• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Art of Doing Stuff
menu icon
go to homepage
  • HOUSE
  • COOKING
  • GARDEN
  • HOW-TO
  • EXTRA
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • HOUSE
    • COOKING
    • GARDEN
    • HOW-TO
    • EXTRA
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » More Stuff

    Etiquette. Where to Place Your Cutlery When You're Done Eating

    March 18, 2025 by Karen 118 Comments

    Pin230
    Share
    Email
    230 Shares

    You're out to dinner, you've finished your meal, now what?  According to etiquette, where do you put your cutlery when you're done eating?  You have two proper options and here they are.

    Picture it.  You're out for dinner and you've finished with your meal.  At home, you'd simply stand up and wander away from the table knowing your plate will magically disappear, get cleaned and be returned to the cupboard at some point in the evening.

    That's how it worked for my father anyway.

    But in restaurants, servers rely on non-verbal cues to know when they can clear your plate. Your utensils act as a secret code that lets them know you're finished. A sign language of sorts.

    If the waiter doesn't happen to see  you licking your plate (which is the International sign of I'm just about done,) how are they supposed to know if you're finished eating?

    They know by where you've placed your cutlery.

    Where to Place Your Cutlery When Finished Eating

    You have two correct options:

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    №1 Parallel Placement – Place your knife and fork vertically in the centre of the plate, handles resting on the rim.

     OR

    №2. Clock Position – Place your knife and fork at a 10 o’clock to 4 o’clock angle on the plate.

    In both cases:

    • The tines of the fork should be facing up.
    • The knife edge should point inward.
    • Your napkin should be casually folded to the left of your plate.

    Great. You've made it this far. You now know what to do with your cutlery so you don't look like a buffoon in front of your 19 year old server at The Olive Garden.

    What Not to Do:

    🚫 Do NOT rest your cutlery on the table.
    🚫 Do NOT cross your cutlery into an X.
    🚫 Do NOT place your napkin on your plate.
    🚫 Do NOT refold your napkin perfectly.
    🚫 Do NOT place your napkin on your chair.
    🚫 Do NOT fold your napkin into the shape of a swan or a dead chicken and then wear it as a hat.

    You are now fully prepared to attend a Royal Wedding.  Bon appétit! 🎩🍽️

    Etiquette.  Where to Place Your Cutlery When You\'re Done Eating

    More MORE Stuff

    • The Easter Story
    • An Update on - The $25 Eyelash Growing Serum
    • Toothpaste with raisin in it for April Fools prank.
      The Best Easy April Fools' Day Pranks
    • The FxCK YOU 50s Podcast

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      The maximum upload file size: 512 MB. You can upload: image, audio. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop file here

    1. Carole

      March 20, 2025 at 12:31 pm

      Haha your funny remarks crack me up every time, but this is a good thing to know, it's also nice to know the server doesn't have to touch your mess that's left if you leave your utensils on the edge of the plate. Also hate when people put the napkin on top of the plate where the mess is. Thanks.

      Reply
    2. Cara

      March 20, 2025 at 11:31 am

      This is good advice. It also occurred to me that people don't know to shut their menu when they are ready to order. From modest to fancy restaurants, this is a cue to waitstaff.

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    SHOP ON AMAZON

    Use it 👆 to support my work. LEARN MORE

    My name is Karen Bertelsen and I was a television host. In Canada. Which means in terms of notoriety and wealth, I was somewhere on par with the manager of a Sunset Tan in Wisconsin.

    I quit television to start a blog with the goal that I could make my living through blogging and never have to host a television show again. And it’s worked out. I’m making a living blogging. If you’re curious, this is how I do that.

    So I’m doing this in reverse basically. I’m the only blogger who is trying to NOT get a TV show.

    More about me 👋

    Seasonal Articles

    • The 2025 Dahlia Pageant: Meet the 21 Contestants
    • 5 Delicious Things To Make With Rhubarb
    • How to Replace a Broken Gas Grill Igniter.
    • The 5 Summer Projects That'll Make Your Summer Unforgettable
    • An Ice Cube Poppy Update 🧊
    • 🥔 How to Grow Cheatsheet - Potatoes in Zone 6

    Popular Articles

    • This Is Where I Try To Buy Your Love
    • Guaranteed Crispy Sweet Potato Fries & Sriracha Mayo Dip
    • A Year Full of Pots: Win Sarah Raven's New Book
    • The Difference Between People Who Eat Mayo & People Who Eat Miracle Whip
    • Your FIRST look at my new kitchen in Canadian Living Magazine.
    • How to Print an Image on Wood.

    Footer

    as seen in

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Social

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    212 shares