Restaurant and menu terms
What is on a menu? Courses, sides and ways to order
A restaurant menu lists the dishes you can order or those offered for a meal.[1] To turn that list into dinner, identify the main dish, check what comes with it and decide whether you are ordering individual items or a complete sequence.
Read the sections before choosing dishes
A menu might separate starters, mains, sides, desserts and drinks. Those headings help you build a meal; they do not necessarily require one choice from each section. Look for wording such as includes, choice of or served with before adding an accompaniment. If the description only names the protein, ask what else is on the plate.
Dish names and preparation notes answer different questions. A name may identify the main ingredient while a description tells you whether it is grilled, fried or served with a sauce. Compare the elements you care about, then ask staff about anything the menu does not establish. Do not infer dietary suitability from a short heading.
Appetizer and hors d’oeuvres: overlapping terms
An appetizer is something served to stimulate appetite, usually before a meal; hors d’oeuvres are savoury foods commonly served as appetizers.[2][3] The words overlap. A sharp rule that all appetizers are plated or all hors d’oeuvres are passed around will not reliably tell you what this restaurant serves.
Ask about the actual dish: is it a small individual starter, a plate to share or a selection of bites? If you want it before the main, say so when ordering. If you want several starters as your meal, ask whether they can arrive together. Course headings describe their usual role, not a fixed portion size.
Sides: accompaniments, not the whole main
A side dish accompanies a main course.[4] On an English menu, sides means accompaniments such as vegetables, rice or potatoes; the actual options depend on the restaurant. Check whether your main includes a choice of side or whether the sides section is separately priced.
For example, a hypothetical grilled fish with rice already contains an accompaniment. Adding another rice dish may duplicate what you receive. By contrast, a main described without an accompaniment may need clarification. Ask how large a side is before sharing it, and whether a substitution changes the price. A vegetable side can still have a sauce or other ingredients you need to confirm.
À la carte: choose and pay item by item
À la carte means that dishes are priced individually rather than bundled as a fixed meal.[5] It gives you control over the combination, but does not automatically make the meal cheaper or dearer. Compare the dishes and extras you actually want with the set-menu inclusions.
Use this format if you want a specific main, fewer courses or different choices for each diner. Before submitting the order, check any supplements and whether bread, sides or drinks are separate. If the menu offers both formats, ask whether everyone at the table can choose independently.
Prix fixe: a set price with stated choices
Prix fixe describes a meal offered at a fixed price.[6] A set menu may give choices within courses or specify the whole sequence. Read the exact inclusions rather than assuming the label covers all drinks, tax or service charges.
Choose it when the included courses match what you want. A supplement next to a dish can change the amount you pay. If you only want two of the listed courses, ask whether a shorter option exists; do not assume leaving a course uneaten changes the quoted price.
Tasting menu: commit to a sequence
A tasting menu offers a selection together as a meal or tasting experience.[7] It can introduce several dishes, but the term sets no universal number of courses or dining time. Before booking, ask about duration, the current sequence and whether the entire table must take it.
Tell the restaurant about dietary restrictions and allergies in advance, and ask which changes it can actually accommodate. The label does not guarantee substitutions or safety. Clarify whether a drinks pairing is optional, whether there is an alcohol-free version and whether you can choose just a glass instead. A tasting menu suits curiosity about a sequence; à la carte suits a more specific dish preference.
When you see it on the menu
Course labels describe a dish’s place in the meal. Pricing words describe the purchasing format. Read both: a main can be offered à la carte or as one course of a set menu.
How to order
Find the dish you want most, then compare the formats that include it. Confirm accompaniments, optional courses and separately charged items before adding more food.
Questions to ask staff
- What is included with this main, and which sides are charged separately?
- Can we order starters as our main meal and have them arrive together?
- How long does the tasting menu take, and can you accommodate our dietary requirements?
Related terms
Use the definition with your actual menu
SeEat helps you understand and compare dishes for your taste. Confirm current ingredients, preparation and service details with the restaurant.