That one honestly doesn't bother me. When I'm done eating, I'm glad to get my empty plate out from in front of me. One, because I'm usually full by that point and don't really want to look at the remains of my dinner. Two, because I'm a barbarian and don't want my elbows getting in my salad dressing.

I have 2 pet peeves:

Bringing out the entree before I've barely had a chance to stick my fork in my salad (I ALWAYS make them take the food back and prepare it in a timely matter).

I have an empty glass and I haven't started my meal yet and the waiter says "You want something else to drink?". At which point, I always feel tempted to say "No, I think I'll just thirst to death the rest of my meal"

I totally agree with Truth here. I have been to dinner many times with friends who eat slower then me. I be a bit clumsy and like the plates to be removed so I don't end up with my arms in them. As a companion to a slower eater I feel it is my place to make my dining companion feel comfortable enough to continue eating even though my plate is gone. How much difference does it make if I am finished eating and my plate is gone or if it is sitting right in fron of me, either way, they are eating and I am not.

As a self proclaimed expert in the greensboro food industry, I must comment. First of all, it is a sign of bad service for a waitperson to leave dirty (and yes if they have bits of uneaten food and chicken bones on them, they are considered dirty) plates in front of a guest. And the international sign for "please remove this plate, I am finished" is crossing your knife and fork on your plate. If you are so paranoid that you think the world is watching you and judging your food intake, then learn to eat faster.

Hey, take em away as soon as I am finished. Who wants to sit and carry on conversation with "dirty' yes I said dirty dishes in front of you. The others may finish at their own pace and hopefully their dirty dishes will be removed post haste as well.

Bring on the coffee to a clean table so we can enjoy conversation over a clean table, not one cluttered with "dirty dishes".

Slow letter day at the N&R,huh?

Must have been jonniebgood, but it beat the daylights out of the same old politics and Katrina stuff now didn't it.

Mr. Douglas, if this is all you have to complain about, life must be good.

While I also like to have a clean table at which to sit and have that after-dinner coffee, I have been to a restaurants where the waiter has started to remove my husband's plate (without asking) BEFORE he was finished eating. They don't realize this is a good way to get a fork through the hand! :-)

Bunny, maybe the folks were trained in the European fashion.
I remember having a super delicious meal in Germany one evening. I happened to lay my fork down on the plate, the knife was already there and the waiter snatched my plate right out from in from of my nose. I grabbed the gentleman, and not too gently I must say and told him in no uncertain terms to put my plate down and leave it until I told him he could take it.
Of course I didn't eat European style with the knife in one hand and the fork inthe other. I learned that laying the fork and knife on the plate meant that you were finished. I apoligized to the waiter and left him a sizeable tip. I did learn, don't lay your fork down on the plate until you are finishedIf you must lay it down, lay it on the bread and butter plate.

Dick:

You have 2 hands ... use them!