What could be more joyous than a family gathered around the dinner table to give thanks and bask in each other’s company? How about enjoying yourself without any worry of family arguments, grumbling teens, or some dinner table faux pas?

Mary White’s conviction that “good manners will take you anywhere,” earlier this month took White, her husband, Peter, and 11 boys ages 4 to 12, to lunch at Silverado Brewing Company...