At Your Service: A Hands-On Guide to the Professional Dining Room [Paperback]

Culinary Institute of America (Author), John W. Fischer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764557475 | ISBN-13: 978-0764557477 | Publication Date: September 9, 2005 | Edition: 2

"The nation's most influential training school for professional cooks."
–Time magazine

The essential guide to the exemplary service and hospitality that build customer loyalty...and restaurant reputations

In today's competitive restaurant environment, culinary excellence is not enough. Dining establishments must offer the kind of service that sets them apart. From the renowned Culinary Institute of America, At Your Service is the comprehensive, contemporary guide to help professionals learn the ins and outs of running a successful front-of-the-house operation: taking reservations and greeting guests, basic service, table-side service, beverage service, and money handling.

The book includes:

• Guidelines to enhance service in a variety of settings, from formal French establishments to casual American restaurants
• Sidebars and real-life anecdotes from industry professionals to reinforce the principles of good service
• Effective ways to address staffing challenges Ideas to enhance the relationship between the front and back of the house
• Sixty-four photographs of dining room service and techniques

Founded in 1946, THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA is an independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. Courses for foodservice professionals are offered at the college's main campus in Hyde Park, New York, and at its additional campus for continuing education, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, in St. Helena, California.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"The nation's most influential training school for professional cooks."
—Time magazine

The essential guide to the exemplary service and hospitality that build customer loyalty . . . and restaurant reputations

In today's competitive restaurant environment, culinary excellence is not enough. Dining establishments must offer the kind of service that sets them apart. From the renowned Culinary Institute of America, At Your Service is the comprehensive, contemporary guide to help professionals learn the ins and outs of running a successful front-of-the-house operation: taking reservations and greeting guests, basic service, table-side service, beverage service, and money handling. The book includes:

• Guidelines to enhance service in a variety of settings, from formal French establishments to casual American restaurants
• Sidebars and real-life anecdotes from industry professionals to reinforce the principles of good service
• Effective ways to address staffing challenges
• Ideas to enhance the relationship between the front and back of the house
• Sixty-four photographs of dining room service and techniques

Founded in 1946, THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA is an independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. Courses for foodservice professionals are offered at the college's main campus in Hyde Park, New York, and at its additional campus for continuing education, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, in St. Helena, California.

About the Author

JOHN W. FISCHER teaches advanced table service at The Culinary Institute of America and is a Certified Hospitality Educator (C.H.E). A CIA graduate, Mr. Fischer held managerial positions at renowned New York City restaurants such as Rainbow!, Fresco by Scotto, Manhattan Ocean Club, Campagna, Hudson River Club, and Mondrian.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (September 9, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764557475
• ISBN-13: 978-0764557477
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,163 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Professional Cooking > Professional
  • #59 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Customer Service
  • #79 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Hospitality, Travel & Tourism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move over remarkable service., October 11, 2005

By 

Silly Willie "William Morgan" (Philadelphi, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At Your Service: A Hands-On Guide to the Professional Dining Room (Paperback)

I attended the Culinary Institute of America and was trained by Mr. Fischer. I cannot imagine a single resource that does so much to demistify the key essentials of successful service than this reference. I recommend it to anyone in the industry or interested in the industry. The old standard (the bible until now) for front of the house reference has been remarkable service. An information filled text-book but a remarkably boring and mundane read. Entertaining, Original, Insightful, and Educational this is your one stop reading for front of the house.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, February 2, 2006

By 

Guy T. Anderson (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: At Your Service: A Hands-On Guide to the Professional Dining Room (Paperback)

I was trained by the author John Fischer at the CIA. He is an excellent teacher of the FoH Art. It is truely an art to wait on people and give the guest every thing they could possibly want or need. John is a great and excellent teacher that dove into the realms of the ways and hows and whats to do and when to do it sequences. I got to see him in action behind a bar one afternoon serving up as the bartender that did not show that day. He was knowledgable about wines and bar drinks showing some razzle dazzle! He was "the man" when I had him. Thanks John and for even signing my book...guy

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good for those born the morning they are scheduled to work in a restaurant., February 23, 2010

By 

C. Blaisdell (Salt Lake City, UT, US) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: At Your Service: A Hands-On Guide to the Professional Dining Room (Paperback)

Wow. I have worked in the service industry since age 13, and 99% of the information this book contains is pure common sense. I was recently hired at the finest of fine dining restaurants and wanted a resource for very high-end technical service procedures. This was a poor choice. I did find the chapter on tableside service slightly enlightening, but only slightly, it too was overly dumbed-down. The random use of a highlighter by a previous owner added a bit of amusement to my reading experience. If you have any experience in a dining room whatsoever, an average amount of common sense and a functioning brain then this book is not for you. If, however, you are painfully incompetent and have no critical thinking skills, this book might be helpful to you. People who need this as a resource genuinely have no place in the dining room.