family style
adverb or adjective
: with the food placed on the table in serving dishes from which those eating may help themselves
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Dinner is offered at 6 p.m. sharp, served family style around communal tables in the main lodge building. 
Susan Glaser, cleveland, 15 Sep. 2022 This little gem across the street from the Chandler Fashion Center serves an exciting array of Filipino dishes made family style and fresh to order. Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic, 27 July 2022 Allow the chicken, shallots and bread to rest in the pot for 10 minutes before serving it all family style. Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2021 To drive sales tax revenue, we should be focused on encouraging family style Wstern events and other recreational activities. Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 6 July 2022 Serve this soul-warming stew family style, with white rice to balance its punchy flavors. New York Times, 13 June 2022 Wally’s Weiners starts summer with an authentic New Orleans crawfish boil, complete with Big Easy-style appetizers — think fried okra, bacon jalapeño deviled eggs — cocktails and music, followed by a family style crawfish boil. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 From warming healthy soups and stews to satisfyingly easy pasta recipes, our best family style recipes require very little prep for super-satisfying meals, even on the busiest of weeknights. Taylor Worden, Good Housekeeping, 27 June 2022 Meals are included and served family style, with fresh fish, shrimp, chicken, fruit, and homemade bread (as well as options to accommodate dietary needs). Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2022 See More
Susan Glaser, cleveland, 15 Sep. 2022 This little gem across the street from the Chandler Fashion Center serves an exciting array of Filipino dishes made family style and fresh to order. Andi Berlin, The Arizona Republic, 27 July 2022 Allow the chicken, shallots and bread to rest in the pot for 10 minutes before serving it all family style. Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2021 To drive sales tax revenue, we should be focused on encouraging family style Wstern events and other recreational activities. Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 6 July 2022 Serve this soul-warming stew family style, with white rice to balance its punchy flavors. New York Times, 13 June 2022 Wally’s Weiners starts summer with an authentic New Orleans crawfish boil, complete with Big Easy-style appetizers — think fried okra, bacon jalapeño deviled eggs — cocktails and music, followed by a family style crawfish boil. Lauren Daley, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 From warming healthy soups and stews to satisfyingly easy pasta recipes, our best family style recipes require very little prep for super-satisfying meals, even on the busiest of weeknights. Taylor Worden, Good Housekeeping, 27 June 2022 Meals are included and served family style, with fresh fish, shrimp, chicken, fruit, and homemade bread (as well as options to accommodate dietary needs). Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1857, in the meaning defined above