Restaurant

Restaurant, food-and-drink facility that serves the public. Some 130 million meals are served daily in the United States 300,000 restaurants. Table-service restaurants seat patrons; they have a meal brought to them or can serve hemselves at a buffet (cafeteria). Ethnic restaurants are table-service facilities that specialize in the food of a particular country or ethnic group. Other unusual (gourmet) food is sold in more highly specialized restaurants. Fast-service restaurants are characterized by large-scale production of food items, inexpensive prices, and quick service. Some provide tables but no table service for their customers. Food is ordered and paid for at a counter.