jsalemi,
What a great tip! I never though to do this.
I hate that they "serve' the food. If you cancel the action they put the damn plate on the floor & if you cancel before they 'serve' they plop it on the counter but the "grab a plate" option does not appear. I know this was different in the base game - I wish they hadn;t changed it.
I am going to try your fix right now
I always get annoyed by the swarm of hungry Sims sitting down to the table while the cook is putting down the plates, which forces them to Walk Away and put the plate on the floor - grr! So if I can prevent that, my houses are going to experience a sudden deluge of napkin dispensers and candles