Table Service: American Service, Silver/English service, French Service, Russian, Gueridon Service

Summary

This video script explores various types of table service in restaurants, starting with the standard table service where guests are seated and served food on a laid table. It then delves into American Service, characterized by pre-plated meals, ideal for coffee shops and small eateries. Silver Service is highlighted next, featuring a more interactive dining experience with food served from platters. French Service, the most sophisticated, involves tableside cooking, while Russian Service emphasizes sequential course serving. The script is an informative guide for those interested in the art of dining services.

Takeaways

• 🍽️ Table service in restaurants involves seating guests, presenting menus, taking orders, and serving food at a laid table with necessary cutlery and crockery.
• 🇺🇸 American Service is a fast and simple method where food is pre-plated in the kitchen and served directly to guests, suitable for coffee shops and small restaurants.
• 🍽️ Silver Service, also known as 'Platter to Plate' or 'Host Service', involves presenting food on a platter for approval, then serving it onto guests' plates with the use of utensils.
• 🏵️ Traditional Silver Service uses silverware, but modern variations may use stainless steel or other materials, and is popular for family dining or special events.
• 🇫🇷 French Service is a sophisticated and personalized style where food is partially prepared and finished tableside, often involving a gueridon trolley for cooking or assembling.
• 🔥 Cart Style French Service features flambe dishes and cold food assembly at the table, with the server using a trolley to cook and serve food right in front of guests.
• 🍽️ Banquet Style French Service uses large trays or platters prepared in the kitchen, served by a skilled server using two silver forks.
• 🇷🇺 Russian Service is similar to French but serves courses sequentially, with food portioned by the waiter, either at a sideboard or in the kitchen, and is common in banquet settings.
• 🍽️ The use of a gueridon trolley in Russian Service allows for food to be portioned and carved in front of guests, making it interactive and visually appealing.
• 👨‍🍳 French and Russian services require highly experienced and trained servers due to the complexities and presentation aspects of these table service styles.
• 📺 The video by Naveen Chahal on Hospitality Broadcast provides an informative overview of different types of table services, catering to various dining preferences and occasions.

Q & A

What is the basic process of table service in a restaurant?

In a restaurant offering table service, a guest is seated, a menu is presented, the waiter takes the order, and then the food is served on the table.

What does 'laid table' mean in the context of table service?

A 'laid table' refers to a table that is set with all the necessary cutlery, crockery, glassware, etc., required for eating.

What is American Service in a restaurant setting?

American Service involves food being prepared and plated in the kitchen with predetermined portion sizes and accompaniments. The server then brings the pre-plated food to the guest's table, also known as Pre-plated or plate service.

Why is American Service preferred in coffee shops and small restaurants?

American Service is preferred for its simplicity and speed, requiring fewer dishes for serving food on the guest's table.

How is Silver Service different from American Service?

In Silver Service, food is brought in a platter, presented to the host for approval, and then served onto guest plates either by the host or the server using specific utensils.

What is the significance of the term 'Platter to Plate' in Silver Service?

The term 'Platter to Plate' signifies that the food is transferred from a platter to each guest's plate on the table, using utensils by the server or the host.

Why is Silver Service also called 'Host Service'?

It is called 'Host Service' because the host plays an active role in ordering, approving, and portioning the food served to the guests.

What is French Service and how is it different from other types of table service?

French Service is a sophisticated and personalized service where unprepared or partially prepared food is brought to the table and cooking is completed tableside, often on a cart. It can be done in Cart Style or Banquet Style French Service.

What is the role of a gueridon trolley in Cart Style French Service?

In Cart Style French Service, a gueridon trolley, equipped with a small gas cylinder and burners, is used to cook or reheat food right at the guest's table, making it a central part of the service.

What is the difference between French Service and Russian Service?

While French Service involves bringing food out all at once, Russian Service brings courses sequentially, with food portioned on the plate by the waiter before being served.

Why is Russian Service still preferred in certain banquet functions?

Russian Service is preferred in banquet functions for its efficiency in serving large groups, where food is portioned and carved by the waiter in view of the guests, reducing the number of dishes and accompaniments at a time.