Service Styles
In which style of service is food plated in the kitchen and brought directly to the guest?
American service
Which employee typically greets guests and manages seating arrangements?
Host or hostess
What does FOH stand for?
Front of house
What is the term for the arrangement of dishes, glassware, and silverware before a meal?
Table setting
A guest arrives at a restaurant and needs to be seated. Which employee should greet and direct the guest?
Host or hostess
In which style of service do guests typically serve themselves from a selection of foods arranged on a table or counter?
Buffet service
Who is primarily responsible for taking guest orders and delivering food?
Server
What does BOH stand for?
Back of house
What is the term for preparing a dining area with the supplies and equipment needed for service?
Mise en place
A restaurant serves guests by placing individual portions of food directly onto plates in the kitchen. Which service style is being used?
American service
In which style of service does a server present a platter of food and serve portions to guests at the table?
Russian service
Which employee assists with clearing tables, resetting them, and supporting servers?
Busser or dining room attendant
Name one example of a front-of-house position.
Server, host, bartender, or dining room attendant
Why should servers verify an order before submitting it to the kitchen?
To help prevent errors and ensure the guest receives the correct food.
A server realizes that the kitchen received an incorrect order. What should the server do?
Communicate the error to the kitchen promptly and follow the restaurant's procedures for correcting the order.
Which style of service commonly involves the host or server presenting food in serving dishes for guests to help themselves at the table?
English service
Who oversees dining room operations and helps ensure guests receive quality service?
Dining room manager or maître d'hôtel
Name one example of a back-of-house position.
Chef, cook, dishwasher, or kitchen prep worker
What should a server do if a guest reports a food allergy?
Communicate the allergy clearly to the appropriate kitchen staff, follow established food allergy procedures, and verify that the meal can be prepared safely.
A guest tells the server that they have a severe peanut allergy. The menu item appears to contain no peanuts. Should the server assume the meal is safe? Why or why not?
No. The server must verify ingredients and possible cross-contact risks with the kitchen and follow food allergy procedures.
Which elaborate style of service may involve preparing, finishing, or serving food tableside using specialized equipment?
French service
A guest has a concern about their dining experience that the server cannot resolve. Which employee would typically be responsible for addressing the concern and overseeing the service recovery?
Dining room manager
Why is communication between the FOH and BOH important in a restaurant?
It helps ensure accurate orders, timely service, food safety, and a positive guest experience.
Why is it important to follow consistent service procedures during a busy restaurant shift?
Consistent procedures support efficiency, accuracy, safety, and a positive guest experience.
A restaurant is experiencing delays because servers are not communicating guest orders and special requests clearly to the kitchen. Identify one change the restaurant could make and explain how it would improve service.
Answers may include using a standardized order-taking system, confirming special requests, improving communication procedures, or establishing a clear process for communicating allergies. The learner should explain how the change improves accuracy, efficiency, or safety.