Restaurant Table Setting : A Complete To-do List

Published in

SlickPOS

8 min readJul 7, 2022

Restaurant Table Settings have great potential to influence diners. A table setting can communicate to your diners in ways you cannot imagine. A boring and plain table conveys that your service would be below average. Alternatively, if you accentuate the table with beautiful accents, like adding a perfect bling with some quality silverware, it piques the interest of your diners. It is the magic of table setting.

Table Setting Video:

Importance of restaurant table settings

A study was conducted to study the two aspects of the restaurant environment table type and table location — to determine whether the placement or configuration of a dining table (in particular, whether it has an architectural anchor) has measurable effects on duration and average checks were combined to show the average spending per minute (SPM).

An analysis of more than fourteen hundred meal transactions at a 210-seat, casual Mexican-style restaurant found that the SPM for parties at booths was slightly higher than average, while the SPM for diners at banquette tables was below the average. Ironically, tables in poor locations in the dining room generated SPM values higher than supposedly good tables. These findings suggest that restaurant designers reexamine the use of banquettes and

Table settings are integral to festivities and special occasions, like weddings and banquets. Set the tables to convey the theme of the event. Use different styles to indicate whether the event is formal or casual. Make your table reflect the mood of the hosts and set the tone for their guests to join the celebration. Continue reading this edition that lets you explore the art of table setting and learn how you can incorporate some for your restaurant.

What is the proper restaurant table setting etiquette?

A proper table setting etiquette is arranging a table that allows the diner to enjoy the meal in a neat setting while also making it easier to switch between courses. Your business can see new growth when you understand the basic dining etiquette for setting up a restaurant table. Here we have covered the most elementary restaurant table setting ideas and guidelines for setting up tables.

What Side Does the Fork Go On?

The forks should be on the left side of the plate, then place the knives and spoons on the right side. Place the dessert spoon and dessert fork always above the plate. Place the charger plates beneath the serving plate.

Proper Table Setting Guide

Table settings make a great impression on your guests. Most restaurants follow a standard table setting etiquettes. As a restaurateur, you will want to know exactly how to set your tables for all dining occasions. The following guide provides today’s most accepted rules and tips for setting the perfect table, including informal dining, formal dining, casual dining, basic dining, and setting the table for buffet service.

How do you set the table at a restaurant in six different ways?

The six most common types of table settings are formal, casual, basic, breakfast, Pizzeria, and buffet. Use appropriate tableware, including the table cloths, table runners, napkins and cutlery to match the theme, formal or casual. For instance, a formal table setting will have more cutlery because a formal dinner might include more courses.

Choose the right tableware for your table setting. Use elegant high-quality pieces to match the ambiance of a formal setting if it is a formal event. If it is a basic setting, use practical and economical tableware. Pair different dinnerware with suitable tableware and preview before setting it for the event.

What are the six basic types of table setup?

Formal Restaurant Table Setting

Fine dining restaurants, formal events, and black-tie weddings use formal table setting. This setting needs more flatware and glassware than the other settings.

Create a formal dinner table setting by following these steps:

Place an ironed tablecloth on the table.
The serving plate must be in the center of the place setting.
The bread plate should be to the top left of the serving plate.
The butter knife is on top of the bread plate.
Place the Silverware on the left side of the serving plate.
The salad fork on the outside
The dinner fork is on the inside.
Silverware should consist of a dinner knife, salad knife, soup spoon, and teaspoon.
Keep the flatware evenly spaced with the bottoms of the flatware in line with the bottom of the serving plate.
The dessert spoon should be above the serving plate.
The water glass should be above the dinner knife.
The white wine glass below the water glass and to the right.
The red wine glass above the white glass and slightly to the right.
A cup and saucer should be above the soup spoon and slightly to the right.

Casual Restaurant Table Setting

A casual restaurant table setting or an informal table setting is a common one used at banquets and luncheons. It is popular for wedding table settings and contemporary casual dining restaurants (CDR). Though this fancy restaurant table setting is similar to a formal table setting, it is designed only for three courses instead of six. The flatware will be enough for soup, salad, main course, and dessert

Create a casual dinner table setting by following these steps:

The serving plate should be placed in the middle of the table setting.
The bread plate must be placed on the top left of the serving plate.
The butter knife must be placed on top of the bread plate with the blade facing down and the handle towards the right.
Place the Silverware on the left side of the serving plate, beginning with the salad fork on the outside and the dinner fork on the inside.
Place the Silverware on the right side of the serving plate, from the inside out, which should consist of a dinner knife, soup spoon, and teaspoon.
The water glass must be placed above the dinner knife in a casual setting.
The wine glass must be placed to the right of the water glass.

Basic Table Setting

A basic table setting is appropriate for all types of restaurants and casual events. It is popular in diners and family restaurants. A basic table setting is always welcoming and ensures your guests have the necessary utensils

Create a basic dinner table setting by following these steps:

The serving plate should be placed in the middle of the table setting.
The napkin must be placed to the left of the plate.
The fork must be placed on top of the napkin.
Place a knife to the right of the plate.
Place a water glass or coffee cup above the knife and slightly to the right.

Breakfast Table Setting

A breakfast table set up is a simple and functional setup that is both convenient and functional. It offers enough space to arrange the utensils on the table. It does not look lavish or expensive, but it is large enough to place the basic utensils required on the customer’s table.

Place the plate at the center with the fork and napkin to its left.
Keep the other types of silverware on the right side of the plate.
Place the glasses for juice, water, and bowls for cereals on the top of the plate.

Pizzeria Table Setting

A pizzeria table setting has the most basic restaurant table setting serving the guests. It consists of one piece each of plate, knife, fork, spoon, glass, and napkin.

Place the fork on the left of the diner’s plate with a napkin underneath it.
Place the knife and spoon to the right side of the plate.
Place the glass on the upper right corner of the plate above the knife.

Buffet Table Setting

A guest table setting or a buffet service has limitless options for a table setup. For a buffet table at catered events, hotel dining rooms and restaurants, we have compiled a short list of suggestions to help you run smoothly and efficiently; of course, you can add your creative touch.

The napkin and Silverware must be on the guest tables. Place an attractive folded napkin with shiny flatware to make the tables look elegant and inviting. At buffet tables, an informal table setting is commonly used.
Arrange the guest tables to hold everything your guests need, except for the dinner plates.
Arrange one or two condiment tables away from the main buffet to prevent guests from waiting at the main buffet.
Place the condiments on the guest tables, including salt and pepper, butter, sour cream, dressings, and more.

General Table Setting Rules Checklist

A general rule of table setting is to place the cutleries in the order of use from the farthest from the dinner plate to the closest to the dinner plate. It must always be outside-in so that the cutleries used first are the closest to the plate. Another rule is to place the forks to the left of the plate while knives and spoons go to the right.

Place not more than three utensils on either side of the dinner plate, except when a seafood fork is used in addition to the other three forks.

Bring the dessert spoons and forks to the dessert plate before dessert is served.
Follow a geometrically spaced pattern for the setting where every item is placed at equal distances.
Ensure that you have allowed ample room between place settings.
Place the butter on the butter plates, glasses filled with water, and the wine ready to be served before the guests are seated.
Place knives with blades facing the plate.

Do You Need to Follow Restaurant Table Setting Rules?

It is extremely important to use the same traditional rules of table setting etiquette, particularly for formal dinner table settings. Most fine dining restaurant table settings prefer to keep up with tradition by following these rules. However, you can opt-out, follow a set of rules and pursue your creativity instead in a modern restaurant table setting.

Follow our place setting diagrams for setting the table properly. It is a normal practice for restaurants and caterers to adjust napkin placement or other aesthetic details.

If you grasp the nuances of a traditional table setting, you can add your personal touches to it. Most restaurants do not use place settings and place wrapped silverware at each seat instead. Though it is convenient, it doesn’t offer the same visual effect as a beautifully set table. It’s up to you to decide what type of experience you want to create for your guests.

As a final note:

The table setting is more than an arrangement. So take precautions to avoid presenting a bad restaurant outlook by having a perfect table setting to go with your restaurant’s theme and more appropriately to match the type of event and the guests who attend.

If you have found our insights worth following, let us know what you think by posting your comments in the comment section below.