Navigating the cultural diversity of global dining

Last weekend, I dined with friends at a popular restaurant in Pudong, known for its traditional Shanghai cuisine. About 40 minutes into our meal, the owner came over and asked how we liked the food.

Having spent 16 years abroad, my instinct was to respond with a polite "great", even if the food was not exceptional. It is a common practice to tell a white lie in such situations.