Fast-food restaurants emphasize speed of service and low cost over all other considerations. A common feature of newer fast- food restaurants that distinguishes them from traditional cafeteria is a lack of cutlery or crockery; the customer is expected to eat the food directly from the disposable container it was served in using their fingers.
There are various types of fast-food restaurant:
· one collects food from a counter and pays, then sits down and starts eating (as in a self-service restaurant or cafeteria); sub-varieties:
· one collects ready portions
· one serves oneself from containers
· one is served at the counter
· a special procedure is that one first pays at the cash
desk, collects a coupon and then goes to the food counter, where one gets the food in exchange for the coupon.
· one orders at the counter; after preparation the food is brought to one's table; paying may be on ordering or after eating.
· a drive-through is a type of fast-food restaurant without seating; diners receive their food in their cars and drive away to eat
Most fast-food restaurants offer take-out: ready-to-eat hot food in disposable packaging for the customer to eat off-site.