___ carte
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 31, 2026
Stuck on the clue ___ carte from the New York Times Midi for March 31, 2026? We have the correct 3-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
___ carte (3)
Answer
The answer to ___ carte is Ala (3 letters).
Some cells in this answer were drawn with a circle in the original puzzle — these often flag a hidden theme.
Why does Ala fit this clue?
This entry has a circled cell at the third position, where the letter 'A' is visually marked in the grid as part of a theme pattern. The clue '___ carte' is a fill-in-the-blank that points to ALA, completing the French phrase 'à la carte.' This phrase literally means 'according to the card' in French, referring to ordering individual dishes from a menu rather than selecting a fixed-price meal. The expression entered English culinary vocabulary to describe dining where each item is priced separately, as opposed to table d'hôte or prix fixe menus.
What does ___ carte mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definition below.
carte
noun
•a menu or bill of fare, from French meaning 'card' or 'map'
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 1-down in the New York Times Midi on March 31, 2026, by Ian Livengood. See all answers for this puzzle.
NYT Midi — Mar 31, 2026
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What does Ala mean?
noun
•A wing or winglike structure.
•A winglike anatomical process or part, especially of bone.
preposition
•In the style or manner of.
Origin of the word Ala
•origin: Latin ala meaning wing
•period: Classical Latin
The word was originally used in Roman military terminology to describe the wings of an army formation, later extended to anatomical and architectural contexts.
How to use Ala in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Ala.
•“The restaurant offers both a prix fixe menu and an à la carte option where you can order individual dishes.”
•“The software package includes basic features, with premium tools available à la carte for an additional fee.”
•“She decorated her apartment à la carte, choosing each piece of furniture individually rather than buying a complete set.”
What are other crossword clues for Ala?
and 3 more clues with the same answer
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Midi, Mar 31, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Midi for March 31, 2026 titled “Five in a Row” was published by Ian Livengood and has 33 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about ___ carte
- What is the answer to ___ carte?
- The answer is Ala (3 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Midi on March 31, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to ___ carte have?
- The answer has 3 letters: Ala.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Midi — Mar 31, 2026
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