Silent service code

The "silent service code" is a way for a diner to "talk" to the server during a meal without saying a word, mainly to tell them that they are finished. This will prevent any embarassing situations where the server would take a meal prematurely.

To tell a server you are done, place your napkin to the left of your plate and place all your utensils together in a "4-o'clock" position on your plate.

If you must leave during the meal, place the napkin on your chair to avoid any confusion.

The code is almost always taught during business dining etiquette classes.