I've had both good and bad experiences when it comes to eating out with friends. Sometimes, the night turns out great and we all get to enjoy good food and each other's company without going broke. Other times, well, I wish I'd stayed home and made ramen.

Whatever the case, it's always good to know dining etiquette when going out with friends. It can prevent unnecessary arguments and help keep the peace. These are some social dining rules (some obvious, others not) that everyone should know when dining with friends.

1. ALWAYS take everyone's input when deciding where to eat.

Probably one of the more obvious ones, but you'd be surprised how many times people forget this rule when choosing which restaurant to eat at.

Deciding where to eat should involve the opinions of everyone that's going. It may seem like a waste of time, but allowing each person to choose somewhere to eat or type of food to eat will not only allow everyone to feel included in the meal but will also expose others to food they might never have tried before. This can even be important if anyone in the group may have allergies or dietary restrictions that might prevent them from enjoying their meal.

Although it seems tedious, getting everybody's input before leaving will prevent unnecessary drama, problems ordering food, and an overall unpleasant evening.

2. If you know where you're dining ahead of time (and the restaurant is popular), make a reservation.

If you and your friends have decided in advance where to eat, then it's a good idea to make a reservation, especially if you're dining somewhere popular or it's during a busy time.

This is even more important if the reason you're dining out is for someone's birthday or celebration. The last thing you would want is to arrive at your restaurant and have to wait an hour for a table to open up. Making a reservation ahead of time guarantees your table will be there when you arrive (if you're on time) and prevents any arguments from occurring.

3. Dress appropriately for the restaurant you're eating at.

AKA don't be underdressed at a fancy restaurant. Besides a few odd looks, I don't think people would mind if you overdressed, but being underdressed is never a good idea.

If you know you're going somewhere classy, then put in a little effort and wear something nice. That means putting on a nice blazer or a dress. It's always good to dress for the occasion, especially if you want to be treated with respect by the staff. I doubt the waiters of a five-star restaurant will treat you seriously if you walk in wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

If you're not sure what to wear, there are plenty of websites you can search to find what is appropriate for different kinds of restaurants. And if you're not sure if you should be dressed up or not and how much you should dress up, then a good rule of thumb is to look at the menu prices. If the meals are a bit pricey, dress formally.

4. Don't go to a restaurant before closing.

Please don't be the huge group of people that enter a restaurant right before it closes. It's not only demanding on the staff, but you probably won't be treated as well and the food might not be as good.

Always look up the closing time for a restaurant and aim to go with a few hours to spare. That way you know you'll receive good service and you won't be a burden on the staff waiting to go home.

5. If one person is paying, don't order whatever you want.

Even if the person explicitly tells you it's okay to order whatever you want, be courteous and respect the fact that this person is generously paying for your meal. The least you can do is not dent their wallet too much.

Don't be the person that orders 6 appetizers, a $40 entree, and 4 glasses of wine just because someone else is paying. They will not only respect you for being courteous but will also be more likely to dine with you again because of the courtesy, regardless of whether it was necessary or not.

Oh, and if the person says they'll cover the bill, at least offer to split it or pay the whole thing yourself. But if they do win the argument, at least offer to pay for the meals the next time you dine.

6. Split the check before ordering if you know everyone is paying.

I cannot stress this enough: SPLIT THE CHECK BEFORE ORDERING.

If one person isn't footing the bill or you all haven't agreed on how to pay one person back after the meal, just do yourself a favor and tell your waiter or waitress that you'll be needing separate checks before you order your food. This way it allows everyone to pay for what they order, so there are no arguments about why someone who ordered only a $10 salad is paying $30 because everyone chose to split the bill evenly.

This also helps the restaurant staff keep everyone's orders organized if there is a problem with the amount or what they ordered.

7. And definitely split the tip.

Let's say you dine with friends at a fancy restaurant and your total comes out to $200. Assuming you'll pay a 20% tip because you had good service, you should tip about $40. I don't know about you, but that seems like a lot of money for one person to pay, especially on top of the cost of their meal.

So, a good rule of thumb is to split the tip evenly between everyone. If in this hypothetical scenario, five people went out to eat, then each person should chip in $8 for the tip. That sounds a lot more reasonable than $40 for one person.

8. In fact, PLEASE tip if you had decent service.

By decent service, I mean if you received your meal (in a reasonable amount of time) and the waiter/waitress treated you with respect. Obviously, if the staff was rude to you or didn't comply with what you needed, then it's your choice to withhold a tip. However, if the circumstances were beyond the waiter/waitress's control and they tried to accommodate you as best as they could, then they deserve a good tip. And by good tip, I mean at least 15-20%.

So be a decent human being and tip the staff. They're working hard to please all their customers and deliver food and good service, so they deserve a reasonable tip.

9. Don't eat until everyone at the table has their food.

This rule is more a common curtesy than a social requirement, but it's still worth stressing. Nobody wants to sit there watching you inhale your food while their stomach grumbles.

Even though you may be just as hungry, it's better to wait for everyone to have their food and dine together than to indulge in your hunger and upset those you're dining with.

10. Turn your cell phone off, or if you absolutely can't, keep it on silent.

A general rule of thumb when dining with company is to respect them enough not to indulge in other distractions. And a big distraction is your phone.

I know we're all guilty of checking our phone when dining out, but the least we can do is try to change our habit.

Turning your phone off not only helps you avoid checking it constantly, but also shows your friends that you value their company and time.

If you absolutely need to keep your phone on, then at least turn it on silent so that you don't disrupt the conversations happening or the ambience in the restaurant.

11. Don't drink too much.

This one goes without saying, but know how much to drink.

If you're planning on drinking, then remember to pace yourself and watch how much you consume.

Nobody likes the loud, drunk guy or girl disrupting everyone's evening. And it's better to keep yourself in check than to be told to leave a restaurant because of your drunken behavior. Leave the binge drinking for bars and parties.

12. Be kind.

If I have to remind you to be nice to the staff, then you might need to check your attitude.

Always treat everyone you encounter with respect unless indicated otherwise. Smile at your waiter or waitress, look them in the eyes when talking to them, and say please and thank you. Oh, and if you need to grab their attention, don't snap your fingers like they're your servants! Say excuse me and then ask for what you need.

Basic manners should apply to everyone. Whether you're a CEO or a janitor, if you're dining at a restaurant, treat everyone the way you would want to be treated. This will not only help you get good service, but you might be reducing a burden on an already tired waiter or waitress that has dealt with quite a few rude customers that day. You owe it to yourself and to those serving you to be patient, kind, and grateful.

Dining out is a great way to catch up with friends or relax after a long day at work, but realize that your fun night doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. By following these dining etiquette rules, you'll be more likely to have a good night without upsetting those with you or serving you. And remember, if you want good company, you need to be good company.