Ask Dave
(Or, What does Jeeves Know?)
July 2001
Please send your questions to dave@dinersoft.com

Q. Hi Dave,

What is the difference between a bistro and a la carte?  Besides these two and buffet are there a lot of other types of restaurant types?

Candace

A.  Hi Candace,

A bistro is a bar that serves food or a small restaurant by definition in Larousse Gastromonique which is the encyclopedia of French cuisine. It is related to the Russian word meaning quick as in quick meal. 

A la carte on the other hand is not a type of eating place it is more of a type of meal service. It means that each course is ordered separately from another. In other words it is not a set or fixed price menu as some upscale restaurants have today in which all courses are pre-set.

Other types of eating places are:
Cafes - a place selling coffee and snack.
Pizzeria - need I say more?
Smorgasbord or Hof Brau - a buffet plus sandwich line.
Buffet de gare - a buffet restaurant, originally established in railway stations.
Restaurant - a full service eating establishment.

Hope this helps,

Dave

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