food service and operations

Table Service

Servers take orders from menus and deliver food to customers seated at tables.

Seated Service and Self Service

What are the 2 main types of Table Service?

American Service

Food is plated in the kitchen into individual servings and brought to guests.

Fast and less expensive, One waiter can serve many guests, Plates served from guest’s right side using the waiter’s right hand

features of American Service

Russian Service

Waiters serve food from platters directly onto the diner’s plate.

American is food plated in kitchen while Russian is food served from platter at the table

How does Russian Service differ from American Service?

French Service

Formal service where food is partly cooked or garnished at the guest’s table with the help of multiple staff.

Elegant and formal, uses silver serving pieces, Final cooking/garnishing done at table , Requires several employees

What are the features of French Service?

English Service

Traditional family-style service where the host (or head of household) carves and serves food to guests.

Resembles family meals, Host carves, staff assist in serving, Food served using fork and spoon like tongs

What are the features of English Service?

Counter Service

Customers are served across a counter; they may eat at the counter or take food elsewhere.

Diners, fast-food places, small cafés

Where is Counter Service common?

Room Service

Food is delivered directly to a customer’s room (commonly hotels, sometimes hospitals).

Away from main dining area, Convenient and private, Food brought and served in the room

What are the features of Room Service?

Self-Service (Buffet)

Customers choose food from a variety of displayed items and serve themselves.

What are examples of Self-Service?

Cafeterias, buffets, salad bars

Take-out or Delivery Service

Food ordered and consumed outside the establishment.

Delivery and Take out

What are the types of Take-out/Delivery Service?