Serving Styles Defined

Think you need to choose between a plated (sit-down) meal or buffet?  Nope.  There are a number of serving styles to choose from. 

1. Plated Meal – Meals are portioned in the kitchen and served to seated guests.

2. Russian Style – Food is plattered and brought to the table by a server, who then serves portions of the entrée and sides to each guest table-side using a fork and spoon.

3. French Style – Food is plattered and brought to the table.  Guests serve themselves and pass the platter.  This can slow down the meal service as guests pick and choose what they’d like.

4. Family Style – Food is places in bowls and on platters in the middle of the table and guests help themselves.  This requires larger tables or fewer guests per table to create room.

5. Food Stations – Various themed stations are set up around the room and guests help themselves.  You might have a carving station, pasta station, cheese/fruit/cracker montage, salad station, etc.  These stations can be manned by servers or guests can help themselves to all but the carving station, which is obviously manned. 

6.  Buffet Style – Food is placed on buffet tables and guests line up to make their selections.  Either servers can serve the guests from the buffet or guests can serve themselves.

7. Passed hors d'oeuvres – guests are served by ever-moving servers.  This can offer a really elegant touch and provide a great solution for tight quarters.  They can keep bringing food until your guests are full.