What is Banquet Service: 6 Types of Banquet Service

What is Banquet Service

Banquet service is a range of service styles for large catered events, such as weddings, award ceremonies, charity dinners, and sports team banquets. Banquet-style service may feature plated food, buffet or food stations, or passed hors d’oeuvres.

The banquet style of service is typically nothing more than a more elaborate meal due to the scope of the event or the size of the crowd present. Logistically, since a conference room is full of people around a standard dining room table, banquet service fits the bill.

It includes anything from a simple snack service to a state banquet and from a small birthday party to a grand trade exhibition. The functions may be organized either within the premises of the hotel or outside, according to the host’s wish.

This service style can be as varied as the style of the event and usually, this type of service style is somewhat decided by the extent of the event, menu, and crowd. Sometimes it depends on the size of the event or the menu itself.

What are the Types of Banquet Service

These are different styles of banquet service in the hotel:

1. Buffet Service

Buffet service is very common in events with large numbers of attendees. Guests serve themselves, which allows for convenience in choosing what an individual wants to eat.

Beverages are typically delivered and refilled by attendants. Guests pass through a buffet line that features food choices on tables separate from the seating area.

2. Reception Service

Food and appetizers are presented in a buffet-style arrangement where guests can serve themselves. These are gatherings where people mill around the room while eating and chatting.

3. Plated Service

In this banquet service type, guests are seated and servers bring food already portioned onto plates directly from the kitchen. This is the most efficient type of banquet service and also the least expensive.

Style at formal events such as weddings, where guests have been asked their choice of protein, and plates are assembled and sorted by those requests.

4. Family Style Service

Common internationally, Family-style service features seated guests with large quantities of food in plates or bowls brought from the kitchen and placed at the table.

Formal events such as weddings, where guests have been asked their choice of protein, and plates are assembled and sorted by those requests.

5. Cafeteria Style Service

Cafeteria-style banquet service is very similar to a buffet, where guests stand in line to choose their food.

However, in cafeteria service, workers or servers dish food from the buffet. It helps control costs since workers have control over portion size.

6. Preset Service

An event and the food are already on the table. This is frequently seen with items such as bread rolls, desserts, salads, and beverages.

Banquet Service Procedures

Some types of service methods in banquets are the following:

  • Host’s wish.
  • Time available for service.
  • Type of function.
  • Service skill.
  • Several people were to be served.
  • Service equipment available.

Also read: 7 Best Event Management Online Courses with Certificates

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Dipayan Mondal
Dipayan Mondal

Dipayan is the author of this blog. He completed his hotel management degree from GNIHM, Kolkata. And he is very passionate about the hospitality industry. And right now, he is working as a successful hotelier in a 5-star hotel.