Starter vs. Entree — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 20, 2024
Starters are small dishes served before the main meal, focusing on appetite stimulation, while entrees are substantial main courses in American dining.
Difference Between Starter and Entree
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Starters, often light and flavorful, aim to prepare the palate for the meal ahead, offering a variety of tastes and textures to stimulate appetite. On the other hand, entrees, particularly in American dining contexts, represent the main course, offering a more substantial portion and focusing on delivering a fulfilling dining experience.
While starters are designed to be small and not overly filling, allowing diners to enjoy their upcoming courses, entrees are expected to satisfy hunger, often featuring proteins, vegetables, and starches in ample quantities.
Starters can range from soups and salads to small bites and appetizers, showcasing creativity and providing a preview of the chef's style. Entrees, however, are more focused on providing a balanced and complete dish, often centered around a key protein such as meat, fish, or a hearty vegetarian alternative.
The role of starters is to enhance the overall dining experience, adding an element of anticipation and variety to the meal. In contrast, entrees serve as the centerpiece of the dining experience, where the main flavors, textures, and culinary skills are displayed.
Starters are typically optional and can be skipped, especially in casual dining or when simplicity is preferred. Entrees, however, are essential to the meal structure, serving as the primary source of sustenance and satisfaction during the dining experience.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To stimulate appetite
To satisfy hunger
Portion Size
Small
Large
Position in Meal
Served before the main course
Serves as the main course
Typical Dishes
Soups, salads, small bites
Meat, fish, vegetarian main dishes
Dining Context
Optional, varies by cuisine
Essential, central to the dining experience
Compare with Definitions
Starter
A small dish served before the main course to stimulate appetite.
A Caesar salad was offered as a starter.
Entree
The central and most substantial part of a meal in American dining.
The grilled salmon entree was perfectly cooked.
Starter
The initial part of a meal, usually lighter and less filling.
We shared a plate of bruschetta as our starter.
Entree
Often centered around a key protein.
For my entree, I chose the vegetarian lasagna.
Starter
Served to build anticipation for the main meal.
The soup starter set high expectations for the main course.
Entree
Entrees are designed to be fulfilling and satisfying.
The steak entree came with a side of mashed potatoes and vegetables.
Starter
Designed to prepare the palate for more complex flavors.
The tangy shrimp cocktail as a starter refreshed our palates.
Entree
Entrees offer a hearty portion to satisfy hunger.
The chicken parmigiana entree was more than enough to fill me up.
Starter
Starters offer a range of flavors and textures.
For starters, the chef prepared a selection of gourmet cheeses and fruits.
Entree
The entree is where chefs showcase their culinary skills.
The complexity of flavors in the entree was impressive.
Starter
One that starts.
Entree
The main course of a meal.
Starter
An attachment for starting an internal-combustion engine without hand cranking. Also called self-starter.
Entree
The right to enter or join a particular sphere or group
Her beauty and charm rapidly gained her entrée to high society
An actress with an entrée into the intellectual society of Berlin
Their connections and relative wealth gave them entree to all of the most select entertainments
Starter
A device that initiates a flow of high voltage across the electrodes of a fluorescent lamp.
Entree
The main dish of a meal.
Starter
One who signals the start of a race.
Entree
A dish served in formal dining immediately before the main course or between two principal courses.
Starter
A participant that starts in a game or race.
Entree
The act of entering.
Starter
The first pitcher for a team in a game.
Entree
The power, permission, or liberty to enter; admittance.
Starter
A pitcher who regularly begins games for a team.
Entree
An opening or introductory movement at the beginning of a dance such as a pas de deux.
Starter
The first in a series, especially the first course of a meal; an appetizer.
Entree
A coming in, or entrance; hence, freedom of access; permission or right to enter; as, to have the entrée of a house.
Starter
An active culture of bacteria or fungi, especially yeast, used to induce a predictable process of fermentation in the making of certain food products, such as cheese, soy sauce, and sourdough bread.
Entree
In French usage, a dish served at the beginning of dinner to give zest to the appetite; in English usage, a side dish, served with a joint, or between the courses, as a cutlet, scalloped oysters, etc.
Starter
Someone who starts, or who starts something.
Entree
The dish which comprises the main course of a meal, especially in a restaurant; as, there were many entrees on the menu.
Starter
The person who starts a race by firing a gun or waving a flag.
Entree
The principal dish of a meal
Starter
(baseball) A starting pitcher.
Entree
The right to enter
Starter
(golf) A person employed to take new players to the first tee at suitable intervals, and to provide them with caddies and equipment.
Entree
Something that provides access (entry or exit);
They waited at the entrance to the garden
Beggars waited just outside the entryway to the cathedral
Starter
Something that starts something.
Entree
The act of entering;
She made a graceful entree into the ballroom
Starter
An electric motor that starts an internal combustion engine.
Starter
A device that initiates the flow of high voltage electricity in a fluorescent lamp.
Starter
A yeast culture used to start a fermentation process.
Starter
Something with which to begin; a first property, etc.
It's small, but it's a good starter house.
Starter
The first course of a meal, consisting of a small, usually savoury, dish.
Starter
(team sports) A player in the lineup of players that a team fields at the beginning of a game.
Starter
A dog that rouses game.
Starter
A short length of rope formerly used for casual chastisement in the Navy.
Starter
(rail) A railway signal controlling the starting of trains from a station or some other location, more fully called a starter signal or starting signal.
Starter
One who, or that which, starts; as, a starter on a journey; the starter of a race.
Starter
A dog that rouses game.
Starter
An electric motor for starting an engine
Starter
A culture containing yeast or bacteria that is used to start the process of fermentation or souring in making butter or cheese or dough;
To make sourdough you need a starter
Starter
A contestant who is in the game at the beginning
Starter
The official who signals the beginning of a race or competition
Starter
Any new participant in some activity
Starter
Food or drink to stimulate the appetite (usually served before a meal or as the first course)
Starter
A hand tool consisting of a rotating shaft with parallel handle
Common Curiosities
Is soup considered a starter?
Soup can be served as a starter, especially lighter versions intended to whet the appetite.
Can starters be shared?
Yes, starters are often shared among diners, allowing for a variety of tastes and textures.
Is an entree always a meat dish?
No, entrees can be meat-based, fish-based, or vegetarian, catering to various dietary preferences.
Are entrees served with side dishes?
Entrees are commonly served with side dishes such as vegetables, starches, or grains to complement the main protein.
Can a starter be skipped in a meal?
Yes, starters are optional and can be skipped, especially in casual dining settings.
Are desserts considered entrees?
No, desserts are a separate course, typically served after the entree.
Can an entree be cold?
Yes, certain entrees, especially in various cuisines, can be served cold, like cold noodle dishes.
How many starters should one order?
The number of starters ordered can vary based on personal preference and the size of the dining party.
Is it common to have multiple starters in a meal?
Yes, especially in fine dining or tasting menus, multiple starters may be served to showcase a variety of dishes.
Can an entree be a salad?
Yes, hearty salads with substantial ingredients like proteins and grains can serve as entrees.
Can a pasta dish be an entree?
Yes, pasta dishes, especially those with substantial ingredients, can serve as entrees.
Are starters the same as appetizers?
Yes, in many contexts, starters and appetizers are used interchangeably, both referring to the initial part of a meal.
Is bread served as a starter?
Bread can be served as part of the starter course, often accompanying dips or spreads.
What distinguishes a starter from an entree in terms of flavors?
Starters often feature a variety of flavors and textures to stimulate the palate, while entrees focus on a more cohesive and fulfilling flavor profile.
How does portion size differ between starters and entrees?
Starters are smaller in portion size to ensure they don't overshadow the entree, which is generally larger and more filling.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
