Restaurant etiquette in America?

Question

In restaurants, how is the cutlery laid out on the table?

Do most American eat with their fork in their right hand all of the time, or just in their own homes? Would you eat that way around in a very expensive restaurant?

Answer 1

Try this link. It's pretty straight forward.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Menu/Dini...

American restaurants vary massively by casualness and region. Most restaurants under $25/plate wont even bother laying out flatware -- it will often come wrapped up in a napkin.

Most Americans hold their fork in their dominant hand -- whichever that is. In 90% of situations, it's perfectly fine to rest your fork on your plate, so holding it all the time is unnecessary. Formal dining and higher class european traditions would have you hold your fork for the entire time, as laying it down on your plate would seem "low class" but most Americans would not notice nor care which you did.

Answer 2

Most restaurants do not have cutlery laid out.  It is wrapped up in a napkin.  Rule of thumb if you are setting a formal table...spell it out....

fork....left

knife....right

spoon....right

this has helped me out alot...however many letters are in the utensil of choice...the same is on your left/right side...

Even better.....order something that requires no cutlery at all..hehe...just kidding.

Answer 3

clearly, most americans just eat and do not worry about the fork as long as its in their mouth...

Answer 4

In really nice restaurants, or at fancy dinners at peoples' homes, the fork goes on the left hand side of the plate, with the larger forks closer to the plate....if i remember correctly, the forks are placed according to order: far left is the fork for the first course [salad or whatever] far right is for the fork for the last course [dessert] with the middle forks for whichever courses you might need a separate fork for.

most restaurants only put one fork next to your plate, or, they'll wrap up all your tableware in the napkin.

it's considered bad manners to hold a fork constantly and not lay it down between bites, but i doubt anybody remembers being taught that, and nobody follows that rule. we just eat and talk and wave our forks around to emphasize our points.

Answer 5

I am right handed so my fork or spoon is always in that hand no matter where I am except when I am cutting meat and it is in my left and the knife is in the right. Many times the silverware is rolled up in a napkin.