Cutlery Signals

The video starts with a common dining predicament where a server asks if someone is 'done' before they are, leading into an explanation that this often happens due to incorrect cutlery signals.

The finished position for both American and Continental styles is the same: the knife and fork are placed side-by-side on the right side of the plate, with the knife's blade facing in.

The resting position is different: the fork is on the left side of the plate and the knife on the opposite side. For American style, the fork is tines up, and for Continental, tines down. It's advised not to let them stick out like 'oars'.

If you are using only one utensil for a course, like soup or dessert, the finished position is with the utensil on the right side of the plate.

Many servers double-check before removing a plate because a lot of people are unaware of these cutlery signals.