Chapter 4 Th e World of Food and Beverages 61
Cafeterias
A cafeteria is foodservice in which the food is
displayed along a counter called a serving line. The
customers take trays and walk along the serving
line, where servers are stationed. When they see
a food they want, they ask the server, who serves
them the food, 4-2. The customer then puts the
dishes on the tray and takes it to a table. A cafete-
ria is not all-you-care-to-eat. Cafeterias are often
large and capable of serving many customers at
once. There is little or no table service. This type of
foodservice is very common in schools and hospi-
tals, but there are some commercial cafeterias.
Buffets
A buffet consists of food displayed on tables.
Servers keep the displays of food stocked with
food items. Customers walk around and serve
themselves. They then take their food to their table.
Sometimes servers will serve coffee and beverages
and remove dirty dishes. Most buffets are all-you-
care-to-eat. Buffets are often large and capable of
serving many customers at once.
Carryout Restaurants
A carryout restaurant specializes in prepar-
ing food for customers to take with them to eat at
home or elsewhere, 4-3. Carryout restaurants may
provide some seating, but the major focus is food
to carry out. Some carryout restaurants also offer
delivery services. Delicatessens, grocery stores,
and some full-service restaurants provide carry-
out meals. Often these meals are higher in quality
than the typical meal at a fast-food restaurant. The
restaurants are usually located in cities where peo-
ple work long hours and have little time to cook.
The restaurants make eating at home convenient
because the food is already prepared. Some gro-
cery stores also specialize in carryout foods.
Full-Service Restaurants
A full-service restaurant is a restaurant in
which customers sit at a table and give their or-
ders to a server, who brings their food to the table.
There are many kinds and varieties of full-service
restaurants. Some have quick-service features
such as carryout service and drive-through win-
dows. Others offer buffet service at specifi c meals,
such as Sunday brunch. However, the major fea-
ture of a full-service restaurant is table service—
food brought to the customer at a table. The two
major categories of full-service restaurants are fi ne
dining and casual.
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4-2
Cafeterias have food arranged along a
serving line.
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4-3
Many carryout restaurants offer carry out
and delivery services. Why is this a popular trend
with today’s conusmers?