If you attended grade school or high school in the United States, you’re probably familiar with cafeteria-style dining.

By definition, a cafeteria serves ready-cooked food items arranged behind a long counter. Patrons line up, take a tray, and file in front of the various food choices, picking out what they would like to eat along the way.

Some cafeterias offer:

Fresh-cooked fare ordered from an attendant (omelets, waffles, cut-from-the-bone roast beef)
Ready-made, pre-plated portions
Self-serve portions (salads, soups, etc.)
Cafeterias are similar to buffets, but cafeterias typically have servers behind the counter ready to dish out the food you choose.

Some large corporations, factories, and hospitals have in-house cafeterias to feed employees and patrons alike.