Spoon Rule of Three Casual and Fine Dining Etiquette University Etiquette

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The rule, "Go from the outside in," is understood to mean, "in kind." When the table is correctly set, first all the knives are

set, then all the spoons are set together, placed to the right of the last knife, set bowl-up or bowl-down to match the fork(s,) and the spoon for coffee is omitted from the setting. Here is how the spoon rules work.

The first spoon (1) is to be a cream (round) soup spoon, or a place (table) spoon. The latter is primarily used for soup, melon, or at breakfast for cereal.

The second spoon (2) is to be placed to the left of the first spoon. It can be placed above the place setting, with the handle facing to the right. It is used only for dessert. In formal service, this is a place spoon. A fork to be used with a dessert spoon may be placed below it handle facing to the left.

In a maid-less place setting, the third spoon (3) is (a teaspoon) used for coffee. It may be placed to the right of the last spoon, or to the right of the last knife when no other spoon is used.

When wishing to employ the rule go from the outside in the third spoon could be omitted from the place setting, and be brought in when coffee is served.

Spoon rules follow the Rule of Three: no more than three spoons (or any items of flatware of the same kind) are to be set in any place setting at any one time.