We hear that all the time while dining out. When at a restaurant, my empty plate is subject to being snatched up as soon as I set my fork down. Not anymore. Instead, I’ve learned to instruct our wait person to leave it until she (pointing to Maria) is finished. I’m a fast eater and usually the first one with an empty plate. If the server is too efficient and succeeds in grabbing my plate, he/she is subject to a lecture by Maria as to why he/she should wait.
A few years ago while Maria and I were dining with an executive from the company where I worked, a server attempted to remove the exec’s plate. He held his hand up and said, “No, she’s still eating.” Maria was impressed; it changed her life (at least her dining out life) forever.
If a lecture is required, Maria will explain to the server that it’s rude to remove a plate from the table while someone is still eating. The diner still working on their plate might feel rushed to gobble up whatever is left. Maria might not add this, but I will—it also gives the appearance that the restaurant is motivated to get you out of there and place new butts in your chairs. That assumption was confirmed when a waitress recently told us that she almost lost her new job when she failed to clear plates fast enough.
Maria is downright evangelical about this now, and I do my best to make sure that my empty plate remains in place until Maria’s final bite is swallowed and she lays her fork down. When I comply, Maria will smile and thank me. Should I fail to catch the server and stop the plate removal, I know that a familiar lecture will be coming up.