Knowing how to order food like a fluent native speaker is unquestionably a crucial skill for English language speaking. Otherwise, eating at an American restaurant can be intimidating if you don’t frequently eat out in the US. Huge menus with overly wordy descriptions, chatty waitresses who check on you often, and genuinely enormous amounts of food are all there. But by becoming familiar with a few popular phrases for dining in a restaurant, you can make the entire procedure highly palatable.
The next time you eat out, learn these restaurant buzzwords and ensure you receive the food you desire!
You can be greeted by a server who inquires about your well-being at a restaurant. Smile, be polite, and have your response at ready.
“I feel great”
“I’m excited to try the local cuisines here.”
If you’re going to dine out somewhere else, especially with a group, it’s a good idea to call and make a reservation in advance. Understanding how to request a table is the first step to understanding restaurant lingo. If you’re just dropping in at random to look for possibilities, you may word your inquiries like this.
“Do you have a free table for four”
“We did not book, but do you have a table for three?”
“Can you fit us in?”
If you are unsure of something on the menu, you can use these phrases to ask the waiter.
“What’s… exactly?”
“Is this served with … (something)?”
“Does this have any … (beef) in it?”
“What do you suggest?”
As the name suggests, an appetizer is a food that whets your appetite for the main dish—such as a cup of soup.
If everyone is eating appetizers, you would respond,
“Yes, please! We’ll start with an appetizer!”
If not, you may respond:
“No, thank you! We’d rather go with the entree.”
Main course items like chicken, pork, fish, lobster, etc. are considered the entree.
You can have food restrictions related to your religion or allergies. Any of the following common English expressions could be used in given circumstances:
“I’m allergic to dairy!”
“I’m a vegetarian!”
“I’m vegan,”
“I don’t consume meat,
It’s kosher, right? (Food that Jews can consume)
It’s halal, right? (Food that Muslims can consume)
The next thing you should check is their selection of beverages. You can ask precisely for the information you need for this.
“I’d like to kick off with something boiling.”
“Do you have frizzy drinks?”
“Can I have the wine list, please?”
Here is the main course, the centerpiece of your meal. Be sure to let the waiter know if you have any specific requirements.
I think we need a few minutes.
Do you have any specials tonight?
What’s in the house?”
Can I have the…?
Your waitress will repeatedly check on you over the course of the meal. You may ask them for your needs like this.
Could I have another…, please?
May I have a…
I’d like a…
When restaurants are crowded, your meal might not live up to your expectations. You could want to convey your annoyance in this circumstance by saying to the waiter:
Excuse me, is our order almost ready?
Sorry, this seems to be undercooked
Your waiter or waitress will frequently pop by and inquire like “How’s everything” “is everything ok with your meal?” You could wonder why they seemed worried, but they are simply making sure everything is in order in accordance with their courtesy guideline.
If you are satisfied, you can answer the following:
Thank you; everything is delicious.
We are, in fact, enjoying our dinner. Thanks for your service.
Informally: Terrific. Thanks.
Your waitperson might inquire if you’d like a box after you’ve finished your meal and aren’t able to eat anymore. Do you want that wrapped?
You can respond by asking,
Could I have a box, please?
Could I get this wrapped up, please?
You could ask the waiter for the following things when you’re ready to pay and leave:
May I get the check, please?
Do you take cash/credit/debit?
Thanks. That’s yours (to indicate that the change the server’s gratuity).
Keep the change; thank you!
You have the option of splitting the bill or paying it all at once. You may inform the group that you are paying for it by saying:
“I’ve got this!”
“This ones on me!”
There you have it, then. You are now fully ready to place an order in front of your loved ones. Go ahead and have fun! Since English is an international language, you will undoubtedly utilize it while visiting another country. Imagine you’re on vacation and attempting to win over your buddies or perhaps your boss. Or perhaps you’re looking to spend a vacation working overseas and need to be familiar with the English terms used in the service sector. Understanding the nuances of ordering and paying at a restaurant in English will help you avoid humiliation or, worse yet, ordering the wrong food in any of these scenarios.
As you can see, a lot of the words and phrases we studied are used in this conversation. You’ve probably noticed by this point that the majority of ordering in English sticks to standard, recallable phrases. You’ll be placing orders like a pro with some practice and time! Do you wish to communicate with ease and improve your English fluency? Visit English With Janet.
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