What is proper etiquette for serving food?
Table of Contents
- 1 What is proper etiquette for serving food?
- 2 What are the rules in laying a table?
- 3 How should a place setting look?
- 4 When silver serving of meat the meat should be placed on the plate?
- 5 What are some common side work procedures in a fine dining restaurant?
- 6 What are the rules for passing food at the table?
What is proper etiquette for serving food?
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).
How is a restaurant table set up?
Basic Table Setting
- A serving plate should be placed in the middle of the table setting.
- A napkin is placed to the left of the plate.
- The fork rests on top of the napkin.
- A knife is placed to the right of the plate.
- A water glass or coffee cup is optional, placed above the knife and slightly to the right.
When serving the main course How should the plate be positioned in front of the guest?
The Main Course 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.
What are the rules in laying a table?
Proper Table Setting 101
- The first and basic rule to get you started is: Utensils are placed in the order of use; from the outside in.
- A second rule, with only a few exceptions, is: Forks go to the left of the plate, and knives and spoons go to the right.
- Finally, only set the table with utensils you will use.
What side are you supposed to serve food on?
As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to serve from the left: that is, changing cutlery, laying down food, and serving drinks. The theory behind serving from the left is that the majority of customers will be right-handed, so you will be less likely to interrupt their movements as you serve.
What side do you serve food on?
You want to do your best to serve food on the right. Since most customers are right-handed, putting the full plate on this side makes it easier to eat. But there are no hard and fast rules in the foodservice industry, unless you are in a fine dining establishment that sticks to traditions.
How should a place setting look?
Basic Table Setting
- Lay the placemat on the table.
- Put the dinner plate in the middle of the placemat.
- Lay the napkin to the left of the plate.
- Place the fork on the napkin.
- To the right of the plate, place the knife closest to the plate, blade pointing in.
Which side of the plate does the napkin go on?
left
The napkin goes either to the left of the fork, or on the very outside. If you have three forks in a formal table setting, put the napkin on the plate.
Which side do you serve food on?
As a general rule of thumb, you should aim to serve from the left: that is, changing cutlery, laying down food, and serving drinks. The theory behind serving from the left is that the majority of customers will be right-handed, so you will be less likely to interrupt their movements as you serve.
When silver serving of meat the meat should be placed on the plate?
Silver service (in British English) also known as French service is a method of foodservice at the table, with waiter transferring food from a serving dish to the guest’s plate, always from the left. It is performed by a waiter by using service forks and spoons from the diner’s left.
Where should the side plate be placed when setting the table?
Side plates always go to the left of the dinner plate, with a butter knife sitting on top of the plate.
Where does your napkin go when you are finished with the meal?
At the end of the meal, loosely place the napkin to the left of the plate. Do not refold it – this signals to the wait staff that you have finished your meal.
What are some common side work procedures in a fine dining restaurant?
Setting the Table – Fine dining restaurants require a lot more attention to detail than just taking an order and delivering food. Common side work procedures will often include arranging table settings for the next set of patrons, polishing flatware, and folding napkins into suitable designs. Formal dinner settings can include up to 20 pieces
What is a formal table setting at a restaurant?
You may also find the formal table setting at high-end restaurants that serve multiple courses. In a formal table setting, the service plate comes with each course, so it is not necessary to include it when setting the table. Out of all the table settings, the formal table setting is the most symmetrical.
What goes under the forks on a table setting?
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. (If the main course is meat, a steak knife can take the place of the dinner knife.)
What are the rules for passing food at the table?
For instance, you always pass food from the same side to avoid confusion or too many things being passed in different directions. It just makes things simpler. Rules to remember include: · Always say “please” when asking someone to pass you something at the table, then thank the person when you receive it.