Restaurant Table Service - Common Types You Must Know

Restaurant table service is the highlight of the dining experience, besides the quality and presentation of the food. New restaurants often pay little attention to the style of table service, and some might even be unfamiliar with the concept. Table service is the style that the servers follow to present the food to the guests.

Serving directly on plates, big platters, or allowing guests to fill their plates from buffet stations are the common styles. Every style does not work well with every restaurant. Therefore, it is crucial to develop an understanding of table service styles to see which themes they go well with.

Scroll down to the details of this article to get your hands on the restaurant table service common types you must know about, and explore which one is suitable for your setup.

Top 5 Types of Table Service in Restaurants

The table service style significantly impacts the quality of the dining experience. It also reflects the quality of the customer service, which can impact the reviews and foot traffic in the restaurants. Therefore, eateries must pay attention to the table service style and opt for the one that aligns with the overall theme.

Here are the major types of table service styles employed in various restaurant setups.

1.    American Service

American service is the most popular type of table service style restaurants usually opt for. In such a table service style, the staff usually set the food of every diner on a plate and serve it individually. It is also termed as pre-plated serving, in which food is plated in the kitchen and served to every single diner according to their order.

In American service, the serving tables are often set with basic cutlery, plates, and glasses. When the pre-plated meals are served, the diners often only use the cutlery and enjoy their meal. The diners only use the extra plates when they want to share food with their friends or family, or taste theirs. Such a serving style ensures limited clutter and keeps the table well-organized.

2.    French Service

French service is the next most commonly practiced table service style used in restaurants. It is the complete opposite of the American service. In French service, the food is prepared in the kitchen, but plated and garnished on the serving table. The servers usually use a gueridon, or portable table, to take food from the kitchen to the table. Then do the carving and garnishing on tableside and serve it.

The French service style boasts elegance, sophistication, and formality. The serving staff serves the dishes on the plates according to the preference of the guests. Such a serving style requires proper training of the staff as well as prioritization of customer service. So, opt for it only if you can meet the set standards.

3.    Russian Service

Russian service is the next table service style restaurants can opt for, according to their suitability. This service style is somewhat similar to the French style, with its own distinctions. The food is presented on platters, and then the servers serve the guests according to their preference. It is different from the French service in the way that the food is served steaming hot, and particularly from the left side of the guests.

Moreover, the servers keep a close watch on the table, clear it, and serve the next course as soon as the guests empty their plates. It is also often associated with luxury setups. Quick and quality service provision is the reason for the success of the Russian service style. You can consult experts from a  restaurant consulting company in Dubai for the ideal service style for your setup and train your staff to boost your success and profitability.

4.    English Service

English service is the next service style that most restaurants opt for. This is more of a relaxed and casual dining service style. The servers place the food platters on the table, and the guests can serve themselves and even each other. Such a service style is usually followed in family-oriented restaurants, so family members take the liberty of filling plates of each other according to their convenience.

Besides this, the servers stay alert while not disturbing the guests and offer to refill the platters until the diners are full. The servers have to be careful while placing the platters on the table, so they do not end up hurting anyone. The quality of customer service and food serving matters significantly in this service style. So, pay it due attention if you are interested in opting for it.

5.    Buffet Service

Buffet service is the last commonly followed service style in restaurants. It does not exactly fall in the table service category. The food is presented in buffet style, and the guests have the liberty of filling their plates with whatever they prefer.

The buffet can include up to fifty dishes of various categories. In case the number of dishes is less and guests is more, the servers might need to refill the serving dishes. The servers can also offer help to the guests struggling to find specific dishes. Such a serving style is popular for breakfast, hi-tea and specific events with larger gatherings. So, you can also opt for it for specific events and not routine, casual dining.

Read also: Discover Authentic Hyderabadi Biryani in East London

Have You Chosen The Table Service Style You Want To Follow?

Your chosen style might not go well with the overall theme and service style of your restaurant. So, do not make forced implementations. Contact and consult restaurant consultants and utilize their expertise to offer the best service to your visitors.