In America the service of food in a restaurant (one course at a time) is mistakenly called "French" service. It is what was common in the royal palaces of Russia and is correctly called "Russian" service. Real French service is what we Americans call "family style" except that 17th century Frenchmen didn't have the good table manners we exercise today. They just reached for whatever they wanted and if they couldn't reach it they might just leave their seat and walk around the table to get it! That practice eventually led to "Buffet Service".