The food server may have forgotten to bring
your beverage. Perhaps your salad has the
wrong dressing on it. If you have a problem,
quietly ask your server to correct it. Try not
to disturb other diners. If the food server
isn’t able to correct the problem, ask to see
the manager. In most cases, the restaurant
staff will do their best to be sure you enjoy
your meal.
Types of Restaurants
There are many different types of res-
taurants. They range from casual to formal.
Some have fancy decorations. Others are
plain. Some feature a wide variety of foods.
Others have a limited menu. Some are
inexpensive. Others are very costly.
Fast-food restaurants offer quick service
at fairly low prices. There are several
reasons why service is fast. One reason is
that the menu choices are limited and many
foods are fried. Frying cooks foods quickly.
Another reason is that fast-food restaurants
are self-service. Customers place their
order, pay, receive their food, and carry the
food to a table or take it out, 14-15. When
they finish eating, customers dispose of
their trash and leave. Self-service helps
to keep prices low. The large volume of
food these restaurants sell also helps keep
prices low. Fast-food restaurants don’t have
table service, so tipping isn’t necessary.
Cafeterias display a wide variety of
prepared foods along a serving line. Cus-
tomers select the foods and beverages they
want and place them on their trays. Each
food is served in individual portions and
priced separately. Customers pay for their
food at the end of the serving line. Then,
the food is carried to a table and eaten.
In some cafeterias, the customer takes
the dirty dishes to a central cleaning area.
In others, restaurant staff clear the table.
Cafeterias, like fast-food restaurants, have
fairly low prices. The service is fast be-
cause the foods are prepared in advance.
Cafeterias usually don’t have servers who
deliver food to your table, but restaurant
staff may refill coffee and tea and clear dirty
dishes. If so, a tip of about 10 percent of the
food bill is appropriate.
Full-service restaurants have table
service. In some full-service restaurants,
diners seat themselves. In others, a host
takes diners to a table. When seated, diners
are given menus. After a few minutes, a
food server comes to the table and takes
the diners’ orders. Foods are served in
courses in many full-service restaurants.
Appetizers are served first. Salad comes
next. Then comes the entree. Dessert is
served last. Beverages often are brought
to the table after the order is placed.
14-15
Fast-food restaurants offer quick Fast-food restaurants offer quick
service. service.
278 Adventures in Food and Nutrition
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.