Plural of cafeteria; self-service dining halls or restaurants where people select food from a counter and pay before eating, common in schools, offices, and institutions.
From Spanish cafetería, combining café (coffee) with -tería (a place or establishment). The Spanish word was borrowed into English in the early 20th century to describe this particular style of restaurant that was revolutionizing how people ate.
The cafeteria was an American innovation that democratized eating—instead of being served by a waiter, everyone got the same access to food at the same time. It's no wonder they became essential to schools and workplaces; they promised efficiency and equality.
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