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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.

The code is almost always taught during business dining etiquette classes.^{[ citation needed]}

Signals

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

See also

• Eating utensil etiquette
• Nonverbal communication

References

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