One general word for cafes, snack bars, restaurants

[englishhobby]

What is one general word (or phrase) for cafes, snack bars, restaurants, canteens, cafeterias etc?
Places to get food from?
Public catering is a general word for food delivery services, not just cafes, snack bars, restaurants, canteens, cafeterias in general, isn't it?

 

[MikeNewYork]

You could call them all "eateries" or "eating establishments". But I would be comfortable calling them all restaurants.

 

[tedmc]

Food and beverage outlets is a more general term.

not a teacher

 

[emsr2d2]

I would use "food outlets" or "eating establishments" (BrE).

 

[MikeNewYork]

"Food and beverage outlets" sounds like a store/shop to me.

 

[emsr2d2]

Don't you count cafés and restaurants etc as stores?

 

[tedmc]

A food and beverage outlet is an establishment that provides food and drink, e.g. pub, bar, cafe, bistro, restaurant etc. It is an accepted term in the hospitality industry.
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_food_and_beverage_outlet


not a teacher

 

[MikeNewYork]

No. I don't. For me a store is a place you carry things out of.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Ted, that was one person's opinion. If I heard "food and beverage outlet", I would think of a 7-11 store.

 

[emsr2d2]

Another BrE vs AmE difference. Here, a shop is pretty much anywhere you spend money! A restaurant is a shop which sells food you eat on the premises. A supermarket is a shop which sells food you take away. I would, of course, differentiate between them for clarity.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The differences keep growing.

 

[Jill Dorchester]

In AmE, "restaurant" covers just about any type of eatery, and if it has a particular characteristic - it's take-out only, it's cafeteria-style, etc. - you would probably mention it when describing it to someone:

"I found this great new restaurant nearby; it's cafeteria-style, so we won't have to worry about slow service."
"Have you ever been to the restaurant on the corner of Main and Fourth Street? It's really just a greasy spoon, but they've got the best hamburgers in town."