Etiquette and Food Service

With “Butler Service,” a diner helps himself or herself from a serving platter or plate, held by the butler or waiter.

Silver Service (in British English) or Service à l’Anglaise (French for “English Service”) is a method of serving food that normally will include serving food at the table. It is a method of transferring food from the service dish to a guest's plate from the left. It is performed by a waiter by using service forks and spoons from a diner’s left hand side.

Butler Service or Service à la Française (“French Service”) a diner helps himself from a serving plate held by the waiter or the butler. Traditionally, this type of service was used on Sunday evenings, when the wait staff had the evening off and the butler help serve the dinner.

Russian Service or Service à la Russe, is at once the simplest and most elegant manner when guests are present, as it is only necessary to pass the dishes of each course in rotation, beginning alternately at the right and the left of the guest.

Buffet Service is when the food is placed and displayed on a separate table or sideboard, in a public area, from which diners help serve themselves to the food, before being seated at a dining table to eat. “Buffet Service” comes from the least humble of beginnings in 18th century Europe, when chefs and confectioners wanted to impress those coming to balls and parties in grand homes, upon their arrival. Foods designed to impress were laid out for guests to feast their eyes on, prior to dining. 

Family Service dining, also known as “Homestyle Service” or “Casual Service” is the least formal style of dining.  Popular in private homes worldwide, food is placed on the table in large serving dishes from which diners serve themselves.

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia