Menu and it's types- a la carte, table d'hote and others..

Basically the menus can be classified into two types
1.table d'hote menu
2.a la carte menu

• TABLE D'HOTE MENU

Table d'hote is a 'fixed menu'.May be defined by the following points.

1. The menu has a fixed number of courses.
2. There may or may not be a choice within each course.
3. The selling price of menu is fixed, that is price is charged for the whole menu.Therefor whether customer eat all items or not, he/she has to pay full charge of the menu.
4. Since the dishes are already fixed and known then it can be cooked ready at the set time .Therefor less waiting time is required for the service of each dishes.

Example for table d'hote menu is buffet.

table d'hote menu

• A LA CARTE MENU

A la carte is an 'unfixed menu'.A la carte menu can be defined as "(of a menu) listing food that can be ordered as separate items, rather than part of a set meal".Literal meaning of a la carte is 'according to the menu card'.A la carte can be defined by the following points.

1. It gives a full list of all the dishes that may be prepared by the establishment.These dishes may be grouped under separate headings, such as appetizers, soups, fish, chicken, mutton, beef, vegetables, sweets etc.
2. It offers more choice within each course.
3. Each dish is priced separately.Therefor the customers is charged only for those items that he/she ordered.
4. The dishes are cooked according to the order.Therefor a certain waiting time will be required for the service of each dish.

   

   a la carte menu

                  All other types of menus are variants of either a la carte or table d'hote menus.

• PLATE DU JOUR (speciality of the day or house)

This menu consists of the speciality dishes prepared by the establishment.Normally the dishes are main course items, and may be individually priced.These speciality dishes may be changed from day to day or remain for a certain period of time.This menu is usually offered with a table d'hote or limited a la carte menu.

plate du jour

• CARTE DU JOUR (menu of the day)

This is a menu made separately for each day and sometimes one for lunch and one for dinner.It may be table d'hote menu or an a la carte menu.This menu may include dishes of different courses prepared on that day.

                  A hotel may have several menus, such as banquet menu, room service menu, children's menu, dessert menu, health menu, barbecue menu, breakfast menu, afternoon tea menu etc.