Etiquette For Replacing Napkins and Flatware

Sometimes you lose your napkin. It happens. When you need a replacement, don’t just grab one off another table next to you. A staff member will likely see you doing it, and you’ll be ostracized. If you drop your fork, kindly call your server’s attention and ask for another. Don’t just grab a new one from the perfectly-set table next door. Nothing will draw a server’s ire more than messing with his or her finely-manicured, detailed station. Would we walk into your office and grab the stapler off your desk without asking because we need to staple something? Of course not. We’d ask permission.