Deciding which knife, fork, or spoon to use is made easier by the outside-in rule – use utensils on the outside first and working your way inward. So, if you are served a salad first, use the fork set to the far left of your plate.
Your water glass is the one above the knife in your place setting and your bread plate is to the left. To remember which bread plate belongs to you and if the glass in front of you belongs to you or your neighbor, use “b” and “d”. Touch the index finger on your right hand to your right thumb. Touch the index finger on your left hand to your left thumb. The “b” formed by your left hand is for “bread” (your bread plate is always at the left of your place setting). The “d” formed by your right hand is for “drink” (your drinking glasses are always at the right of your place setting).
But let's go into the details:
- Knife blades are always placed with the cutting edge toward the plate.
- No more than three of any implement are ever placed on the table, except when an oyster fork is used in addition to three other forks. If more than three courses are served before dessert, then the utensils for the fourth course are brought in with the food; likewise the salad fork and knife may be brought in when the salad course is served.
- Dessert spoons and forks are brought in on the dessert plate just before dessert is served.
The placement of utensils is guided by the menu, the idea being that you use utensils in an “outside in” order.
Service Plate: This large plate, also called a charger, serves as an underplate for the plate holding the first course, which will be brought to the table. When the first course is cleared, the service plate remains in place for any other courses, such as a soup course, until the plate holding the entrée is served, at which point the two plates are exchanged. The charger may serve as the underplate for several courses which precede the entrée.
Butter Plate: The small butter plate is placed above the forks on the left of the place setting.
Dinner Fork: The largest of the forks, also called the place fork, is placed on the left of the plate. Other smaller forks for other courses are arranged to the left or right of the dinner fork, according to when they will be used.
Fish Fork: If there is a fish course, this small fork is placed to the left of the dinner fork because it is the first fork used.
Salad Fork: If the salad is served after the entrée, the small salad fork is placed to the right of the dinner fork, next to the plate. If the salad is to be served first, and fish second, then the fork would be arranged (left to right): salad fork, fish fork, dinner fork.
Dinner Knife: The large dinner knife is placed to the right of the dinner plate.
Fish Knife: The specially shaped fish knife goes to the right of the dinner knife.
Salad Knife (Note: there is no salad knife in the illustration): If used, according to the above menu, it would be placed to the left of the dinner knife, next to the dinner plate. If the salad is to be served first, and fish second, then the knives would be arranged (left to right): dinner knife, fish knife, salad knife.
Soup Spoon or Fruit Spoon: If soup or fruit is served as a first course, then the accompanying spoon goes to the right of the knives.
Oyster Fork: If shellfish are to be served, the oyster fork goes to the right of the spoons. Note: It is the only fork ever placed on the right of the plate.
Butter Knife: The small spreader is paced diagonally on top of the butter plate, handle on the right and blade down.
Glasses: These are placed on the right, above the knives and spoons. They can number up to five and are placed in the order they will be used. When there are more than three glasses, they can be arranged with smaller glasses in front. The water goblet is placed directly above the knives. Just to the right are placed a red or white wine glass. A sherry glass or champagne flute, to accompany a first course or for an opening toast, goes to the right of the wine glasses. Glasses used for a particular course are removed at the end of the course.
Napkin: The napkin is placed on top of the charger. It can also go to the left of the forks, or under the forks if space is tight.
Everything on your table should be crisp and sparkling. White linens are still considered the most formal, but colored or patterned tablecloths and napkins can be just as elegant. Other possible elements include candles, a centerpiece or multiple flower arrangements, and place cards. A tablecloth is spread to hang evenly on each end and on the sides. The average drop is 12 to 18 inches, but don’t worry if it is a little long or short—you just don’t want it hanging too low, or it will end up in the diners’ laps.
The most formal table is strictly symmetrical: centerpiece in the exact center, an even number of candlesticks, place settings spaced evenly around the table, silverware lined up and at the same distance from the edge of the table. Feel free to vary flower arrangements and decorations as you like, creating a balanced and pleasing tablescape. Be careful not to overcrowd the table, and arrange your decorations so diners seated opposite can see each other.