Check It Out

Wait! Wait! Don't take my plate!

This whole issue of waiters/resses removing diners' plates the moment they approach empty, regardless of whether anyone else at the table is finished, continues to cause a good deal of intestinal distress among you folks.

"I've come to the conclusion," writes Sue in Youngsville, "that there is indeed a serious plate shortage in the vast majority of restaurants. Taking the plate from one diner, while others at the table are still eating, is incredibly rude, and I have been known to ask the server to wait until everyone has finished. That seems to solve the problem, but it shouldn't be necessary to say anything."

What annoys us is when they ask if you're done and there's still a morsel or two remaining on the plate. The implication, of course, being, "Hey, tub boat, haven't you had enough? Time to pull away from the trough." And then you have to endure "the look" as you take one last lick before relinquishing the plate over. We hate that.

Molly also has issues with this practice.

"Removing a diner's plate before others at the restaurant table have finished is annoying, uncomfortable and rude. Please pass the word to restaurant managers and servers."

Actually, we'd like to hear from some managers and servers. Servers in particular. In the past, y'all have had no qualms weighing in on matters that affect your profession. What say ye on this? Is this a practice forced upon you that causes untold grumbling during your breaks?

Insight please, wait people!

Back to skool

From a list of "Carpool Guidelines" given out Friday at Ligon Middle School in Raleigh: "Please do not drop off your child anywhere on Haywood Street. We have 85 busses that load and unload on Haywood Street and it is very dangerous for students to be dropped off where busses are loading and unloading."

With all that smooching going on, no wonder it's dangerous .