In America, the rule of thumb is to "serve on the left!" Plates, along with other serving dishes, are served on the left side of the guests. Plates are cleared from the table on the right side of the guests. "Remove on the right!" Simply remember the two R's!
Glasses are refilled on the right because of their placement on the right.
In private houses in England, everything happens on the left side of the guest. Plates are served AND cleared from the left. The reasoning goes back to the time when there was staff to serve. Because glasses are placed on the right side of the place setting, by serving and removing everything from the left, there is less chance that the servers may knock a glass over.
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Forbidden Faux Pas
No-No: To stack plates when clearing the table. Plates should never be stacked or, heaven forbid, scraped clean anywhere near the dining table!
What is done: Plates are cleared from the table, two at a time, three at most. Plates are cleaned in the kitchen.
No-No: To have any remaining plates on the table when dessert is served.
What is done: When all of the courses have been served and the remaining plates, salt and pepper, serving pieces, chargers, and flatware (other than the dessert flatware), are all cleared from the table first, then dessert (referred to as "pudding” in England) is served. Glasses remain on the table until the dinner is over and guests move to another room.
No-No: To jump up and start clearing the table when you are a guest.
What is done: It is always best to offer politely or begin to stand up to help, and if the hostess asks you to please be seated, then heed their request and sit back down! The hosts may prefer that you stay and keep the conversation going.
Millennial Tip
It is always a lovely idea to adjourn your guests from the dining room table into the living room (or what the English refer to as a drawing room...where one "withdraws" to another room) where you can serve coffee or more port!
By going into another area of the house, guests can move around and chat with other guests. If you have serving help, they can then clear the dining room table and clean up. Later, offer a tray of highball glasses filled with iced water to the guests in the living room. This is usually a welcome sight to everyone, especially after all of the libations that have been consumed during the evening!