Count and noncount nouns

[Meron87]

My Australian partner said

"I want to go to a restaurant which specialises in steak."

I'm wondering if "steak" is ok or not.... I thought it is wrong and should be "a steak".

I became really nervous because of that. Please help me!

[Anglika]

I would have used "steaks" in this context.

[Baffled]

I would have used "steaks" in this context.

Hi Anglika,

Would that be in reference to the number of steaks prepared or the different types?

[Anglika]

Could be either.

[Baffled]

Thanks!

But how about a restaurant that specializes in shrimp, pizza, escargot or black forest cake?

[Anglika]

shrimp OR small crustaceans, pizza, snails, Black Forest gateau.

[thod00]

I would have used "steaks" in this context.

I am not sure I agree. In 'specializing in steak' it is specializing in that particular meat. However it is cooked, how ever many are served, it is all still steak, in the singular.

Another example would be a 'Seafood restaurant' never seafoods.

[Baffled]

shrimp OR small crustaceans, pizza, snails, Black Forest gateau.

You are not likely to find a waiter or waitress who would take your order for small crustaceans in the U.S.

Thanks again!

[Baffled]

I am not sure I agree. In 'specializing in steak' it is specializing in that particular meat. However it is cooked, how ever many are served, it is all still steak, in the singular.

Another example would be a 'Seafood restaurant' never seafoods.

"Seafood Restaurant" is different. Here you're using a noun as a modifier and it should be singular.
Steak House (which became steakhouse), Pizza Place, etc...

As far as the original question, I'm still thinking about it. For some reason using "steaks" seems to imply different types of steaks.

[Barb_D]

I'm in the singular camp.
Specializes in seafood -- doesn't tell me that it's only lobster, it's all sorts of seaford.

Specializes in steak -- same effect - many types of steak: t-bone, sirloin, ribeye, grilled, blackened, roasted.