Which food service style involves waiters taking orders and food being portioned in the kitchen?

In the context of food service styles, the American service style is characterized by waitstaff taking orders at the table and then having the food portioned and prepared in the kitchen before being served. This method typically involves individual serving plates for each diner, enhancing the dining experience by allowing for quicker service and more control over portions served to each customer.

In contrast, other styles mentioned have distinct features: for example, in French service, food is often prepared and presented at the table, allowing for a more theatrical dining experience. Banquet service generally involves pre-plated meals served to multiple guests at once, eliminating the order-taking phase at the table. Family style service involves placing large serving dishes on the table from which diners serve themselves, contrasting with the individual portioning seen in the American style. Thus, the characteristics of the American service style make it the correct choice for this question.