Follow these guidelines for proper dinner table settings that will make your table feel far from basic, and once the dinner starts, you can simply pour your signature cocktail and enjoy the festivities. To cover your bases, set out a dessert spoon and cake fork above each place setting, with the cake fork pointing right and the dessert spoon pointing left. Set the bread plate with a butter knife across it and pointing left, with the handle facing towards the setting the and the knife blade facing down (not at the setting across the table).