Plated Service — Catering Glossary Definition

A catering format where each course is plated in the kitchen and served to seated guests.

Plated service is the fine-dining alternative to buffets — chefs plate each course in the kitchen and stewards deliver them to seated guests.

It's slower per-guest but higher on presentation. Sukhdev Caterers uses plated service for boardroom dinners, plated welcome courses at luxury weddings and 5-star hotel corporate events.