canteen
n.a place in a school, office, or factory where people can buy and eat meals. It is usually more casual and cheaper than a restaurant.
n.a dining hall or cafeteria within an institution such as a school, workplace, or military base. Refers to both the physical space and the food service provided.
“I usually meet my friends for lunch in the school canteen.”
“The company canteen offers a variety of healthy options for employees during their thirty-minute break.”
“While the main office was modern and sleek, the basement canteen remained a relic of the seventies, complete with plastic trays and industrial-sized coffee urns.”
Commonly used in British and Commonwealth English; American English speakers typically prefer 'cafeteria'.
Borrowed from French cantine, itself borrowed from Italian cantina. Doublet of cantina.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.