What is another word for mess hall?
Pronunciation: [mˈɛs hˈɔːl] (IPA) 
Mess hall is commonly used to denote a large room or building in which military personnel or students gather to eat meals. Synonyms for mess hall include dining hall, cafeteria, canteen, refectory, messroom, messdeck, chow hall, or food court. Dining hall is an elegant term to describe a place where one can dine and have conversations. Cafeteria usually implies a self-service eating establishment, while a canteen may have a small snack bar. Refectory is a term typically used in religious institutions and messroom more in a navy context. A mess deck is found in the Navy, and a chow hall is a slang term used by the military. Food court is a modern term that describes a large area with multiple food vendors.
