STYLES OF A FOOD SERVICE

Counter service[edit] Counter service is a form of service in restaurants, pubs, and bars where food or drinks are ordered at the counter. Counter service is sometimes also referred to as a "bar service," such as used for "juice bar" or in the case of pubs and bars where the counter is also called the bar. Customers maytake-out the food, or carry it to a table, or eat at the bar, using chairs or stools provided for the purpose. Counter service is compared with table service where service is provided at the table. With counter service, the customer generally pays before consuming the food or drink. Some fast foodrestaurants offer only counter service while table service is the common form in most restaurants. For pubs and bars, bar service is the norm in bothIreland[citation needed] and the United Kingdom whereas table service is the norm in Continental Europe. Table service[edit] Table service is food service served to the customer's table by waiters and waitressess, also known as "servers". Table service is common in most restaurants, while for some fast food restaurants counter service is the common form. For pubs and bars, counter service is the norm in the United Kingdom. With table service, the customer generally pays at the end of meal. Various methods of table service can be provided. See, for instance, silver service. In recent years, restaurants have began to train their servers using e-learning programs in an effort to lower training costs. Gueridon service[edit] Gueridon service is a form of food service provided by restaurants to their guests. This type of service encompasses preparing food (primarily salads, main dishes such as beef stroganoff, or desserts) in direct view of the guests, using a "gueridon". A gueridon typically consists of a trolley that is equipped to prepare, cook and serve food. There is a gas hob, chopping board, cutlery drawer, cold store (depending on the trolley type) and general working area.

STYLES OF A FOOD SERVICE

BUFFET from French: sideboard) is a system of serving meals in which food is placed in a public area where the diners generally serve themselves.[1] Buffets are offered at various places including hotels and many social events. Buffets usually have some hot dishes, so the term "cold buffet" (see Smrgsbord) has been developed. Hot or cold buffets usually involve plates, bowls, and cutlery. A "finger buffet" is an array of foods that are designed to be small and easily consumed by hand alone, such as cupcakes, slices of pizza, foods on cocktail sticks, etc. Family style[edit] Family style restaurants are a type of casual dining restaurants where food is often served on platters and the diners serve themselves.[2] Typically, alcoholic beverages are not sold at family-style casual dining restaurants.

Cafeteria[edit] A cafeteri a is a restauran t serving readycooked food arranged behind a foodserving counter. There is little or no table service. Typically, a patron takes a tray and pushes it along a track in front of the counter. Depending on the establishment, servings may be ordered from attendants, selected as ready-made portions already on plates, or self-serve their own portions. Cafeterias are common in hospitals, corporations and educational institutions. In the UK, a cafeteria may also offer a large selection of hot food similar to the American fast casual restaurant, and the use of the term cafeteria is deprecated in favour of self-service restaurant.