Serve Left and Remove from Right

Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

When dining at home, do I remove a guest's dinner plate from the right or left, and does it really matter?

Signed,

Wondering

Dear Wondering,

In a casual setting at home, it doesn't really matter. But, the general etiquette rule for serving seated guests is to remove the plate from the right.

Also, a guest's plate is served on their left. Platters of food are also served on the left when the guest or host must dish out the contents.

However, beverages are both served and removed from the right.