Posted by dave on 8/18/2002, 11:43 am The traditional standard is to wait until everyone is finished, but that rule has been modified for casual dining. Many casual restaurants clear plates as they are finished and most people don't even know about the "rule" that you clear only after the last person is finished. You basically just have to go by how you are trained in your restaurant. Also, at a wedding dinner, you clear the bride's plate first, then her table, then everyone else (as well as serving her first, then her table, then everyone else). When I go out, I don't care one way or the other. the only thing that I expect is that a server asks before touching a plate.
"I love this board. But it makes me crazy that customers haven't changed since I was a waiter. Anyway, now I write for Restaurant Hospitality and other magazines. So, I'm asking this: How were you trained on the timing of clearing plates? When the customer is finished? Not until they're all finished? When one asks, even though the others aren't finished? Let's assume you don't have a line at the door. Have you kept doing it the way you were trained, or adjusted it? And, when you go out, what do you like to see happen? Thanks, and keep ranting".
At our restaurant, the goal is to clear simulataneously whenever possible. We break the rule when we have one straggler picking at their food and the rest of the plates have sat for a long time in front of the others. Then, I *always* ask if I should (not may I but *should* I) clear plates. The only other exception is if someone clearly moves the plate away from them - then we clear it. I also clear a plate that has a napkin or other trash on top.
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