"Could we get some bread over here?"
Over and over, people cry out for bread. Then more bread.
Little thought is given to the fact that at least one course is soon to follow.
The Hamilton Spectator's food critic, Kislenko, was disappointed to find that on his latest review, the restaurant presented side plates but no bread.
Most on line reviews take restaurants to task for not providing baskets of bread. No fault can be found with the restaurant so they pick up on the bread thing.
There is no obligation to provide bread before the meal.
Consider the style of the restaurant. Is it likely they would serve bread? If risen dough doesn't fit with the menu, why would it suddenly show up with the cocktails? Perhaps bread makes up part of the entree?
A side plate is merely part of a proper place setting and its presence should in no way be taken as proof that bread is on its way. The side plate is there as a part of a whole. The plate may house the napkin. It is somewhere to put your accompaniment. It is there to serve as a repository for anything cast off the plate-frilly bits of parsley, skin, a bone; perhaps an olive pit. It's like a bib for the table.
Knife rests are not commonplace. While the plate is normally on the left (assuming a right handed diner), feel free to use the plate as a knife (or fork) rest. Better the knife on that plate than gumming up the tablecloth.
The side plate is essential to a table whereas bread is not.
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