Wait for everyone to finish the course before clearing the table. You’ll know when to do this by the way that everyone at the table places their fork and knife in the center of their plate. Here’s a list of common signs that indicate when it’s time to clear the table. And don’t forget to identify the object first! Keeping your table clear of food items makes the process go faster!
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Waiting for everyone at the table to finish the course before clearing a table
As a server, it is your job to make sure that everyone at the table has finished their course before clearing the table. As a rule of thumb, you should wait until all the guests at the table have finished their food before clearing the table. Depending on the type of event, the waitress may wish to wait until everyone has finished the course before clearing the table. In such instances, the waitress may choose to serve a special cocktail before clearing the table.
Stacking plates
Stacking plates for the waitstaff may seem like a polite gesture, but it is not. It is not only an aesthetically offensive gesture, but it can also damage your plate’s appearance by exposing both sides. According to Judith Martin, the host of the TV show “Miss Manners,” it is bad manners to stack plates. In addition, it also impedes the waitstaff’s system of clearing the table.
A restaurant employee might think that if someone is stacking plates, it means that they have reached the limit of the table’s plates. But that doesn’t mean that you should go ahead and clear the table. If you don’t have a sense of balance, you might end up handing the plates to another person. But that is not always the case. Instead, make sure to leave a clear space on the table for the waiter to use.
Stacking cutlery
It’s a breach of etiquette to pile up dirty dishes on the table, says Leslie Kalk, a hospitality and restaurant coach of 30 years. It makes the waitstaff look unprofessional and exposes the diners as inexperienced. It’s best to wait until every guest has finished their plate before clearing the table. Stacking cutlery also impedes the waitstaff’s system for clearing tables and disrupts the conversation of the other diners.
There’s an etiquette to clear a table. In private houses, people serve and clear plates from the left of the table. This reduces the likelihood of glass breakage, so be sure to do this as part of the process. Also, when you clear a table, start with the largest items and work your way down. For example, plates should be cleared first, followed by individual ones, and then cutlery.
