How do you properly set a table???

I was wondering how you properly set a table. I do it my own way, but it isn't proper etiquette. Not that my friends would mind if it weren't... but ya know how sometimes you just want it to look perfect?
Anyway, I never remember what side forks, spoons and knives are to be, or even the napkins! LOL
Does anyone know?
Thanks!
ML

What???

You just pull up a chair and set in it......whats for dinner???

The proper setting for a table:

Salad fork goes on the left side next to dinner plate, dinner fork goes to left side of salad fork, fish fork goes to left side of dinner fork, napkin goes to left side of fish fork. Service knife goes to right side of dinner plate, fish knife goes to right side of service knife, soup spoon goes to right side of fish knife. Cake fork goes directly above dinner plate, dessert spoon goes directly above cake fork. Bread knife goes on bread plate directly above salad, dinner and fish forks.

hatshepsut

That's a lot of utensils, Hat! I never knew fish had their own knife and fork.

jkeerie lol Yes the fishys have thier own little knife and fork. That table setting is for the ultra fancy dinners like at the Ambassador's place. I'm more inclined to go along with GreyFuss's idea of eating. lol

hatshepsut

THANK YOU Hatshepsut!!!
I am writing all this down so I will have it forever!!
Did you used to work in a restaurant?
LOL!! I confess, i would have never of thought of putting dessert sliverware above the plates!!
You were very helpful!
You wouldn't happen to know how to fold linen napkins, now would you??

P.S. most of the time we do eat like GreyFuss!

ML

Mystery Lover, you are very welcome. The proper way to fold a napkin is, fold your napkin in half then from left to right make a three quarter fold. Take the right side and fold it over the left part of the napkin. The folded side should be placed next to the fish fork. If there is a monogram you want to make sure that it shows.

No I didn't work in a restaurant lol.

lol it is alot more fun and less stressful eating the way GreyFuss does.

hatshepsut

Mystery Lover wrote:
"You wouldn't happen to know how to fold linen napkins, now would you??"

They come pre-folded when you remove them from the dryer.

One more thing... does the glass go on the right above the napkin?? TIA!

ML

There's (believe it or not) a casual game at Big Fish Games (don't recall the title) that has a screenshot showing a table with 4 place settings. Only one of the place settings is correct and the player needs to correct the 3 that are wrong. So this information will come in handy, if I decdie to buy the game some day.

Mystery Lover no the napkin goes to the left of the forks. The glasses go on the right above the knives

hatshepsut

Mystery Lover a little diagram of placement


A. Napkin
B. Dinner Plate
C. Soup Bowl
D. Bread and Butter Plate with Bread Knife
E. Water Glass
F. White Wine
G. Red Wine
H. Fish Fork
I. Dinner Fork
J. Salad Fork
K. Service Knife
L. Fish Knife
M. Soup Spoon
N. Dessert Spoon and Cake Fork

hatshepsut

Wow! Perfection acheived!! I'm going to copy this down right now!!
Thank you mega tons!!!

You are very welcome

hatshepsut

I made a boo boo last night and put the napkins on the right side of the plate! But it still looked nice.
I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and the cloth napkins come with folding instructions!! How cool is that? So i could have them standing, or flat, but with the silverware tucked in. That was neat.
Dinner parties are fun, but I hate all the clean up!

I think it's kind of cool all the different ways you can fold a napkin. I really dislike the cleanup too.

hatshepsut

I make it easier on myself. I have two sets of napkin rings...one that looks a bit fancy and another set for every day. I put the napkin in the ring and set it on the plate. Looks kind of pretty.

jkeerie that would be pretty

hatshepsut