What is the role of a waiter in silver service?

In silver service, the role of a waiter involves serving food directly from a platter onto the guests' plates. This style emphasizes a high level of service and presentation, where the waiter is actively engaged with the diners, using serving utensils to dish out portions in front of them. It creates a more personalized dining experience, allowing the server to maintain interactions with guests while controlling portion sizes and presentation.

Delivering pre-plated meals signifies a different technique, often associated with less formal dining settings and does not involve the engagement characteristic of silver service. Serving from the kitchen typically means bringing dishes out on trays without the direct serving interaction. Setting tables for self-service contrasts with silver service by focusing on preparation rather than active serving, reflecting a different dining approach.