noun
elaborate dinner tray
A formal tray used in traditional Japanese multi-course meals (会席料理), often with multiple small dishes arranged on a single tray.
料亭では、会席膳に美しい料理が並べられていた。
At the traditional restaurant, beautiful dishes were arranged on the elaborate dinner tray.
会席料理 refers to the multi-course meal itself, while 会席膳 is the physical tray on which the meal is served.
Compound of 会席 (かいせき, 'meeting/banquet') and 膳 (ぜん, 'tray/table'). The term refers to the tray used in formal banquet settings.