To think this is rude? Dinner table etiquette

[EdinaMonsoon]

Out for dinner & drinks with another couple last night. Immediately they finished their meals, they began stacking their plates and pushing them to the centre of the table, meaning DH & I had their used plates right in front of us. We didn’t say anything but they do it every time we go out to eat and we both find it rude and bad manners. Do people stack plates in a restaurant after eating? I certainly don’t and wouldn’t. And certainly wouldn’t push my used plate in front of someone else’s!

We also always wait until the last person is finished eating before we make any sign to waiting staff that we’re ready for the plates to be cleared whereas they will grab the attention of anyone passing and ask them to clear their plates even though others at the table are still eating. We’re not slow eaters but dinner a meal out should be enjoyed at a relaxed pace, no? AWBU?

It's pretty cringe. Did they gobble their food up really quickly as well if they were finished well before you?

My DH does this at home. He’ll start clearing away when me and DC are still eating. He’ll also move his used plate away from him and in front of me. I move it back.

Yes, it's rude.

But nothing i see surprises me when it comes to dining etiquette

Really rude. I wouldn’t eat out with them again.

🙄

Evidently interpretations differ.

This is what the 1-3 year olds that I teach do. Put their knife and fork side by side on their plate and wait until their friends are finished. Then we have fruit. Basic etiquette. I’m not in the UK though, lunch is free and so we all eat the same nice cooked hot lunch.

It’s basic etiquette.

Here we go again.

Push them back.

Who knew people have so many rules around eating!

And then there are individuals who just don’t know basic restaurant etiquette.

Here we go again, how?

I would say it’s odd rather than rude. If you like going out with them and enjoy their company it does not sound like a reason to stop seeing them.

It's rude. I eat slowly and hate feeling rushed.

@Qwerty556 , it's etiquette not a class issue.

Your implication that if people can't afford expensive restaurants and can only afford inexpensive chains they have no manners.

YANBU that’s awful manners.

I would say something personally, like would it be okay if you keep your own plates until the end of the meal?

Pushing their plates towards you is rude.
Piling everything up annoys the waitress.

Probably thoughtlessness rather than anything else though.

Basic etiquette is important. It should be taught to children. Unfortunately there is too much of holding cutlery the wrong way round etc. You don’t pile up empty plates. It’s bad manners.

If I could have a waiter come and take my plate away once I’ve eaten I would. I can’t stand being able to see or smell my food once I’ve eaten it (very odd I know) I have to cover it with a napkin if it’s a disposable kind. However I wouldn’t push my plate away and I would sit patiently and uncomfortably until the waiters take them away

Push it back and say no thanks.

As a server that would piss me off. We don’t have time to repeatedly go back and forth to a table clearing it bit by bit which is why we do it all at once. There are other people in the restaurant needing to be served as well, they need to wait their turn, which is, when everyone has finished.