Designating a restaurant or other establishment where customers stand up at a counter, bar, etc., to eat or drink.

A lunch intended to be served and eaten quickly; (also) a restaurant, bar, etc., which serves such a meal. Frequently attributive. Also figurative.

Designating a restaurant or other establishment where customers sit at tables, a counter, etc., to eat or drink.

help-yourself n. used attributively esp. of a restaurant or cafeteria where one serves oneself, or of the meal obtained there; also as n. Also trans…

attributive. slang. Designating a restaurant or diner serving cheap, quickly prepared meals. Cf. quick-lunch, n. Now rare.

Designating a restaurant, shop, etc., in which customers serve themselves, rather than being attended to by a member of staff; self-service.

Originally U.S. Designating a facility such as a restaurant, bank, etc., where customers may be served without leaving their cars, typically by…

characteristic of or resembling a tea-shop (sense b or c).

North American. Designating a restaurant, petrol station, etc., where customers are waited on or attended to by staff. Frequently in contrast to se…

attributive. Also figurative.

of or designating a type of restaurant without table service that offers dishes prepared to order, typically ones that are more expensive and of…