Silent service code

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.

Dinner with various cutlery positions, waiter taking empty plates (1950)

The code is almost always taught during business dining etiquette classes.

Signals

To indicate they have finished with their plate, a diner places their napkin to the left of their plate 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. If a diner must leave during a course, placing their napkin on their chair indicates they are not finished.

See also

References
  1. Paré, Jean (1993). Party Planning. Company's Coming Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-895455-26-7.


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