How does self-service work in a cafeteria?

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restaurant Cooks preparing pizzas at a restaurant in Rome, Italy.

In a cafeteria, the self-service model is designed for efficiency and speed. Customers navigate an open-counter display to select their preferred dishes, which they place onto a tray. After making their selections, patrons proceed to a cashier’s station to pay for their meal. Finally, the customer carries the tray to a dining table to eat.1

This system is particularly effective for institutions such as schools, hospitals, and corporations because it allows them to serve large numbers of people inexpensively while requiring fewer service personnel than traditional restaurants.1