left of my dinner plate. There are usually a few napkins left after dinner, which I take home and place in our own napkin dispenser. Harold