Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

family-style

adjective

/ˈfæmɪli staɪl/

Definition

A way of serving food in which dishes are placed on the table for guests to share, rather than serving individual portions.

Examples

At the restaurant, we enjoyed a family-style meal that encouraged everyone to share their dishes.
For Thanksgiving, we opted for a family-style service so that everyone could take what they liked.
The family-style buffet was a hit at the reunion, making it easy for everyone to mingle while dining.

Meaning

Family-style refers to a dining tradition where food is served in large, communal dishes, allowing everyone at the table to help themselves and share the meal together, fostering a sense of community and connection.