
adjective, adverb
- with a separate price for each dish offered on the menu: dinner à la carte.
adjective, adverb
- (of a menu or a section of a menu) having dishes listed separately and individually pricedCompare table d’hôte
- (of a dish) offered on such a menu; not part of a set meal
1826, from French à la carte, literally “by the card” (see card (n.)); in other words, “ordered by separate items.” Distinguished from a table d’hôte, meal served at a fixed, inclusive price.