What is the difference between a side dish and an entre?

Question

I have to eat at different restaurants around town for this class I'm in, and my professor wants us to identify the main items I selected, then select one entre and one side dish, and research their histories.

If I went to a Mediterranean restaurant (you can insert your own ethnic restaurant, if it's easier), what would be an example of a side dish and entre I could order?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Well, at any restaurant, the entree is considered the main dish ... and a side is a go-with.

Mexican:  Entree could be Steak Fajitas, Side could be Spanish Rice.

Chinese:  Entree might be Kung Pao Chicken, Side could be Steamed Rice.

Italian:  Entree could be Chicken Cacciatore, Side might be Pasta with (your choice of) Sauce.

American Steakhouse:  Entree might be Blackened Strip Steak, Side could be Baked Potato or Seasoned Vegetables.

So, the "entree" is typically the item that you order from the menu, while a "side dish" is one (or more) that you choose to go with your main dish.

Answer 2

An entree is your entire dinner.  Most restaurants have a selction titled entrees--meat, potatoes/rice and veggies.  A side dish is considered anything extra that is not included in that dinner.  An example would be  roasted chicken dinner with roasted potatoes and seasonal veggies.  You want a salad with that, but it isn't included in the entree offerings...so that would be your side dish.

Answer 3

A side dish is usually a small portioned food affair that is served prior to or at the same time as the entre.  A side dish is supposed to compliment the entre.  The entre is the main dinner or lunch item that appears on the menu as entre.  A steak is an entre. While sauteed mushrooms is a side dish.

Answer 4

a dish has about two different foods on it, an entree has 3

Answer 5

In a eg. mexican restaurant entree could be flautas or quesadilla and a side dish rice and beans. Entree is the same as your main course and a side dish is ,well, a side dish. For mediterranean restaurant entree could be something like marinated chicken with stuffed grape leaves as a side dish.

Answer 6

side: BRUSCHETTA or GAMBAS AL AJILLO (a  traditional catalan shrimp 6 Sautéed gulf prawns, garlic chips, chili flakes, lime juice & extra virgin olive oil.)

entre: FILETTO AL CAFFE (filet mignon)

Answer 7

In my experience, an entre is a small dish of one to three small "sample" serves to stimulate the taste buds, ready for the succeeding main (different) courses - to stimulate appetite without satisfying it.    A side dish is a supplementary dish to a main course or courses - such as a salad or various vegetables, etc.    So a wide variety of dishes can serve as either one, depending on the context in which they're served, and how they are offered.   If you ask a capable waiter in any good restaurant what they recommend you should open a mine of information.    Try a Lebanese, Greek, or Turkish restaurant - the Eastern Mediterranean is rich with options for pre-meal dishes (metza) and side dishes.  An entire main meal might be composed of "side" dishes.   An Anglo Saxon colonial main meal used to be commonly - soup, followed by fish, followed by hoofed meat (beef, sheep, pork) with vegetable side dishes, followed by cheese and/or "sweets".   The fish served as an entre - or might be followed by some specialty as an entre before the main meat meal.   "Tables" vary!

Answer 8

A side dish is like french fries or a bake potato. Its like a little extra something to your meal.

And an Entre is like your main meal.

Hope this helps!!!