Arrive with context, not demands
Do not open with "best table?" Open with "Do you have space for one/two?" If not, ask when to return. This small shift turns you from transaction pressure into a cooperative guest.
Order from what the kitchen can execute cleanly
In a packed service, custom combinations and long substitutions create downstream delays for everyone. Pick from dishes moving through the room already. You will usually get better food faster.
Use language that reduces friction
Learn three phrases in local language: hello, thank you, and "what do you recommend today?" Fluency is not required. Effort is. It changes tone instantly and often changes the quality of help you get.
Respect shared space
Keep bags out of walkways. Keep voice level matched to the room. Keep children close in tight floor plans. Local etiquette is often spatial etiquette. If you reduce congestion, staff notice.
Leave a better table behind you
Ask for the bill at the right moment, pay promptly, and clear out without camping after close. The place does not owe you endless occupancy because you ordered one drink. Turnover is part of the local economy.
The fastest path to better recommendations is behaving like someone locals would happily seat again.
What this changes in practice
When your behavior is clear, staff can spend attention on food quality instead of damage control. You get cleaner guidance, fewer misunderstandings, and better timing. It is still possible to pick the wrong place. But it becomes much harder to have the wrong night for avoidable social reasons.