eatery

eatery — noun

1. a place that sells meals and drinks, usually with tables where customers sit dow

1.nounA2
Definition

a place that sells meals and drinks, usually with tables where customers sit down to eat

Example

Meet me at the new Italian eatery on Elm Street for lunch.

The neighborhood eatery serves the best breakfast in town.

collocation: neighborhood eatery / local eatery

Common collocations
  • neighborhood eatery
  • local eatery
  • small eatery
  • cheap eatery
  • little eatery
  • popular eatery
  • Italian eatery
Synonyms
  • restaurant

    the general, more formal term; best for upscale or formal contexts

  • café

    a smaller, often more casual place that serves light meals and drinks

  • diner

    American English, a small informal restaurant with a counter and booths

  • bistro

    a small, often French-style restaurant with simple, home-style food

Usage Note

Eatery is an informal word. Use 'restaurant' in formal writing or when referring to upscale establishments.

Common Mistakes

We celebrated our anniversary at a fancy eatery.
We celebrated our anniversary at a fancy restaurant.
Eatery sounds too casual for special occasions.
The eatery served a ten-course tasting menu.
The restaurant served a ten-course tasting menu.
Eatery suggests a simple, everyday dining place.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe places to eat, but they differ in formality and style. 'Restaurant' is the most general and neutral term — suitable for any dining context from fast food to fine dining. 'Eatery' (the headword) is more informal than 'restaurant' and carries a friendly, casual tone. 'Café' suggests a smaller place that serves light meals, coffee, and pastries — often with a relaxed, European feel. 'Diner' is specific to American English and refers to a casual restaurant with a counter, booths, and classic comfort food like burgers and milkshakes. 'Bistro' describes a small, often French-influenced restaurant serving simple, home-style dishes. Choose 'eatery' for casual conversations about everyday dining spots; use 'restaurant' for formal or upscale contexts.

restaurant ↗cafédiner ↗bistro

Common collocations

Phrases

  • around the corner from the eatery
  • a row of eateries

Etymology

English

Eatery is formed from the verb 'eat' (from Old English 'etan') and the suffix '-ery' (meaning 'a place where something is done or sold'). The word was first used in American English around the early 1900s as a casual alternative to 'restaurant'.