In many US restaurant I have been (except high-end ones), after you are done with the appetizer the waiter takes away plates but leaves you dirty silverware sometimes putting it on the table linen. I have never seen this practice in Europe. It’s disgusting IMO. Why is it normal in the US? What does it take to change silverware for the next course? I always ask to replace and sometimes get “a dirty look” from the waiter.
Sir, This Is A Wendy’s. Literally.
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Interesting. Most of the time they clear the utensils as well. Frankly, as someone who wants to be as water efficient as possible, I usually try to hang on to my silverware. More often than not they insist on taking it.
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do you use a new silverware set after every course at home? if not, why is this “disgusting” at a restaurant?
like sure it’s nice if they change it… but it’s a ways from ‘disgusting’…
No, I don’t change silverware at home, and at home I also often don’t change plates between appetizer and main course. But when I go out to a restaurant I expect things to be quite a bit nicer, more formal etc. Would you be OK dining in a restaurant bear foot, in sport shorts or shirtless ? At home - I occasionally do. So I don’t think it’s a valid comparison.
By disgusting I meant when they remove dirty silverware from the plate and put it on the table, sometimes even on linen staining it. So I do find it disgusting.
Sometimes they do, but in many cases they don’t and I have to ask. Again, it does not happen in high-end restaurants but often in casual ones. Have never seen this in Europe where they always change utensils.
I generally try to keep my shit together. 
I think it’s a cultural thing. In NA I don’t think it’s considered terribly rude or informal to not change cutleries. Yah it might stain linen but no diff than you splashed some sauce on it. Heck a lot of places don’t even have linens! .
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Haha. I fixed the typo 
But yes, I understand it’s a cultural thing but I always thought etiquette rules are a product of what people perceive as unpleasant. For me it’s not per se that I would not use the same fork to eat different dish. I would consider it snobbish. It’s more about what to do with it while you are waiting for the next course. When they place dirty utensils on the table and it leaves stains it’s not a pleasant experience. Yes, it’s no different than splashing sauce, but both are not enjoyable.
it’s not a big deal to most people, it’s you
How about the fact that it’s considered totally normal in much of Europe, even at many fine dining restaurants, to put your bread directly on the table? Is that disgusting? It might leave crumbs or a touch of oil on the linen, after all. What an “unpleasant experience!” Snort.
I’m more irritated by places that insist on changing silverware every course even when there is a cute little stand that it’s lying on, not touching the table, and when often the course was finger food to begin with.
In Japan, you keep your hashi through the entire meal, though to be fair there is usually a small brace.
Finally, it is absolutely not the case that they change utensils after every course everywhere in Europe, even in high end places. What a ridiculous assertion.
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Silverware on linen tablecloth .Ok .
Silverware directly on table . Never !!
I have never said “everywhere”. I said “I have never seen”. In the US it’s a common practice not to change. No, bread crumbs do not disgust me. They don’t leave stains and can be easily collected that the waiter usually does. I get that different cultures have different customs. Like taking leftovers with you home - in the US it’s normal, in Europe I have never seen it. I don’t judge. Stand is better but to be honest I don’t want to see dirty utensils anywhere but on the plate. It’s me. I don’t see anything wrong with insisting to replace them as I don’t anything wrong for someone who wants to keep them.
If it’s all the same, like it or not, then why start a whole thread about it?
It seems to be you just want to criticize.
Couple of reasons:
- I was curious why it’s like this, maybe there is some hidden reason I don’t know about:) I thought it’s an obvious thing.
- I wanted to see others’ perspective. This is what a public forum is about.
Yes, I did imply some criticism, not people but the restaurants. I don’t think it’s a big deal.
But by no means I wanted to come across as snobbish or start a fight.
You said “in Europe, where they always change utensils.” That sounds like the equivalent of everywhere to me. And that’s simply not true.
OK, I stand corrected - I have not seen it or at least don’t recall. But where they don’t I think they should
There is a reason why they do it everywhere (both in Europe and in the US) in expensive restaurants. I think it’s nice to have clean silverware for your next course.
So all of Asia doesnt count for much, I guess?
And they don’t do it everywhere in expensive restaurants in the US and Europe. You are 100% wrong. Plenty of high end Michelin star type places where they don’t.
What do you mean “they don’t count”? Of course they do. It’s their culture.
I am not frequent to Michelin restaurants but in every expensive restaurant I have been to they never remove silverware from the plate and place it on the table. They take it with the plate. What are you trying to prove? That it happens in fine restaurants ? I am sure it does but I bet it happens less often than it does not.
I believe we are beating a dead horse. As I said before I am not trying to impose my view on anyone and respect everyone’s perspective.
Yes we do. The dishwasher is going on anyway and the incremental impact of a few more knives and forks is zero or negligible depending on the dishwasher or mode.
The real issue is to avoid handwashing with rinsing under running hot tap.
Back to restaurants. It’s all about the vibe. White table cloth formal I don’t want dirty silverware lurking on the table cloth, brown paper table covers or bare rough wood, possibly acceptable though not desirable.
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I’ve seen silverware changed, and not changed, both in Europe and the United States. I think we can dispense with the whole idea that there’s a difference in practice between the two continents …
… okay … now, to the crux of the issue: Do I like it when silverware is changed? Sure. Do I find it terribly important? No. Muuuuch more important to me is changing plates between every couple of courses when dining at a restaurant where the meal is comprised of many smaller dishes, meant to be shared. After any “messy” course (e.g.: something with lots of sauce), at this type of restaurant, I really want the plate changed so as to prevent the previous course from contaminating the next. Some restaurants are better than others at this.
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