Helpful Tips

Setting the Table

A few ideas to help you set a beautiful table.

There is no single way to set a correct table, so do what is functional for your serving needs and pleasing to your eye. Most of us are familiar with casual and informal settings. These allow us the flexibility to mix and match dinnerware patterns, flatware and glassware.

Formal settings are more rigid, with a symmetrical balance. Appetizers, soups and salads are set in place on top of a show plate (service plate) that remains until it is replaced by the main entree dinner plate. Napkins are never placed on the service plate, but are traditionally placed to the left.

Click here to view samples of a buffet setup, casual, formal and informal settings, along with appropriate meal courses.

Simple Buffet Setup

Beverages could also be stationed on a tea cart or another table nearby, especially if your dining table is placed against a wall.

Best bets for a buffet:
  • Flatware and napkins should be the final items to be picked up.
  • Napkins rolled around flatware simplify things.
  • Consider setting up beverages at a separate table.
  • Meats should be pre-sliced.

Example of a Four-Course Formal Meal Table Setting

(Service plate will be replaced by dinner plate. Dessert will be served separately.)

  • name (for place card)
  • soup bowl (on soup bowl)
  • plate (on plate)
  • salad fork (smaller fork, closer to napkin, on left)
  • dinner fork (larger fork, closer to plate)
  • service plate (in center setting until replaced by dinner plate)
  • dinner plate (in center setting)
  • bread-and-butter plate (above forks, left of dinner plate)
  • bread-and-butter knife (placed across bread-and-butter plate)
  • soup bowl (on service plate)
  • salad knife (smaller knife, between spoon, dinner knife on right (side of plate)
  • dinner knife (larger knife, next to plate)
  • napkin (napkin, on left, to left of forks)
  • soup spoon (soup spoon on far right of knives)
  • water goblet (goblet to farthest left)
  • white wine (goblet in center)
  • red wine (goblet, far right)

Example of Informal Table Setting

  • dinner plate (in center of setting)
  • salad plate (to left of forks)
  • bread-and-butter plate (above forks, left of dinner plate)
  • bread-and-butter knife (placed across plate)
  • dinner fork (larger fork, to left of plate)
  • salad fork (smaller fork, to left of dinner fork)
  • dinner knife (larger knife, to right of plate)
  • salad knife (smaller knife, to right of dinner knife)
  • water goblet (to upper right of plate, left glass of the two, and larger)
  • wine goblet (right of water goblet and smaller)
  • dinner napkin (could be placed in center of plate)

Example of Casual Table Setting

  • dinner plate (in center of setting)
  • salad plate (upper left)
  • beverage glass (to upper right of plate)
  • dinner fork (larger fork, to left of plate)
  • salad fork (smaller fork, to left of dinner fork)
  • dinner knife (larger knife, to right of plate)
  • teaspoon (to right of knife)
  • dinner napkin (could be placed in center of plate)

Example of Formal Dinner

  1. First course could include appetizer (e.g., shrimp cocktail).
  2. Second course - soup (e.g., lobster bisque).
  3. Salad (e.g., Caesar salad).
  4. Entree (includes vegetable). Fish, beef, poultry and pork.
  5. Dessert (e.g., cheesecake).

Note: A sorbet to cleanse the palate would be offered between the salad and entree. A sorbet is a fruit sherbet available in the freezer case at Winn-Dixie.

Example of an Informal Dinner

  1. First course (soup, fruit, shellfish or appetizer).
  2. Salad.
  3. Entree (includes vegetable).
  4. Dessert.

Example of a Casual Luncheon

  1. First course - optional (soup or salad).
  2. Entree (includes vegetable).
  3. Dessert.