These phrases will help you to make a reservation at a restaurant and order your meal. On arrival it is customary to wait to be seated. On paying it is customary to leave a tip unless a service charge is included or the service has been poor.
Booking a table
| do you have any free tables? |
| a table for …, please |
| two |
| three |
| four |
| I'd like to make a reservation |
| I'd like to book a table, please |
| when for? |
| for what time? |
| this evening at … |
| seven o'clock |
| seven thirty |
| eight o'clock |
| eight thirty |
| tomorrow at … |
| noon |
| twelve thirty |
| one o'clock |
| one thirty |
| for how many people? |
| I've got a reservation |
| do you have a reservation? |
Ordering the meal
| could I see the menu, please? |
| could I see the wine list, please? |
| can I get you any drinks? |
| are you ready to order? |
| do you have any specials? |
| what's the soup of the day? |
| what do you recommend? |
| what's this dish? |
| I'm on a diet |
| I'm allergic to … |
| wheat |
| dairy products |
| I'm severely allergic to … |
| nuts |
| shellfish |
| I'm a vegetarian |
| I don't eat … |
| meat |
| pork |
| I'll have the … |
| chicken breast |
| roast beef |
| pasta |
| I'll take this |
| I'm sorry, we're out of that |
| for my starter I'll have the soup, and for my main course the steak |
| how would you like your steak? |
| rare |
| medium-rare |
| medium |
| well done |
| is that all? |
| would you like anything else? |
| nothing else, thank you |
| we're in a hurry |
| how long will it take? |
| it'll take about twenty minutes |
| English phrase guide | |
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| Page 36 of 61 | |
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At a pub, bar, or café |
Shopping
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During the meal
If you'd like to get the waiter's attention, the most polite way is simply to say:
| excuse me! |
Here are some other phrases you may hear or wish to use during your meal:
| enjoy your meal! |
| bon appétit! |
| would you like to taste the wine? |
| could we have …? |
| another bottle of wine |
| some more bread |
| some more milk |
| a jug of tap water |
| some water |
| still or sparkling? |
| would you like any coffee or dessert? |
| do you have any desserts? |
| could I see the dessert menu? |
| was everything alright? |
| thanks, that was delicious |
Problems
| this isn't what I ordered |
| this food's cold |
| this is too salty |
| this doesn't taste right |
| we've been waiting a long time |
| is our meal on its way? |
| will our food be long? |
Paying the bill
| the bill, please |
| could we have the bill, please? |
| can I pay by card? |
| do you take credit cards? |
| is service included? |
| can we pay separately? |
| I'll get this |
| let's split it |
| let's share the bill |
Things you might see
| Please wait to be seated |
| Reserved |
| Service included |
| Service not included |
| English phrase guide | |
|---|---|
| Page 36 of 61 | |
|
➔
At a pub, bar, or café |
Shopping
➔ |
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