cafeteria

n. [ Cf. F. cafetière. ] 1. A restaurant or café at which the patrons serve themselves with food kept at a counter, typically paying a cashier at the end of the counter and taking the food to tables to eat. [ U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a room within a building functioning in the same manner as a cafeteria{ 1 }. In certain organizations, as schools, the food may be provided gratis. [ PJC ]