Is forgotten silverware a forgivable restaurant sin?

• Flickr: dvs
• Forks are an underrated part of the meal.

Dinner can lead you to unpredictable places, like standing by the soda dispenser at a fast-casual restaurant wondering why there aren’t any forks next to the sugar packets and straws. Last night at Noodles & Company, we received our food sans silverware. I’m not a frequent diner there, so I wasn’t sure if silverware is a la carte or typically comes with the meal.

After a bit of hunting and pecking and a conversation with a nice busser, napkin-wrapped silverware appeared. In Noodles & Company’s defense, what seemed like the entire school-age population of St. Elizabeth’s was there for a school fundraiser. Seriously, half the day-care centers in Prairie Village must have been running a shuttle straight to the restaurant. Our forklessness lasted only a few minutes, which is still critical, when it comes to a hot pasta dish. Overall, I saw it as a mistake from a harried young server, somewhere between not getting menus for 10 minutes and having to listen to someone else’s cellphone conversation. Still, it’s a basic part of dining out. Is forgotten silverware a forgivable restaurant sin?