Sharing is Caring: ready, SET, go!

Its almost lunch time and for some of you that means a gourmet lunch with swanky people at a fancy restaurant. Although many of us do not enjoy such luxuries, every blue moon we get an invite to a 5 star restaurant where the server has an exotic name and the food is top notch. Many of us have accepted an invitation to attend a formal dinner, sat down at the table with our stomachs growling, and realized that we didn’t know which fork or spoon to use or why there were so many knives on the table. If you have ever had this experience then this post is for you.


Side note: You should never arrive to a dinner with professionals on an empty stomach. Always eat a light snack to combat your growling stomach and to ensure that you don’t attack your food like a savage beast when it arrives.


A place setting is a very sensible and organized system that works beautifully when you know how to function within the system. Take a look at (click on) the diagram below to help you identify each piece within an informal and formal place setting.

The informal place setting is what you will see at most moderately priced restaurants, small banquets/fundraisers or at a casual (house) dinner party. You can expect to see a formal place setting at a high end restaurant, formal banquet/fundraiser or formal (house) dinner party.


As a rule of thumb remember to work from the outside in as it relates to your utensils. The first utensil you can expect to use will either be your salad fork or your soup spoon. However, you may use your oyster fork for a seafood dish that may be served as an appetizer.


Watch the video below for a better understanding of the structure and function of a formal place setting. The best way to learn how to use a formal place setting is to know how to set one up. Happy Dining!

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