table d'hôte

(tä'bəl dōt', tä'blə)
n., pl., ta·bles d'hôte (tä'bəl dōt', tä'blə).

1. A communal table for all the guests at a hotel or restaurant.
2. A full-course meal offering a limited number of choices and served at a fixed price in a restaurant or hotel. In this sense, also called prix fixe.

[French : table, table + de, of + hôte, host.]

View more Food & Cooking videos

meaning 'a meal consisting of a set menu at a fixed price', is printed in roman type with a circumflex accent on the o.

Previous:	Turco-, Taoiseach, -ty and -ness
Next:	table verb, tableau, tablespoonful

A meal consisting of a set number of courses at a fixed price; there is usually some choice of dishes within each course; a set menu as opposed to à la carte.

[tah-buhl DOHT] This French term literally means "the table of the host." On restaurant menus, however, table d'hôte refers to a complete meal of several courses for the price of the entrée. See also à la carte; prix fixe.

A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

n.

A caterer's thrifty concession to the universal passion for irresponsibility.

    Old Paunchinello, freshly wed,
        Took Madam P. to table,
    And there deliriously fed
        As fast as he was able.
    
    "I dote upon good grub," he cried,
        Intent upon its throatage.
    "Ah, yes," said the neglected bride,
        "You're in your table d'hotage."
                                                      Associated Poets

---

For a list of words related to table d’hôte, see:

• French - table d’hôte: set meal served at fixed time and place

---

See words rhyming with "table d'hôte."