In restaurants, à lacarte (/ ɑː.lə.ˈkɑːrt /, ah-lə-KART; French: [a la kaʁt], lit. 'at the card') [1] is the practice of ordering individual dishes from a menu in a restaurant, as opposed to table d'hôte, where a set menu is offered. [2] It is an early 19th century loan from French meaning "according to the menu". [3][4] The individual dishes to be ordered may include side dishes ... · The meaning of À LACARTE is according to a menu or list that prices items separately. How to use à lacarte in a sentence. · When you step into a restaurant, the term à la carte might appear on the menu, and it simply means “ according to the menu.” Unlike a set menu or buffet, this dining option gives customers the flexibility and control to pick and choose individual dishes separately instead of taking a fixed meal. An à la carte menu in a restaurant offers you a choice of individually priced dishes for each course. · The phrase à la carte comes from French, translating to “according to the menu.” Unlike a set menu or buffet style dining, ordering à la carte allows customers to select individual dishes separately rather than as part of a fixed meal. À LA CARTE definition: with a separate price for each dish offered on the menu. See examples of à la carte used in a sentence. if food in a restaurant is àlacarte, or if you eat àlacarte, you choose from a list of dishes that have separate prices, rather than having a complete meal at a fixed price