Silver service

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This article is about the form of table service. For the train, see Silver Service.

Silver service is the name given to the highest standard of table service. This usually includes serving at table.

It is often performed by a silver service "waiter" using service forks and spoons from the customers left. In France, this kind of service is known as "English Service."

[edit] Elements of silver service

Silver service is always served from the left.
Meals are served to the customer from platters, not plated in the kitchen.
The guest to the host's right is served first.
Service continues clockwise
Plates are cleared from the right.
Glasses are stacked in a diagonal to the right and away, with wine (by course) in order, and then lastly, water glass in front.

The opposite of Silver Service (when the food is served by the waiter to individual diners) is known as Butler Service. In Butler Service the diner helps himself from a serving plate held by the waiter (butler). Traditionally, this type of service was used on Sunday evenings when the waiting staff had the evening off and the butler helped out at dinner.^{[citation needed]}