Dining spots that use the casual dining restaurant style provide complete table side service from their waiting staff.
Most food blogs and restaurant reviews tend to describe restaurant styles using terms like casual dining, bistro, or cafe. These are not just fancy words used to make an article about the different restaurants in the Philippines sound catchy. They are supposed to give us an insight of what type of restaurant it is, and what we can expect when we come and dine here.
Factors Affecting Restaurant Styles
There are a lot of different factors that determine a restaurant’s overall dining style. Some of these factors are:
- Menu style – How the different food items offered in the restaurant are presented to the diners for them to choose.
- Food service – How the diners place their order, receive their food, and pay for them.
- Dinnerware – This is pretty self-explanatory. It looks into what kind of dinnerware and utensils are used when dining in a restaurant.
Popular Restaurant Styles in the Philippines
Fast Food Restaurants
Fast food restaurants is one of the most common restaurant styles found in the Philippines. In this particular type of restaurant, speed is the most important factor, making this an ideal choice for those diners that are pressed for time. These restaurants use static menus—menus that are either laminated and hung overhead or printed on the walls—to make it easier for diners to see and choose what they would like to have. Although there are a lot of staff here, they would rarely serve you your food (unless you will need to wait for few minutes to get your order).
Fast Casual Dining Restaurants
Fast casual dining restaurants comes in between a fast food and a casual dining restaurant. Fast casual dining restaurants offer limited food service for the diners, often the food is served by the waiting staff after the customer puts their order and pays for it at the counter. Many of these fast casual dining restaurants have an open kitchen where diners can watch as their meals are being prepared.
Casual Style Dining
Casual style dining restaurants provide full table service to their customers. As soon as they are seated, each customer is given an a la carte menu where they can choose their order. The waiting staff takes their order by their table, serves the meals to the customers, and send them the bill after they have finished eating right on their table so that they will not have to go to the counter.
Casual style dining restaurants have a lot of variations, depending on what the owners see as the most appealing to their customers. In addition to their a la carte menu, some casual dining restaurants also offer set menus and buffet-style dining options. Wine and alcoholic beverages are available here, but they are rather limited.
Cafeteria Restaurant Styles
Of all the different types of restaurant styles in the Philippines, this is the most common and most popular. They can be found literally everywhere, from hospitals and shopping mall food courts to makeshift stalls found along the streets of Metro Manila. Here, the customers choose from a selection of ready-cooked food that have been prepared and displayed in a row. Just like fast casual restaurants, cafeteria restaurants rarely provide any table service. Portions that are served here are good for one person.
Fine Dining Restaurants
Fine dining restaurants are usually equated with one word: expensive. While that may be true, that is not the only thing that you can expect from restaurants that use this dining style. For starters, the waiting staff here are dressed in formal attire, and do more than just take your order and serve your food. Waiters in fine dining restaurants have been trained to give diners suggestions and recommendations based on what they want. Diners also use fine dinnerware, silverware and crystal glasses. The menu in fine dining restaurants change every once in a while, depending on the chef creating the dishes. Among all the different restaurant styles, this is the only one where diners are expected to follow a strict dress code, and observe proper dining etiquette.
Common Restaurant Styles in the Philippines,
About Adeline Yuboco
I`ll never try philippines food but I think I will some time when I go on tour on the world
and I think that will be so soon.
Be sure to check out hcgpelletsvsdrops’s most recent post…HCG Ban
Twitter: SusanPCooper
says:
I have not had much Philippine food but would love to give it a try. I found it interesting that even in a fast food restaurant they would prefer to serve you (bring your order to the table). How cool is that.
Be sure to check out Susan Cooper’s most recent post…Trip To France: Mouton Cadet Bordeaux 2009: Wine
I like how you categorized the different restaurant styles because I used to think its just fast food, casual and formal. It’s also good to note that the Philippines has carideria approach compared to other countries.
Be sure to check out Franc Ramon’s most recent post…Chaos in Nowhere Kingdom
Thanks so much, Franc!
This just remind me of how I miss the foods there. I can only taste them once a year when we have our vacation.
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Twitter: TeachersPen
says:
I’ve already missed the food in the Philippines and for me, nothing beats Filipino food. And one more good thing is the best quality that Filipinos have with regard to work performance.
Be sure to check out Robi’s most recent post…When a Period Ticked the Teacher Off
I agree, Robi.
Twitter: gilvibrations
says:
Now the resto owners, the bloggers or those in-charged for the review on resto have the idea on what to promote based on the styles you’ve mentioned: Menu style, Food Service, and Dinnerware. Presto! They’ve got it!
Be sure to check out Gil Camporazo’s most recent post…Tubtub sa Kamatayon ang Dumot
Thanks Gil!
Twitter: gilvibrations
says:
You’re welcome. As a resto enterprenuer these styles you mentioned should be given priority or be emphasized. And that kind of approach is strongly advisable.
Be sure to check out Gil Camporazo’s most recent post…Panie Birthday Wish
this is a good description of each type, a good learning especially to those not of our country… so they’ll have the idea. Filipino food’s one of the best by the way… Yahweh bless.
Be sure to check out ralph’s most recent post…Looking For A Durable Fence
I agree with your post. I have been doing a lot of food and restaurant reviews and they all seems to be a like specially those restaurants serving Filipino dishes. I would not disagree because this made Filipino customers coming back and foreign customers to be curious and check out the place and food.
Be sure to check out Ness’s most recent post…Antonio’s Bibingka and Coffee
i love eating in a fine dining restaurant, aside from the serene ambiance, good food are really served at its best, though we only do fine dining during special occasions because it is expensive hehe
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Twitter: bloggerbark
says:
for me… i am more of a casual diner… but i love fast food every now and then… i least like cafeteria and fine dining… coz no matter how yummy the food is… the ambiance is important… and for me the more comfortable i can eat, the better
Be sure to check out Koko’s most recent post…On Losing your Furry Buddy
The information you provided here should make clear to everyone the options available in restaurant operation, especially for those seriously considering entering the business. Thumbs up for quality information.
Be sure to check out Teresa Martinez’s most recent post…Children of my Children
Thanks so much for the compliment, Teresa. Glad you liked the post.
Twitter: classic_trish
says:
Interesting! It’s the first time I’ve heard of Fast Casual and Casual Style. I’m just used to fast food restaurants because of my 3 kids–you know their ever-favorite Jollibee. Lol! Learned something new today–thanks!
Be sure to check out Trish’s most recent post…ZALORA Giveaway from One Hyundai Club Life in Style
Twitter: bxunet
says:
Depending on the situation but most of the time I prefer fast food as I am always on a hurry
Good post by the way Adeline
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i like the cafeteria type. they always have that personal touch to the food they serve and you can monitor the servings
i also prefer the “turo-turo” style. although one has to be vigilant of the preparation of the food and the surroundings as well
Actually, the cafeteria style and the turo-turo style are very much the same thing. The only difference is that some restaurants that use this style also provide a static menu board that they usually have either printed or hung on the walls.
Because of this blog post, more and more readers will be informed how define one from the other
I can still recall when resto styles are taught in my college years. It is good that you know how to differentiate them.
Thanks so much for the compliment, Yani!
proud of you adel, great job….
by the way , can you hook me up with some hotel promos…. like how to avail those vip cards…etc…thanks
Thanks so much, Eric! I’ll look into it, and let you know.
Twitter: MommyRossel
says:
The cafeteria restaurant style is what make us unique from the rest of the world.
Food is the center of our social functions and it’s good that we have plenty of choices…from cafeteria to fine dining. Thanks for the good post.
Thanks for dropping by, Rossel! Actually, the cafeteria style dining is pretty much used all over the world. I’m guessing because it’s such a quick and convenient way both for the owners of the restaurants and the diners.
Twitter: m4bmarketing
says:
I like these descriptions Adeline as it makes it simple for people to know what to expect which would save so much time. It is a better way i believe than the 2 or 3 star versions which i see in my country.
I like eating in fine dining restaurants but it’s true that they are expensive. But it wouldn’t hurt to give in to such pleasures from time to time, right?
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Of course, Che! I actually treat myself to a fine dining restaurant once a month. It’s my way of telling myself “job well done” for the month. We all deserve a bit of pampering and spoiling now and then. Thanks for dropping by.
Twitter: jepaladino
says:
Adeline — basically these categories sound very much like our restaurant styles in the U.S. We also have a tremendous variety of ethnic food restaurants in the U.S. Is that common in the Philippines, too?
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Twitter: curtbizelli
says:
This is REALLY cool. I’ve never had anybody explain the different types of restaurants to me. We’re getting ready to publish an article on the Phills. Be sure to check it out, and btw: WOW: Dinnerware? I didn’t know that mattered so much.
Blessings Tribe Mate, CBiz
Be sure to check out Curt Bizelli’s most recent post…Vazquez Sounds = Youtube Sensation, Talented-Family-Trio Destined For Stardom
Thanks so much for dropping by, Curt. Yes, it does. Usually, the more formal the dinnerware and place settings are, the more formal the dining style is used in particular restaurant.
Do let me know when the article about the Phils will come out. I can’t wait to read it.
Twitter: curtbizelli
says:
Hi Adeline – Thank you for your interest in our article.
As much as I don’t like to include links in the comment section in an effort to reduce spam, you did request this, so here it is. 
I hope you enjoy. God bless! CBiz
Philippines – Top Christian Country in Asia http://whenmagazine.com/2012/08/25/philippines-top-christian-country-asia/ via @whenmag
Be sure to check out Curt Bizelli’s most recent post…Philippines – Top Christian Country in Asia
Not a problem at all. I’ll check out the article right now.
Looks like you made a good list of restaurant styles. I think these also can be applied to other countries even on 1st world countries. I’ve never really thought of the other kinds but I’ve always categorized them as either fast food or fine dining.
Thanks so much, James.