At a restaurant

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
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