cafeteria

 
Pronunciation: /kafɪˈtɪərɪə/

noun

  • a restaurant in which customers serve themselves from a counter and pay before eating.
  • [as modifier] North American denoting a system in which people may choose from a number of available options, especially one in which an employee may select a personal package of company benefits: employers who offer cafeteria plans and other flexible programs

Origin:

mid 19th century (originally US): from Latin American Spanish cafetería 'coffee shop'