When you have guests round for a meal, do you serve from the left and pick up from the right, or vice versa?

Question

When you have guests round for a meal, do you serve from the left and pick up from the right, or vice versa?

Answer 1

The etiqette is serve from the left, pick up from the right, when serving drinks however then you serve from the right.

Mr MGN!. you are talking rubbish (putting it politely), I have trained as a waiter and you don't have a clue what you are talking about, so just go away and talk on a topic you do know about. WASTER.

Answer 2

I pride myself on setting a nice table and hopefully producing fine meals but I don't ever actually serve in any real taught fashion. I normally with the main course serve female guests first and start from the furthest away at the table and then the same pattern for the gents. Usually veg or other accompanyments are putting in the middle of the table with large serving spoons.  However I usually stand around prior to sitting down to ensure at my large table that everyone has access to these and even move the dishes around.  It may not be exact etiquette but it is what makes it easy for the people around the table and at the end of the day I feel that's what counts.

Answer 3

No I don't.  There was a reason for this years ago.  Today when you have one person serving a whole table (as in a restaurant), it doesn't work as well. You put down as many plates as you can from wherever you're standing.

Answer 4

The reason is simple, most people are right handed, if you serve from the left you have to reach across your self, and risk spilling something on them. So you serve from the right, with your good hand. When you pick up, you don't want to put all dirty plates under peoples faces PLUS you want to hold all the plates on your strong arm, so you stand behind them and collect with your left.

Serve with your right pick up with your left.

Answer 5

I personally do not serve no one. people know where the kitchen is and i will put he food don't he table. Help yourself. But you are suppose to serve from he let.