Food And Beverage Outlets

Food And Beverage Outlets 

       An outlet is a point of sale of Food and Beverage item. Food and Beverage outlets alter depending upon the size of hotel, the number of rooms, types of the menu offered and the standard of customers 'expectation. some of the different types of Food and Beverage Outlets are:

1. Coffee Shops: These are basically 24 hour restaurants, serving snacks and beverage throughout the night. Customer can readily get meals in these types of restaurants even long after the other outlets in the area are closed. Some coffee shops may serve Bistro(light meals) and buffets. The service is mostly pre-plated, fast and comes in moderate rates.
2. Specialty Restaurants: Such restaurants deal with a particular theme or cuisine and are mostly open at meal times only. The services is elaborated, decor is extensive, and the rates are considerably higher than the other outlets.
3. Barbecue Restaurants: In French, "barbe" means "beard" and the "queue" means 'tail'. In ancient French cooking whole animal is hung and roasted in touch of live charcoal. The smoke coming out of the dropped-juices from the animal in live charcoal would give an authenticity to this type of cooking. this tradition is still alive in most of the barbecue resets on grill bars and griddles with small joints of meat. Barbecue restaurants are generally located near swimming pool which acts as an extra dining attention to the guests. The service is generally informal which requires less time and effort.
4. Multi Cuisine Restaurants:    Basically found in medium and budget hotels where there is no need to have many restaurants. One restaurant serves all meals and different cuisine. However, they may have different timings for meals and snacks. Service depends on the menu and the rates are moderate.
5. Room Service: Room Service refers to the service of food and beverage items in guest rooms. Star hotels have round the clock room service facility. Room service menu is the simplified version of a coffee shop menu and is priced slightly higher because the service in rooms need extra efforts,manpower and equipments. Clearance is another important aspect of room service. All trolleys and trays after the  guests use are cleared immediately.
6.  Banquets/Hall: Banquet is the word derived from a French word "banque" which means 'mass or gathering.' Banquets are as old as history and the stories about older times are full of references to various feasts held in honor of the visiting guests or monarchs. Banquet is responsible for handing all type of function like lunch, dinner, conferences, cocktail receptions, wedding parties, dinner dances, formal sit-down and state banquets. The menu offer is table d'hote, service is varied and the price depends upon the type of customer, menu items and the type of function.
7. Bar: These are specialized outlets serving all types of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages with light snacks. Most of the bars are expensive as they focus on the niche customers having disposable money for drinks. Service can be elaborated depending on the category of the bar. There are normally two kinds of bars practiced in hotels. One is public and the other is the service or dispense bar. The public bar serves customers, whether residents or non-residents. Cocktail snacks may also be served here. The service of the dispense bar includes other outlets of the same hotel such as coffee shop, banquets, room service, etc. Students should not be confused when they encounter the word Mini bar. Mini bar is just a facility given in guest rooms by providing small refrigerator with some beverages on payment basis.
8. Pub: Pub is the word that signifies the public houses. A pub is defined as an establishment that serves alcoholic beverage for consumption on the premises, especially in Britain. Latest trend is developed to have a discotheque along with the Pub, which serves only beer and some non-alcoholic beverages with limited finger snacks. Pub is considered as meeting place for youngsters.
9. Pastry/Bakery Shops: Pastry and confectionery shops are the take-away type of outlets specializing in pastry, confectionery and bakery. Service is fast and most of the pastry and confectionery  shops now sell out pastries with tea/coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages.
10. Fast Food Outlets: Fast Food outlets deal with convenient food items which generally take less time to prepare. Fast food is operated with the concept of "help yourself". The rates are moderate as the cost of serving manpower is considerably less.
11. Night Clubs/Discotheque: A private club which offers music, dance and cabarets only at night has full-staff-strength and serves extensive A la carte menu along with beverages.
12.  Cafeteria/Canteens: These are self-service full meal outlets, operated within big industries, schools, hostels, hospitals. The menu offered is cyclic and the price range is very reasonable.
13. Cafeteria/Cafe: Serves snacks and coffee, mostly operated a 24 hour and has minimum staff strength.

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