Canadian restaurant words explained: licensed, patio, double-double and what the menu means

Canadian English has its own food words, some from British usage, some from American, some from French and some of its own. A visitor can order a meal without knowing any of them, but a few explain how restaurants work here, and a few will save you a confused look. Here is a guide to the words you are most likely to meet in Ontario and British Columbia.

What does licensed mean on a Canadian restaurant door?

A licensed restaurant has a provincial licence to sell alcohol. In Ontario, the licence comes from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, and in British Columbia from the province's liquor regulator. The two provinces use different categories. In British Columbia, a restaurant may be "food primary," where food is the main business and alcohol is served with meals, or "liquor primary," like a bar or pub, where alcohol is the main business and minors may be limited. In Ontario, a restaurant with a liquor sales licence may serve alcohol during set hours, and a "licensed patio" means the outdoor area is covered too.

If a restaurant is not licensed, you may be able to bring your own wine. See the guide to bringing your own wine for how that works.

What is a patio?

The word for an outdoor eating area at a restaurant or pub. In Canada it is "patio," not "terrace" or "al fresco." Patio season runs roughly from May to October, and a heated patio can extend it. Many cities have rules for patios on the pavement or the street, which change what is available.

What is pop?

A soft drink. In Ontario and western Canada, most people say "pop." In Quebec, you may hear "boisson gazeuse." A "fountain pop" comes from a machine.

What is a double-double?

A coffee with two creamers and two sugars, a term made famous by a national coffee chain. A "regular" at many Canadian coffee counters means the same thing, with a standard amount of cream and sugar, so say "black" if you want it plain.

What are a loonie and a toonie?

Nicknames for the one-dollar and two-dollar coins. A server might say "that's twelve dollars" without the word "toonie," but you will hear it when giving change.

What is a Caesar?

A cocktail made with vodka, a clam and tomato juice mixture, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and often a celery stalk and a rim of spiced salt. It is a Canadian invention and a standard brunch drink. A "virgin Caesar" has no alcohol.

What are the dishes you will see on menus?

• Poutine: fries topped with cheese curds and gravy.
• Butter tart: a small pastry with a gooey filling of butter, sugar and egg.
• Nanaimo bar: a no-bake, three-layer square from British Columbia.
• Peameal bacon: a Toronto speciality, cured back bacon rolled in cornmeal.
• Tourtière: a meat pie, especially in Quebec and at the holidays.
• Bannock: a bread with Indigenous origins, now served at many restaurants.
• Timbits: small doughnut holes from a national chain.

What does BYOB mean?

Bring your own bottle. It means you can bring wine to a restaurant that does not sell alcohol, and the restaurant may charge a corkage fee to open and serve it. Rules vary by province and by restaurant.

What does "market price" mean?

The price depends on the day's cost, often for lobster, oysters or fish. Ask what it is before you order.

What does "family style" mean?

Dishes arrive on large plates to share. Ask how many dishes suit your group.

What does "washroom" mean?

The toilet. Canadians say "washroom" or "bathroom," and "restroom" is less common.

What does "the bill" mean?

The payment slip. In Canada, you ask for "the bill," and a tip is added on top. The word "check" is American usage.

What are priority allergens?

Health Canada lists priority allergens that must be declared on packaged foods: peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat and triticale, mustard and sulphites. Restaurants are not required to print this list on menus, so ask your server.

What other words might confuse you?

A "serviette" is a paper napkin, used more often in Quebec and older speakers elsewhere. "Take-out" is food to go; "eat in" is to stay. "Regular" at a coffee shop is the standard cream and sugar. "Back bacon" is what people outside Canada call Canadian bacon. A "two-four" is a case of 24 beers. A "mickey" is a small bottle of spirits, a term you will mostly hear in conversation, not on menus.

How should you ask about ingredients?

Use plain words: "Does this contain nuts?" or "Is this made with dairy?" Servers are used to the question, and a careful answer is a good sign.

How do you learn menu words by eating them?

The easiest way to remember a double-double or a Caesar is to order one and write it down. In the Mosey app, rate the dish by the name on the menu, add a line on what it turned out to be, and keep a list called Words I learned. If you are new to Canada, send the invite link to a friend and they can add their own favourites.

Tags such as Patio and Quick Service match words you will see at the door, and rating several places that share a tag earns a badge for that kind of food.

More guides to read next:

• Canadian Thanksgiving in Ontario and BC: eating out, harvest menus and farm days
• Restaurants open on Christmas Day in Toronto and Vancouver: how to find a table
• Food tours in Toronto and Vancouver: are they worth it, and how to choose one

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.

The next time a word on the menu surprises you, open the Mosey app and rate the dish by name.