What side of the table do you clear from?
In America, the rule of thumb is to "serve on the left!" Plates, along with other serving dishes, are served on the left side of the guests. Plates are cleared from the table on the right side of the guests. "Remove on the right!" Simply remember the two R's!
- Cutlery is set in the order of use, working outside-in. ...
- Forks always go on the left of the setting. ...
- Knives always go to the right of the setting. ...
- Glassware is set above the knives. ...
- If serving dessert, the dessert spoon and fork should be placed above the plate.
Lesson details. When working in a restaurant, it's important to learn proper table clearing etiquette. When exercised with confidence, it shows guests that you are a dedicated professional and it ensures you don't intrude on their dining experience.
Place the dinner plate in the center of the table setting. The fork is placed to the left of the plate. Place the knife to the right of the dinner plate and then set the spoon to the right of the knife. Set the water glass in the top right corner, above the knife.
Serve from a guest's left, using your left hand, and clear from their right, using your right hand. Cutlery crossed in an X means a person isn't finished with their plate. If the knife and fork are parallel, the guest is finished and you may remove their plate (assuming everyone else is also finished).
Serve from the left, remove from the right: This rule was primarily created to help servers who are right-handed so they can carry plated meals in their left hand and serve from the left using their right hand and not crossing their arm in front of the guest.
(c) Napkin: The napkin is folded or put in a napkin ring and placed either to the left of the forks or on the center of the dinner plate. Sometimes, a folded napkin is placed under the forks. (d) Dinner Knife: The dinner knife is set immediately to the right of the plate, cutting edge facing inward.
- Don't begin eating until everyone has been served when you are seated with a small group.
- Don't, in serving, overload your plate.
- Don't, in eating, overload the fork.
- Don't mop your face with your napkin.
- Don't spread your elbows when cutting meat. ...
- Don't saw the meat in a back and forth motion.
- Eat slowly and cut only a few small bites of your meal at a time.
- Chew with your mouth closed and do not talk with food in your mouth.
- Pass food items to the right (i.e. bread, salad dressings). ...
- Pass salt and pepper together, one in each hand. ...
- Taste your food before seasoning it.
It is done to avoid the free arm or hand from accidentally touching the customer during every stage of service. Diners are not there to be touched by the staff, they are there to eat undisturbed.
How do you clear a table in fine dining?
Clearing tables - YouTube
Traditionally, ladies are served first during every step of fine dining service, but there is a new school of thought that considers this an outdated practice. The best course of action is to follow the guidelines set by your front-of-house manager.
Proper Napkin Placement
The napkin should be about 1 inch away from the plate, and the folded side of the napkin should be on the right, facing the plate. You can also roll the napkin and put it in a napkin ring and place it on the table to the left of the plate and the fork.
Learn How to Set a Formal Dinner Table - YouTube
The three most common types of table settings are formal, casual, and basic. Each place setting includes the utensils and dinnerware pieces that would normally be used with the corresponding style of dining.
Serve from the right
Pre-plated food (considering the exceptions above), beverages, all empty plates, and utensils should be served from the guest's right. All dishes served from the right need to also be removed from the right.
The lady of honor is served first, and the guest seated directly opposite her to the left of the host receives duplicate service. The remaining guests are served in the order of progression (counterclockwise on the right side of the table, clockwise on the left), regardless of gender.
Serving begins to the right of the host and goes around the table to the right. Food will be served to the left of the guest, using the left hand, and is removed one plate at a time, with the left hand. When passing platters of food, two large serving forks will likely be included (or a large serving spoon and fork).
- Wash your hands before you sit down. Download Article. ...
- Put your phone on silent. Download Article. ...
- Wait for everyone to be seated. Download Article. ...
- Place your napkin on your lap. ...
- Pass all food dishes to the right. ...
- Don't eat until the host eats. ...
- Use the utensils from the outside in. ...
- Keep your elbows off the table.
The core messages of the Five Keys to Safer Food are: (1) keep clean; (2) separate raw and cooked; (3) cook thoroughly; (4) keep food at safe temperatures; and (5) use safe water and raw materials.
Where would you put the bread and butter plate?
Bread and Butter Plate
This small round plate, commonly called a side plate, should be set to the left of the forks. It can also be placed slightly above the forks, as long as it remains to the left of the dinner plate.
The general rule is to serve from a guest's left using your left hand. You or your servers never want to reach across a guest to reach the table, and it's best practice to take the plate from the closest point.
- Wash your hands before you sit down. Download Article. ...
- Put your phone on silent. Download Article. ...
- Wait for everyone to be seated. Download Article. ...
- Place your napkin on your lap. ...
- Pass all food dishes to the right. ...
- Don't eat until the host eats. ...
- Use the utensils from the outside in. ...
- Keep your elbows off the table.
Clearing tables - YouTube
Start clearing the largest items on the table. Then, work your way down to the smallest items. Clear serving dishes first. Then the individual plates, and finally cutlery.
It is done to avoid the free arm or hand from accidentally touching the customer during every stage of service. Diners are not there to be touched by the staff, they are there to eat undisturbed.
The Most Effective Way for Servers to Greet Their Tables and Give Their N...
You may not think you know classic service standards, but you probably do. Even if you've never worked in a restaurant, spend enough time in upscale establishments and you know the deal: Women are served first, going clockwise around the table, then men are served clockwise.
- DO always dress nicely. ...
- DON'T put your cell phone, keys, or purse on the table. ...
- DO let your guest order first. ...
- DO set up payment ahead of time if you're the host. ...
- DON'T tell the sommelier how much you want to spend on wine. ...
- DON'T return the wine.
With so many table manners to keep track, keep these basic, but oh-so-important, table manners in mind as you eat: Chew with your mouth closed. Keep your smartphone off the table and set to silent or vibrate. Wait to check calls and texts until you are finished with the meal and away from the table.
How do professionals clear plates?
Clearing Table - YouTube
How to be a good waiter: How to clear plates - YouTube
The guest of honor seated on the host's right is always served each dish first. If there is serving help, servers move around the table counter-clockwise from her, serving the host last. When food is served directly from the kitchen, service is also counterclockwise from the host's right, with the host served last.
Clearing Five Plates - YouTube
If the customer's plate is arranged in the kitchen it should be delivered to them from the right side. Pre-plated food (considering the exceptions above), beverages, all empty plates, and utensils should be served from the guest's right. All dishes served from the right need to also be removed from the right.
