touching food is looked upon very negatively in restaurants, and visitors should always use utensils when eating - even when eating pizza cariocas use a fork and knife, and not their hands.

blowing one's nose should not be done in public, especially in a restaurant where the appropriate place would be the restroom - not doing so is seen as very disrespectful.

commonly observed traits at the table, while in rio de janeiro, include individuals keeping their elbows off the table, using cloth napkins on their laps and never using their napkins around their necks - most formal western table manners apply to rio de janeiro, so individuals well educated on classic etiquette can apply their knowledge while in the city.