Family Style
As the name suggests this is a relaxed style that most families will use on a regular basis.
The food is served in serving dishes and placed on the table where it is then served to each diner or they help themselves.
It is also ideal for an informal meal with friends.
Individually Plated
The food is plated in the kitchen before being presented to the diner, which allows the chef/cook total control over the presentation of the food on the plate.
Individually Plated Main Dish
Side Dishes Served Family Style
This allows the best of both worlds as there is control over the presentation of the main elements on the plate yet serving the side dishes family style gives a more relaxed and informal feel to the meal.
It also allows the diners to have as much or as little of the side dishes as they wish.
Buffet Style
This is one of the easiest ways to serve food to a large number of people.
The food is laid out in a separate serving area and the diners either help themselves or have the dishes served to them, or a combination of the two.
Silver Service
A method of serving that tends to be only used in restaurants or on more formal occasions.
Waiters and waitresses carry the food around the tables where a spoon and fork are usually used to serve the food to each individual diner.
This gives a more formal feel to the meal yet allows the diner to choose what food they want on their plates and also in the quantity that they would like.
The presentation of the food is dependent on the serving staff.
Individually Plated Main Dish
Side Dishes Served Silver Service
This is a more commonly used style than using silver service to serve all the food.
It gives the chef control over the presentation of the main elements of the dish yet combines formality and flexibility for the diners.
