Silent service code
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (December 2010) |
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
To indicate they have finished with their plate, a diner places their
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
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-895455-26-7.