Restaurant Rules

Dear Restaurant Owner/Manager,

     I'm writing to inquire if you would consider instigating an training program for your waitstaff. I'm aware of some new etiquette rules that allow plates to be cleared as soon as a person is finished eating their meal. The theory is that it frees up space on the table and makes dining a more pleasant experience. However, there are long standing, old school rules for dining etiquette, that still have many devotees. I'm one of them.

     Would it be possible to explain both techniques to your waitstaff? They would then know how to handle people who prefer old school etiquette. Would it also be possible to explain that they should ask to clear a guests plate before they have their hand on it?

                                                                            Kind Regards,

Removing plates early, causes others at the table to feel they must to rush to finish. It makes me feel like they're trying to "flip" the table. Are they short of plates in the back and need mine to serve someone else?

source

Last week we joined friends to try a new restaurant in town. The food turned out to be spectacular. It was a beautifully mild evening and we dined out on the patio, under large trees, dotted with twinkling white lights.

I'd either ordered a smaller meal or was just hungrier that everyone else at the table because I finished eating first and placed my flatware, side by side on my plate.

Within moments, our waitress reached over my shoulder and put her hand on my plate as she asked if I was "done". I smiled politely and said no, I'm not finished yet, thank you. She looked at me as though I was an idiot and raced off before I got a chance to explain I wanted to wait, until everyone was finished their meals, to have my plate cleared.

Another glass of wine later, three of us were finished our meals but the girlfriend next to me was still eating. Our waitress made another pass of the table, picked up the other two empty plates and eyed me suspiciously from across the table. I shook my head, no. She was clearly not understanding what was going on. It was obvious, she thought I had lost my mind!

By the time my girlfriend was through with her meal, the waitress was clearly nervous about my intentions. She steered a wide berth around me, snatched my friends plate and left mine on the table. In fact, she didn't collect my plate until dessert was served.

If this young waitress been educated about both ways to deal with clearing plates, she might have picked up clues from my behavior and things would have been smoother. Next time I will be sure to explain my wishes, no matter how far the waitress stays from me.

Does it bother you to have plates cleared early in a restaurant?