Cafeteria

/ˌkæfəˈtɪəriə/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A self-service restaurant or dining hall.

The university cafeteria offers a variety of meal options for students.

A place where food is served to a group, often in schools or workplaces.

Employees often gather in the cafeteria for lunch breaks.

An establishment where meals are served, typically with a layout that allows customers to choose their food from a counter.

After visiting the museum, we decided to eat at the cafeteria nearby.

From Spanish 'cafetería', from 'café' meaning 'coffee'.

all-you-can-eat cafeteria

A cafeteria where customers pay a fixed price to eat as much as they want.

school cafeteria

A dining facility in a school where students eat meals.

hospital cafeteria

A dining area in a hospital providing food to patients and visitors.

canteen

A place where food and drink are served, especially in a work or school context.

dining room

A room in a home or establishment where meals are eaten.

bistro

A small, casual restaurant serving moderately priced food.

The lunchroom

Let's meet in the lunchroom and discuss the project.

The food court

I'll grab a bite at the food court.