What type of service involves attractively arranged dishes placed on a table with proper serving utensils?

The correct answer is family style. In family style service, dishes are attractively arranged on the dining table, allowing guests to serve themselves. This type of service typically includes larger portions placed in bowls or platters, enabling guests to take what they desire and pass dishes around the table, fostering a communal dining experience.

Family style service emphasizes interaction among diners, creating a more casual and inviting atmosphere, where enjoyment of the meal and each other's company is paramount. Proper serving utensils are indeed used to help guests serve themselves, maintaining both efficiency and aesthetic appeal on the table.

Other styles, such as buffet, cocktail, and formal service, lack the same interactive, communal elements presented in family style service. For example, buffet style involves self-service from a separate table rather than a shared dining table. Cocktail style focuses on hors d'oeuvres served in a standing format, often without seated dining, while formal style typically includes plated meals served individually to guests, focusing more on fine dining protocols rather than the shared experience characteristic of family style.