Establishments and Levels of Service
The hospitality industry is comprised of establishments such as restaurants, cafes, canteens, bistros, fast food and takeaway stores, each has different types and styles of food as well as different levels of service. These establishments are providing a service to customers by preparing, cooking and serving food.
Formal and Buffet Service
In the past, tables at home and in restaurants were set in a formal style. Tables would be set with appropriate cutlery and glassware and menu courses would be individually presented to each diner.
Today while formal service is still used by many households at dinner time and in many resaurants, less formal service is commonly used at home and by many food service providers.
Many food service providers, particularly caterers and bistros, have trended towards using buffet service, particularly when catering for large Australian families and many food service providers, such as caterers and bistros, commonly use buffet service, particularly when serving large numbers. This type of service- prepared foods are set on a table and guests help themselves- is casual and relatively easy to set up.
Reading: Basic rules of Food and Beverage Service
Reading: Types of buffet service
Takeaway Service:
Takeaway establishments offer quick service of food purchased at a restaurant for the purpose of being eaten elsewhere. Foam food containers are most commonly used, but paper, cardboard, and plastic containers may be used to transport the food.The restaurant may or may not provide a seating area, but may have drive through facilities or home delivery services. Take-out is usually cheaper than table service for the same dishes.
Most takeaway outlets are located at convenient locations near workplaces and entertainment venues, in shopping centres and even in service stations. many restaurants and cafes also offer takeaway and home delivery services.
Take-out food is often recognized as fast food, but it is not always so. Whereas fast food carries the connotation of a standardized product from a globalized chain or franchise, take-away outlets are small businesses serving traditional food. Examples include neighborhood fish and chip shop, sandwiches sold by delicatessen, kebabs, Chinese stir fry with rice, mexican tacos or burritos and sushi roll snacks.
Dining Out
Cafes have become popular in Australia as they offer casual dining where a customer can enjoy a cup of coffee and a sweet or light meal. Like its European counterpart, the cafe has become a social meeting place, with many located near workplaces and entertainment venues and in shopping centres. Cafes operate long hours. Many open early to cater for breakfast and stay open until late in the evening. Most offer 'Modern Australian' menus- Modern versions of Australian classics- as well as dishes from a variety of other cultures.
Casual dining restaurants are reasonably priced and accessible, often with no booking required. The bistro is another popular dining venue. Often located in clubs and pubs, bistros offer a variety of food choices and relaxed, inexpensive dining.
Restaurants have also increased in number and variety in Australia. A la Carte restaurants provide menus consisting of several courses, the customer can choose the amount of dishes they want to order from this menu. In many suburbs and towns, the main streets, which were once designed for shopping, now house a string of dining establishments. many of these dining venues also offer alfresco dining, where customers can enjoy eating outdoors.
Formal and Buffet Service
In the past, tables at home and in restaurants were set in a formal style. Tables would be set with appropriate cutlery and glassware and menu courses would be individually presented to each diner.
Today while formal service is still used by many households at dinner time and in many resaurants, less formal service is commonly used at home and by many food service providers.
Many food service providers, particularly caterers and bistros, have trended towards using buffet service, particularly when catering for large Australian families and many food service providers, such as caterers and bistros, commonly use buffet service, particularly when serving large numbers. This type of service- prepared foods are set on a table and guests help themselves- is casual and relatively easy to set up.
Reading: Basic rules of Food and Beverage Service
Reading: Types of buffet service
Takeaway Service:
Takeaway establishments offer quick service of food purchased at a restaurant for the purpose of being eaten elsewhere. Foam food containers are most commonly used, but paper, cardboard, and plastic containers may be used to transport the food.The restaurant may or may not provide a seating area, but may have drive through facilities or home delivery services. Take-out is usually cheaper than table service for the same dishes.
Most takeaway outlets are located at convenient locations near workplaces and entertainment venues, in shopping centres and even in service stations. many restaurants and cafes also offer takeaway and home delivery services.
Take-out food is often recognized as fast food, but it is not always so. Whereas fast food carries the connotation of a standardized product from a globalized chain or franchise, take-away outlets are small businesses serving traditional food. Examples include neighborhood fish and chip shop, sandwiches sold by delicatessen, kebabs, Chinese stir fry with rice, mexican tacos or burritos and sushi roll snacks.
Dining Out
Cafes have become popular in Australia as they offer casual dining where a customer can enjoy a cup of coffee and a sweet or light meal. Like its European counterpart, the cafe has become a social meeting place, with many located near workplaces and entertainment venues and in shopping centres. Cafes operate long hours. Many open early to cater for breakfast and stay open until late in the evening. Most offer 'Modern Australian' menus- Modern versions of Australian classics- as well as dishes from a variety of other cultures.
Casual dining restaurants are reasonably priced and accessible, often with no booking required. The bistro is another popular dining venue. Often located in clubs and pubs, bistros offer a variety of food choices and relaxed, inexpensive dining.
Restaurants have also increased in number and variety in Australia. A la Carte restaurants provide menus consisting of several courses, the customer can choose the amount of dishes they want to order from this menu. In many suburbs and towns, the main streets, which were once designed for shopping, now house a string of dining establishments. many of these dining venues also offer alfresco dining, where customers can enjoy eating outdoors.
Task 1
1. State the type of customer groups that would eat at the following types of establishments, explain the reason why.
2. Write on our class blog: Discussion 4. Name your favourite eating establishment, why is it such a good venue?
- A fine dining restaurant - Wealthy people, special occasions (birthdays or anniversaries)
- A takeaway fish and chip shop - Families, friends, picnics
- A buffet in the local RSL Club - Family dinner, catch up with friends, casual meal
2. Write on our class blog: Discussion 4. Name your favourite eating establishment, why is it such a good venue?
Task 2
Look at the slide show below
1. For each image identify what type of menu is shown and state the type of establishment that the menu would be found in.
1. Restaurant style all day breakfast
2. All day dining fish and chips
1. For each image identify what type of menu is shown and state the type of establishment that the menu would be found in.
- A la Carte breakfast menu, would be used in a cafe or hotel serving breakfast.
- A take away Cantonese lunch/ dinner menu
- Appetiser/ Entre menu
- Indian Buffet lunch menu
1. Restaurant style all day breakfast
2. All day dining fish and chips