Because they think it sanitizes the silverware. They also sometimes put salt in the water, thinking that helps it too. It's very ignorant. Why would you want to eat in a restaurant where you thought the silverware was dirty, in the first place... Second I'm sure the plate they're eating off of and that's touching their food was washed in the same dishwasher. Third, the water is no where hot enough to kill any bacteria or viruses.
