Restaurant and menu terms
What is a bistro? Restaurant types and how to order
A bistro is a small, informal restaurant; the name describes a style of place rather than a guaranteed cuisine or menu.[1] Read the actual dishes and service notes before deciding whether to order a main course, a set meal or plates to share.
Bistro and brasserie: clues, not a fixed rule
A brasserie is an informal, usually French restaurant associated with straightforward, hearty food.[2] Both names can appear on modern restaurants with quite different menus. Neither word tells you how much dinner costs, whether sides are included or which dishes are available today.
At a bistro, start with the main-course section and then check whether a starter is optional or part of a set menu. At a brasserie, use the same approach: the label is less useful than the choice between individual plates and a complete meal. Ask whether the lunch and dinner menus differ rather than assuming the whole printed selection is available.
Trattoria and izakaya: check how plates fit together
A trattoria is an Italian restaurant, particularly a small one.[3] If the menu separates primi and secondi, compare the dishes themselves and ask whether a pasta course can be your whole meal. Do not assume the headings require you to order every course.
An izakaya is a casual Japanese drinking and dining venue; Japan’s tourism authority describes dishes intended for sharing.[4] For a group, ask which plates are easy to divide, then order a first round and adjust after seeing the portions. A grill item and a cold dish can offer different experiences without everyone committing to an individual main.
Diner and gastropub: read beyond the name
A diner can mean a person eating or a casual restaurant; a gastropub combines a pub setting with a focus on food.[5][6] Check the menu heading so you know whether you are choosing breakfast, a sandwich, a full plate or bar snacks.
For a sandwich or burger, establish whether the listed price includes an accompaniment. For pub small plates, ask whether the kitchen recommends them as starters or sharing dishes. Do not treat gastropub as a rating, or diner as a promise that breakfast is served all day.
Al fresco means outdoors
Al fresco describes eating or doing something in the open air.[7] It is a seating description, not another cuisine. Before choosing a terrace, ask whether the same menu is served outside and whether your reservation actually secures an outdoor table.
If a patio suits your plans, check shelter, shade and the option to move indoors before ordering. Those questions help you choose a workable table without inferring a venue’s weather policy or accessibility from the words al fresco alone.
When you see it on the menu
Use the restaurant name as an initial clue. The menu’s course headings, sharing notes and inclusion wording tell you more about the meal you will receive.
How to order
Choose the dish or meal format first, then confirm accompaniments and portion style. For sharing, ask how many pieces a plate contains before ordering several of the same item.
Questions to ask staff
- Is this plate intended as an individual main or for sharing?
- Does the main come with a side, or should I choose one separately?
- Is the same food menu available at the outdoor tables?
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.