servery

A servery is a workspace in which prepared foods are displayed and served to customers, often a room or counter area that forms a link between kitchen and dining space. In many cafeteria, hospital, school, or institutional settings, the servery functions as the primary point of service for meals.

It typically includes serving counters, display units for hot and cold foods, steam tables or bain-marie units, hot lamps, cold wells, beverage machines, condiment stations, sneeze guards, and sometimes a pass-through window to the kitchen. It may be designed with a single line or multiple stations for different food categories.

The servery is designed to facilitate efficient food service and traffic flow, with considerations for food safety, temperature control, and cleaning. In some facilities, it supports self-service lines; in others, meals are plated by staff behind the counter. Some settings have central servery areas serving multiple dining spaces, while others have satellite servery counters.

The term "servery" is primarily used in British and Commonwealth contexts and in some American institutions to refer to a service counter or room; it may be called a service counter, catering counter, or cafeteria servery in different regions.