Silver Service

Silver service is the name given to a method of table service in the United Kingdom. This usually includes serving food at the table. It is a technique of transferring food from a service dish to the guest's plate from the left.

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

Features of silver service

Silver service food is always served from the left, drinks from the right.
Meals are served to the diner from platters, not plated in the kitchen.
The guest to the host's right is served first. (Usually a female guest)
Service continues clockwise.
Plates are cleared from the right, glasses from the right; again starting with the guest to the host's 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.

A modification of Silver Service 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.