Eating out at a restaurant is a great way to try new foods and get to know a place's food culture. You'll usually have to talk a lot with waitstaff while at a restaurant, so it's a good idea to get prepared with some key phrases.
We've gathered lots for you in the tables below. Check them out and get ready for your next night out in a restaurant!
We've gathered lots for you in the tables below. Check them out and get ready for your next night out in a restaurant!
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Arriving at the Restaurant
In most restaurants and cafés in the English-speaking world you do not seat yourself at a table. Instead you first go to a receptionist desk at the entrance, and the receptionist will seat you. The phrases in this table will be useful to know when talking to a receptionist.How many are in your party?
This is probably the first question a receptionist would ask you. The question is asking how many people are with you and will be eating at the restaurant. You might also hear: How many are you?. You'd simply respond by telling the receptionist how many people are with you, like this for example: There's five of us.
Do you have a reservation?
Making a reservation, or in other words, reserving a table for yourself is a good idea when you're worried that a restaurant will be full. Another question that means the same thing as this is: Did you book a table?. In response, you'd simply say whether you have a reservation or not: Yes, I made a reservation for 3 at 7:00.
Server
Once you are seated, your table will be assigned a waiter or waitress. You'll usually start by ordering drinks and appetizers and then your main course. In the table below, you'll find lots of common phrases used by waiters and waitresses.Can I start you off with drinks?
The first thing that you will order at restaurants or cafés are drinks. You might hear the server ask you this question. Alternatively they could also ask: What can I get you to drink? or What would you like to drink?. You would then simply tell them what drink you would like. For example: Could I get a Coke, please?.
Do you need a couple more minutes to decide?
This question, like Are you ready to order? or Can I take your order?, is used to ask if you know what you'd like to eat or drink and if you would like to order. There's many different ways you could respond to this. For example like this: No, I think we're ready or Could we get a few more minutes?.
Order food and drinks
The phrases gathered in the table below are very helpful and can be used when you want to order food or drinks. Moreover, you can use some of these phrases to ask your waiter or waitress questions.I'll take a pizza
Two common ways to order food or drinks are I'll take + FOOD/DRINK and I'll order + FOOD. The first option is very neutral and can be used in any context. The second option is much less common and is used mainly in restaurants. In response, the person taking your order might ask you questions like Do you want any toppings with that?.
Can I get a glass of white wine?
A very common and polite way to order food or drinks is asking questions using the pattern Can I get + FOOD/DRINK?. You can use this in any context. You can also make your order extra polite by adding please to the end of your question. A possible response to our example sentence is Do you prefer sweet or dry wine?.
Could you bring us a bottle of red wine?
A polite way to ask for something while at a restaurant is the sentence pattern Could you bring + ITEM?. Use this when you want to order something extra. You can also make your request more polite by adding please to the end of your question. A common response to sentences using this pattern is I will be right back with that.
Paying for Your Meal
When you finish your meal, you'll have to ask for the check and pay for everything. Don't forget to leave a tip! The following phrases will be useful when you are getting ready to leave a restaurant.Have a nice night
As you are leaving a restaurant, a host or hostess will usually say this before you walk out the door. Depending on the time of day, this phrase could be different. For example, they might say Have a nice day if you are at the restaurant in the middle of the day. A polite way to respond is You as well!.
Relax while Listening to the Phrases
Keep calm and learn English! Listen to the phrases again with relaxing background music. This will help you improve your listening skills and remember the phrases. Choose your favorite style, then kick back and relax!
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Audio with Meditative Music
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Practice & Record a Dialogue
Take the next step and use what you’ve learned! Check out this topic’s dialogue unit and practice the phrases in a variety of exercises. Test your knowledge and get ready for real life conversations!
Could I have a menu?en
Yes, here it is. Would you like something to drink?en
I would like a water, please.en
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