At the restaurant

Learn the most important English phrases used in restaurants, this lesson will help you impress your friends when you order food in an English-speaking country

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Ordering food & drinks

After being seated the waiter might ask "Would you like to start with a drink?" and you can reply "Yes, we’d like (type of drink)" while you decide on your food.”

Would you like to start with a drink?

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Yes, we’d like some water

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After some time, the waiter will ask "Are you ready to order?" or "Can I take your order?". To order use either "I’d like ...", or "I’ll have ..."

Are you ready to order?

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Can I take your order?

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I’ll have the salad bowl

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If you could not decide you can ask the waiter "What would you recommend?" to get some advice or "What are the specialities?" to find out what the most famous dishes are at that restaurant. You could also ask "What are today’s specials?" to find out if there are any dishes being served today that are not usually on the menu.

What would you recommend?

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What are the specialities?

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What are today’s specials?

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Special Dietary Requirements

If you cannot eat certain things and the menu does not mark these ingredients, then you can point at the dish on the menu and ask the waiter "Does this contain meat/nuts/dairy?" to find out if it’s okay for you to eat. Or, when the waiter gives you the menu, you can say "I can’t eat ..., which dishes would you recommend for me?"

Does this contain nuts?

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Does this contain dairy?

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Does this contain gluten?

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I can’t eat meat

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I can’t eat flour

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Pay the bill

Catch the waiter’s attention and ask "Can we have the bill, please?" or "Check, please." to see how much you need to pay.

Can we have the bill, please?

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Check, please

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Interested in learning more food related vocabular? Check out these word lists

English Food Vocabulary - Beginner English Food Vocabulary - Intermediate English Food Vocabulary - Advanced

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