| An Offbeat Glossary of Restaurant Terms | | | | stay openafter the bars close. The serving of cold |
| Everyone knows what a bistro is...right? And a la | | | | tea is often illegaland unethical, and we at Boston's |
| carte is aterm that even a fifth grader knows...well, | | | | Hidden Restaurants donot condone the ordering of |
| maybe not. Andwhat exactly does smart casual | | | | cold tea. But our view on thatmay change from |
| mean? There are so manywords and terms in the | | | | weekend to weekend. |
| English language that are taken forgranted, including | | | | Kosher |
| those used in the restaurant industry. In apublic | | | | Food that conforms to Jewish dietary laws and |
| service to diners from Boston to Bakersfield, | | | | rituals. |
| Boston's Hidden | | | | Pork and shellfish are never kosher, nor is meat |
| Restaurants presents a glossary of useful, as well | | | | mixed withdairy products. If you see a restaurant |
| astotally useless, restaurant terms. (Note: This page is | | | | named "Ralph's |
| part ofour restaurant features section.) | | | | Clam Shack and Rib House," chances are, it is not |
| A La Carte | | | | kosher. |
| A term used by more upscale, expensive restaurants | | | | Prix Fixe |
| thatmeans each item is separate. If a restaurant says | | | | A full meal, typically with between three and |
| thatbread and water are a la carte, flee as quickly as | | | | sevencourses that is offered at a set price. Often, |
| you can. | | | | that set price willdrive a person to drinking lots and |
| Bar Pizza | | | | lots of cold tea once hisor her credit card bill comes |
| A type of pizza served in bars (duh!) that is smaller | | | | in the following month. |
| indiameter (usually about 10 inches) and greasier than | | | | Smart Casual |
| pizzasfound in restaurants or sub shops. Bar pizza | | | | A dubious restaurant dress-code term, typically |
| tends to tastebetter with beer, and MUCH better | | | | meaning, |
| after many beers. | | | | "no jeans and sneakers, but don't wear with a suit |
| Bistro | | | | and tie,either." In other words, dress like you are |
| A small restaurant, usually informal, that typically has | | | | playing 18 holes ofgolf (but don't wear metal spikes). |
| adecent wine list. If a place that calls itself a bistro | | | | George Costanza on |
| does nothave a wine list, it is simply known as a | | | | "Seinfeld" coined this term. 'Nuff said. |
| "small restaurant." | | | | Special of the Day |
| Captain | | | | Whatever didn't sell out the night before. |
| An employee at a restaurant who supervises the | | | | Trattoria |
| waitstaffand typically seats patrons. These people | | | | A restaurant, usually informal, that serves |
| used to be called | | | | simple,old-fashioned Italian meals. If a trattoria also |
| "hosts," but for some reason, many restaurants now | | | | has a decentwine list, another name for the place |
| callthem "captains." Some restaurants include a place | | | | would be bistro (see). |
| on thebill for tipping captains. If you see this, flee as | | | | But a bistro cannot be a trattoria unless it serves |
| quickly as youcan. | | | | Italianfood. However, if a bistro does serve Italian |
| Chef | | | | food but doesnot have a decent wine list, then it is |
| Typically, the chief cook of a restaurant staff. Don't | | | | no longer a bistro. It isa trattoria. Actually, it may be |
| evercall a chef a cook; he or she will not like that and | | | | best to just forget the wholething. Both are |
| may putsome extra MSG in your food. | | | | restaurants. OK? |
| Cold Tea | | | | Copyright © 2005, Boston's Hidden Restaurants. |
| A term used, usually late at night, that means beer. | | | | All Rights |
| Thisterm is fairly common in Chinese restaurants that | | | | Reserved. |