What is a la carte meaning?

A la carte is a French term that refers to a menu or meal ordering system in which the dishes are priced separately. It denotes that the customer can order individual dishes and choose exactly what they want to eat, rather than being restricted to a preset meal option. A la carte dining is common in upscale restaurants, where the selection of dishes is more varied and the prices are often higher. The opposite of a la carte is a prix fixe menu, in which a set menu of items is offered for a fixed price.