Bill of fare excludes escargots for starters (3)
I believe the answer is:
fee
'bill' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'fare excludes escargots for starters' is the wordplay.
'fare' becomes 'f' (this could be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'for starters' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'excludes escargots' is 'ee'.
'f'+'ee'='FEE'
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fee that I've seen before include "Money paid for professional services" , "(Entry) charge" , "Sum payable to, say, barrister" , "Sum payable to professional person for services" , "Payment to a professional for services" .)