There was a column in the Washington Post last month about how the writer was annoyed with the “trend” of servers taking away plates as patrons finished rather than waiting until the entire table was done eating, and then a follow-up column a week later.
Where do you stand on this?
Didn’t read the link, but this is actually something I’ve given thought to. I hate when servers remove plates as we finish. I don’t act annoyed because it seems to be the current practice, but I really wish they’d rather not.
I don’t like attention drawn to the fact that I’m a faster or slower eater than someone else. It makes slow people feel rushed. Sometimes I like to nibble a bit but I feel silly asking to keep an obviously pretty-much empty plate when the server comes to clear it. It’s not a huge deal, but I wish they would not do it.
ETA: OK, I read the article. The columnist seems to have hit on the same issues I have, so I don’t feel so alone!
Personally, I cannot understand why this irks people. This dirty plate IS in my way, please remove it post haste, thank you very much.
Please get rid of it. Opens up more room on the table and nobody wants to look at a dirty plate anyway. What, we should all wait for Slow Steve to finish munching before we get rid of the junk? That makes no sense.
I can go either way, though my preference is for taking it. I do get a bit irked if they assume because I quit eating for a bit that I am actually done. If there is something there that is a bit more than trace amounts of food, there is fair chance I am just taking a long breather.
This. And the more people at the table, the more helpful it is to have dirty plates out of the way.
Well, first, the column is from last year; not last month. 
Like some other posters, I think it absolutely depends on how many people are at the table, how much food has been ordered, and how big the table is. If space is at a premium, then by all means take away the dishes/plates as soon as possible! If you’re just talking about, say, two people at a four-top and they haven’t ordered much, wait for both parties to finish a given course. But even then I don’t think it would bother me if empty plates were removed sooner.
I think that it in part depends on the waiter’s workload. A lot of times they will have just delivered something to another table and are returning to the kitchen with empty hands. So they snatch up stuff like finished plates on the way to save themselves a bigger job later. I’m completely ok with this.
You mean people have attempted to take away your plates, with food still on them, without even asking?! Major service failure, there!
The plates should stay put until the party leaves the table.
This is why they shouldn’t do it, and why it’s poor etiquette to do this whether it’s a restaurant or a home dinner party.
The “rule” has long been that all plates stay until everyone is finished. I think a lot of people just don’t like change, and consider the new way to be a violation of customary rules.
I actually prefer removing plates as people finish, but I don’t feel strongly about it.
Somewhat of a tangent: Most of the time, I’m in no mood to linger when the eating is done. Please, for the love of god, don’t disappear when I want my check. (I’m talking to you, all NYC restaurants.)
An intimate table for two: wait until we are both finished.
A wedding reception: remove the plates as efficiently as possible.
Anything in between: use your judgement, but err on the side of not rushing those still eating.
I think the standard “dining etiquette” for ages has been you do not clear the table until everyone is done. Particularly if you serve say, dessert–it’s not appropriate to have half the table cleared with nothing and half the table eating their entrees. Then you make a dessert offering that maybe only half the table can fit at the moment and have to serve dessert twice. Now, I know most people don’t get dessert, but I think the “traditional dining” etiquette stems from a time in which you were expected to have multiple courses for dinners, and each course would be required to be 100% cleared before the next one was served.
Now, do I personally give a fuck? None, absolutely none. But the WaPo editor is right that the restaurants are breaking convention nowadays when they do this. But it’s quite possible restaurateurs don’t want to follow the old convention, at a place serving $15-20 plates for dinner the argument is probably that they want tables turned as fast as possible as this isn’t a leisurely casual dining experience of old and you need to get on with it. By clearing out plates as customers finish you put pressure on the remainders at the table to finish faster and GTFO. So I can see the business logic behind restaurants trying to push a new paradigm.
No more like they are asking as they are doing. No big deal though.
To be fair, I see LOTS of people throwing away LOTS of food, so for the average server, even if they see almost another serving still sitting on the plate, but the person hasn’t eaten in awhile, the smart bet is the person probably is done.
As an aside, the large majority of the time, if I order a standard meal (and not even upsizing it, adding a side, or an appetizer) I am usually taking between a third and a half of it home to eat later.
:smack: Oops. Though I will admit even at this late date “2016” still just doesn’t look right to me. 
Other. You announce yourself that you’ve finished eating and want your plate removed by putting knife and fork together on your plate, handles pointing four o’clock. No need asking questions.
Is this European standard only?
Life long server’s answer: it depends!
As you’ve noticed traditional niceties are fast disappearing. For me it always depended on how swish the restaurant was. If it’s upscale then wait for everyone.
Generally no excuse to not wait for tables of six and under. (One trip instead of six!) At larger tables it’s more difficult to do it all in one sweep. Plus you’re more likely to have one very slow eater still finishing whilst everyone else is waving to order dessert! In this circumstance the customer will almost always give off subtle signals. Like pushing the plate a little forward. Best to just strive to do what each circumstance calls for.
Where the train really goes off the tracks is at weddings! Suddenly tradition and protocol rule! But protocol says the Bride and Groom must finish eating for the clearing to begin. Usually the B&G barely have time to eat. They are fussing over other things, other people are taking up their time and hardly a bite full is getting in.
And the caterers are twitching in the wings, it takes all their power not to start clearing! Then, when the last bite full is done, they swarm the room and it is chaos in the kitchen as 200 place settings arrive in minutes, to be scraped, sorted and crated. It’s an amazing thing to behold.
The reverse would make so much more sense at weddings, when you think about it.
I was taught this, and still employ it. I’m not sure the servers at most places understand.
I get it. Turning Tables: its how you make more money. Its just that when a party of 6 is eating and the waiter starts pulling plates, a message is sent:
~We don’t care how much you’ve just spent. You’re done. Get your food wrapped, order some coffee if you must… but GO!!!~
I hate that. I hate being rushed. I accept it if its a Really busy and crowded place with long lines… but if there are 5 - 6 empty tables right behind us, whats the hurry?
Sorry to be picky, but this just happened to some friends and I on Saturday and we were the only customers in the place.
Waiter, whats the hurry? Did you want to go home? At 7PM?
Don’t worry, we wrapped up and we left… but don’t you work on tips that are a percentage of sales? What’s 20% of 6 desserts and 6 coffees? Why isn’t that money in your pocket again?
[Julia Roberts]“Big Mistake.” [/Julia Roberts]