How many butter pats should a server bring for three guests when serving bread?

When serving bread to guests at a restaurant, the standard practice is to provide two butter pats per guest. This anticipates that each person might want to enjoy butter with their bread. For three guests, the appropriate number of butter pats would be six in total. However, it’s common for restaurants, including The Cheesecake Factory, to round this down for practicality and service efficiency.

In this scenario, while six would be ideal, offering four butter pats accommodates the needs of the guests without overwhelming the table. This balance allows each guest to have at least one butter pat, with an extra for those who might desire more. Therefore, bringing four butter pats is a reasonable and customer-friendly approach that aligns with service expectations.