Breakfast

A luncheon plate is used for eggs or any other main course. The cereal bowl goes on the luncheon plate. Only at breakfast is it good form to have the cup and saucer on the table at the beginning of the meal.

A. Luncheon plate
B. Cereal bowl
C. Bread-and-butter plate with butter knife
D. Cup and saucer with teaspoon

E. Water glass

F. Juice glass

G. Fork

H. Knife

I. Teaspoon
J. Napkin

Luncheon

The plate for a first course, if any, is placed on top of the luncheon plate. To serve soup, set the soup bowl and a liner plate on top of the luncheon plate and have a soup spoon already in place at the right of the teaspoon. A fork for the first course would be placed to the left of the luncheon fork. Salad can be served with the main course on the luncheon plate.

A. Luncheon plate
B. Soup bowl (or other first course plate) on a liner plate
C. Bread-and-butter plate with butter knife
D. Water glass

E. Wine glass

F. Luncheon fork

G. Knife

H. Teaspoon

I. Soup spoon
J. Napkin

Casual

If there is no first course, the napkin is usually placed at the center of the dinner plate. The salad plate is then set to the left of the forks. The teaspoon in the place setting is used for dessert or a dessert fork is carried in with that course.

A. Dinner plate
B. Salad plate
C. Bread-and-butter plate with butter knife
D. Water glass

E. Fork

F. Knife

G. Teaspoon

H. Napkin

Formal Dinner

Utensils for the first course and a service plate on which it is set are part of a formal place setting. When the service plate is removed with the first course dishes, it is replaced with a dinner plate. Silverware for dessert can be set in advance or brought in with that course.

A. Service plate
B. Soup bowl on a liner plate
C. Salad plate
D. Water glass
E. Wine glass
F. Wine glass

G. Salad fork

H. Dinner fork

I. Dessert fork

J. Knife

K. Teaspoon

L. Soup spoon
M. Napkin

Buffet

A buffet table should be arranged so that guests can serve themselves in the easiest way possible. A logical order is to start with napkins and plates, follow with a variety of foods and end with bread or rolls, a drink, and then the silverware. That way guests will not have to contend with a drink and the utensils while helping themselves to food.

Table Configuration