How to Use family style in a Sentence

family style

adverb or adjective
  • Sides are served à la carte and family style.
    — Liz Schubauer, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Dec. 2025
  • So why not do so family style among new friends at the Center?
    — Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Sep. 2017
  • No more family style or wooden bowls passed around the table.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2021
  • Staff members will serve diners, and some menu items will be served family style.
    — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2020
  • Each dinner includes family style plates plus starters and desserts.
    — Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Nov. 2024
  • The seating is family style with long tables, so feel free to sit with other guests.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2022
  • Food is served family style in large platters, ceramic bowls or iron pots.
    — New York Times, 1 Feb. 2022
  • Serve this soul-warming stew family style, with white rice to balance its punchy flavors.
    — New York Times, 13 June 2022
  • The migas can be served family style, or composed into tacos.
    — Emily Heil, Washington Post, 30 Dec. 2019
  • And with the new year, there's no better time to incorporate a new habit—family style.
    — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Feb. 2025
  • The lounge area is to the right and the romantic, or family style, atmosphere, is left.
    — Houston Chronicle, 16 May 2018
  • Salads will be served family style and a strawberry rhubarb tart completes the meal.
    — Elaine Rewolinski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2022
  • Serve family style with the stuffing taken directly from the turkey and with the gravy on the side.
    — Sarah Rense, Esquire, 3 Oct. 2017
  • Food was served family style, while Jim’s sister designed all the paperie.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Snag a seat at the bar for selections from the raw bar and lighter bites, or kick it family style and share some of their many entrees and sides.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Snag a seat at the bar for selections from the raw bar and lighter bites, or kick it family style and share some of their many entrees and sides.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The menu is also modeled after those steakhouses where sides are served à la carte and family style.
    — Usa Today Network, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
  • Drizzle with Vinaigrette and serve family style so the table can admire your work.
    — San Antonio Express-News, 3 July 2018
  • Aesha doesn’t bring it up this week because family style suits paella, which the guests requested.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
  • The feast, served family style, is available for parties of four or more for $130 per person.
    — Dallas News, 9 Dec. 2022
  • So family style is probably still a no-no, and dips and things like them should be served in individual ramekins.
    — Washington Post, 4 June 2021
  • Two or more of you should consider the whole roast chicken, served family style with little potatoes and a pot of mustard.
    — Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2020
  • The best way to eat Austin’s food is to buy three or four plates for the table and share the feast in a true Southern family style.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2022
  • Then, the entire room is treated to a changing menu of Southern home cooking, all served family style.
    — Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Dinner was served family style with a menu showcasing the best of Southern cuisine.
    — Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2022
  • But the main attraction might be the ca nuong, whole crispy catfish served family style, with all the fixings for making your own rice paper rolls.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2021
  • Chick-fil-A is now selling family style meals that allow customers to save a little money with their orders.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Allow the chicken, shallots and bread to rest in the pot for 10 minutes before serving it all family style.
    — Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2021
  • There are no menus, the drinks are unlimited (including the house wine), and everything is served family style.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
  • The meal would have been served family style, with many dishes laid out on the table all at once, next to their accompanying sauces and jellies.
    — Victoria Flexner, The Atlantic, 9 Oct. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'family style.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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