Yeah, this sounds so trivial. Growing up, I was taught by one of my folks that waiters should always wait until everyone at the table was done eating before asking for their plates. So, is this etiquette observed someplace or were my folks just BSing?
As someone who eats faster than the average person and have eaten at my share of relatively fancy restaurants, I can say that the servers at restaurants take away my plate as soon as I am done with it.
In fact, the nicer the restaurant, the more quickly someone comes to take it away.
I know that traditionally trained waiters stick to the principle of leaving plates until everyone is done, see here for a reference but I can’t find a waiters etiquette site online.
I’ve never seen it anyplace I’ve eaten, though I don’t spend a lot of time in fancy restaurants. They’re usually eager to get the plates out of the way–and I’m as eager for some room on the table.
In my experience they usually ask. I like it that way. Gives me more room for my elbows.
Peace,
mangeorge
another vote to have it taken away while I’m there 
It’s funny as the etiquette seems to vary depending which country you’re in.
In France, a waiter would nver touch anybody’s plate until everybody is done with their meal, then they will ask and remove it.
In America, it shocked me at first that they would just take it out as soon as you’re done, even tho people are still eating around the table.
I got used to it and it doesn’t bother me anymore but at first I found it quite rude! It kinds of rushes the other people to finish!
I wait tables, and I was taught to remove plates when ever the guest has finished eating. It gives them more room on the table. In fact, I’ll actually get in trouble with my managers if I don’t take the empty plates off the table as the guest finishes.
(U.S.) – I was taught the same thing, the wait staff is supposed to wait until everyone at the table is done before removing their plates. Removing them one by one is a means of rushing people to finish up eating quickly so they can seat another party. Unfortunately, it seems that many places follow the hurry-up-and-be-done thing.
I think custom varies widely across the US, and with the type of eatery.
In my experience the most attentive would probably be Italian, and the least, Chinese. In the couple of french style places I’ve been to, there’s a head server who you signal and he (or she, rarely) either comes over or sends a server.
As a restaurant customer I have come to associate taking the plates away promptly with attentive service. I prefer this as a cleared plate isn’t really an attractive object to have on the table.
Perhaps the association of this with “rushing those who are still eating” much depends on what the culture expects of restaurant guests after the meal. In some countries (such as the US, in my limited experience) you are expected to pay and leave in short order; in other countries (such as Germany) it’s OK to linger over some wine/beer/coffee for hours after dinner. In the latter case clearing the plates needs not be understood as being served notice of eviction.
O.K. So they weren’t BS’ing…
Note that the question isn’t whether plates should be removed promptly but whether the waiters should wait before EVERYONE has finished eating before promptly removing them. If a couple finishes eating at the same time then it’s fine to promptly pick up the plates.
Because of my upbringing, I usually feel a bit uneasy when my plate is picked up while my companion is still eating. It seems rude - like the waiter is rushing them. It also sort of subverts the comraderie of a shared dinner. I would prefer to have my plate remain on the table. I’ll usually cover it with the napkin to make it look more pleasing to the eye but I’m usually not quick-thinking enough to prevent the waiter from taking it.