Table setting

Table setting

In the West, forks, plate, butter knife, and napkin generally are placed to the left of the dinner plate. Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use a layout based on more formal settings. Utensils are arranged in the order and according to the manner in which the diner will use them.

About Table setting in brief

Summary Table settingIn the West, forks, plate, butter knife, and napkin generally are placed to the left of the dinner plate, and knives, spoons, stemware and tumblers, cups, and saucers to the right. Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use a layout based on more formal settings.

Utensils are arranged in the order and according to the manner in which the diner will use them. The only exception in the West to these general rules is the protocol followed at the Spanish royal court, which was also adopted by the Austrian court.