Silent service code
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In the United States,[1] the silent service code is a way for a diner to communicate to waitstaff during a meal to indicate whether the diner is finished with their plate. This is intended to prevent situations where the server might remove a plate of food and utensils prematurely.
The code is almost always taught during business dining etiquette classes.[citation needed ]
Signals
[edit ]To indicate they have finished with their plate, a diner places their napkin to the left of their plate [citation needed ] and places their utensils together at the "4-o'clock" position on their plate.[1] It is applicable to most types of table service: without waitstaff, the host or hosts may find it informative in judging when to clear away a course or the meal.
Utensils crossed on a plate signify that a diner is still eating.[citation needed ] If a diner must leave during a course, placing their napkin on their chair indicates they are not finished.[citation needed ]
See also
[edit ]References
[edit ]- ^ a b Paré, Jean (1993). Party Planning. Company's Coming Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-895455-26-7.
