Types of Food Service
Types of Food Service
Types of Food Service
What is Foodservice?
• A food and beverage business prepares,
packages, serves, and sells or provides food
for people to eat.
• These are also referred to as foodservice.
• Foodservice can be large or small.
• They can be found in hotels, cruise ships,
schools, hospitals, airlines, trains, and even
employee cafeterias.
Ways to Categorize Foodservice
• Customers often categorize foodservice by:
– Price
– Self Service versus Sit Down
• The industry categorizes foodservice by:
– Commercial
– Institutional
– Foodservice within a consumer business
Commercial Foodservice
• Consists of food and beverage businesses that
compete for customers
– Olive Garden, McDonalds, Dunkin’ Donuts, Chilis,
On the Border, etc.
• Can be categorized by:
– Quick Service
– Full Service
– Catering
– Hotel and Club
Quick Service
• Quick service restaurants provide customers
with convenience, speed, and basic services at
lower prices.
• Customers usually help themselves and carry
their own food to their tables.
• They have fewer employees than other
restaurants.
Quick Service
• Fast food restaurants generally have a counter
where you place your order, pay for it, wait for it,
pick it up, and either take it with you or carry it
back to your table. Many have drive through
service as well. Menu items can be prepared in
3-5 minutes and most have smaller dining rooms.
• Cafeterias are food services where food is
displayed along a counter or serving line.
Customers walk along the line and ask the server
to serve them and then they carry their tray to
the table.
Quick Service
• Buffets consist of food displayed on tables.
Servers keep displays stocked with food and
customers walk around and serve themselves,
then take their food to the table.
• Carryout restaurants specialize in preparing
food for customers to take with them to eat
home or elsewhere. They may provide very
little seating. These include delicatessens,
grocery stores, and pizza places.
Full Service