salad fork

a smaller fork with shorter, thinner tines used for eating salads or other light dishes

A salad fork is a smaller utensil typically used for eating salad or other appetizers in a formal dining setting. It is characterized by its smaller size compared to a dinner fork, with shorter tines or prongs and a slightly slimmer build, making it easier to spear and handle delicate greens and vegetables. They are typically placed to the left of the dinner plate in a proper table setting.