Restaurant English: Useful Expressions Used at a Restaurant

Last updated on December 4, 2024 by Liam Daniel

Learning useful expressions for restaurant visits is crucial for effective communication. This reference covers making a reservation, being seated, ordering, dealing with problems, asking about the menu, commenting on food, and getting the bill.

Each section provides practical phrases for various situations you might encounter. Additionally, there are example conversations to enhance your learning experience. Use this resource to confidently navigate any restaurant setting.

Restaurant English: Useful Expressions Used at a Restaurant

Restaurant English: Making a Reservation

Restaurant English: Making a Reservation
Restaurant English: Making a Reservation – Created by 7ESL

Customer

  • I would like to make a dinner reservation for two.
  • I need to make a dinner reservation.
  • We will need the reservation for Tuesday night.We will be coming to your restaurant on Tuesday night.

English for Restaurant Staff

  • We will have a table for you.
  • I can seat you at 7.30 on Tuesday, if you would kindly give me your name.
  • We don’t have anything available at 8.30. Is 7.30 OK?
  • I have a table for four available at 7.45, please just give me your name.

Restaurant English: Being Seated at the Restaurant

Restaurant English: Being Seated at the Restaurant
Restaurant English: Being Seated at the Restaurant – Created by 7ESL

Customer

  • I booked a table for two for 7pm under the name of John Thomas.
  • A table for two, please.
  • May we sit at this table?
  • We have a dinner reservation for two at 7.30.
  • Our reservation is under the name of Thomas at 7.30 for two people.

English for Waiter/ Waitress

  • Of course. Please come this way.
  • Your table isn’t quite ready yet.
  • Would you like to wait in the bar?
  • We’re fully booked at the moment. Could you come back a bit later?
  • If you wait, there’ll be a table for you free in a minute.
  • Would you follow me, please?
  • If you would please be seated over in the waiting area, our hostess will be with you in a moment.

Restaurant English: Ordering

Restaurant English: Ordering (Waiter/Waitress)
Restaurant English: Ordering (Waiter/Waitress) – Created by 7ESL

English for Restaurant Staff

  • Can I take your order, Sir/ Madam?
  • Are you ready to order?
  • Can I take your order?
  • Are you ready to order yet?
  • What would you like to start with?
  • What would you like for a starter?
  • Anything to drink?
  • Do you want a salad with it?
  • How would you like your steak?
  • Do you want vegetables with it?
  • Why don’t you try the pizza?
  • Can I start you off with anything to drink?
  • May I get you anything to drink?
  • What would you like for dessert?
  • Do you want a dessert?
  • What would you like to drink with your meal?
  • Would you like any wine with that?
  • Can I get you a drink while you’re waiting?
  • Would you like any coffee?
  • Would you like an appetizer?
  • Can I get you anything else?
  • Would you like to order anything else?
  • Would you like to try our dessert special?
  • What did you want to order?
  • Would you like coffee or tea with your dessert?
  • Would you like dessert after your meal?
  • What would you like to drink?
  • Would you like to see our dessert menu?
  • Would you like to finish your evening with us with some dessert?

Customer

  • Could you bring us the menu, please?
  • Yes, can I see the dessert menu please?
  • No, thanks. I am full after the meal.
  • The menu, please.
  • What’s on the menu?
  • Do you have a set menu?
  • Could you bring us the salt/ pepper/ ketchup/ vinegar, please?
  • I’ll have the soup as a starter.
  • I’ll have the steak for the main course.
  • That’s all, thank you.
  • May I have some water, please?
  • May I get an order of barbeque wings?
  • That’ll be all for now.
  • Yes, please. May I get a glass of lemonade?
  • I would like a Coke.
  • I would like to order my food now.
  • We’d like to order a cheeseburger and some fries.
  • We’ll have the chicken with vegetables and the vegetable pasta, please.
  • Just some water, please.
  • Let’s have four coffees, please.
  • We would like two coffees and two teas.
  • We’d like a little longer, please.
Restaurant English: Ordering (Customer)
Restaurant English: Ordering (Customer) – Created by 7ESL

If there are problems with the order, the waiter/ waitress can say

  • I don’t think we have anymore steak left. I’ll check with the kitchen.
  • I’m sorry, but the king prawn soup is finished.
  • Sorry, the hamburgers are off.

Restaurant English: Dealing with problems

Restaurant English: Dealing with problems
Restaurant English: Dealing with problems – Created by 7ESL

Customer

  • Excuse me, but I didn’t order this.
  • I’m sorry, but this is cold.
  • Can I change my order please?
  • I’m sorry, but can I change my order?
  • I am sorry, but I think I ordered waffles.

English for Restaurant Staff

  • Let me take it back for you.
  • I am so sorry!
  • I am sorry that I misheard you.
  • Let me change it for you.
  • I am so sorry, Sir!
  • I’m so sorry. I’ll change it for you straightaway.

Restaurant English: Asking about the menu

Restaurant English: Asking about the menu
Restaurant English: Asking about the menu – Created by 7ESL
  • Is this served with salad?
  • What do you recommend?
  • Does this have any seafood in it?
  • Is that shrimp in the soup?
  • Is the soup a shrimp soup?
  • What is in this chicken dish?
  • Is there anything you recommend?

Restaurant English: Making Comments on Food

  • What a wonderful dinner!
  • I especially like the wonderful chicken dish.
  • I really love this meal.
  • My salad is very soggy.
  • The vegetables are kind of mushy.
  • My fish has good seasoning but is a little dry.The cake is too sweet for me.

Restaurant English: Getting the bill/ check

Restaurant English: Getting the bill/ check
Restaurant English: Getting the bill/ check – Created by 7ESL

When you want to pay, you can say

  • Could I have the check, please?
  • Can I have the check, please?
  • We’ll take the check.
  • Can I have my bill?
  • Can we have the bill, please?
  • Could we get the bill?
  • Could I have the bill, please?
  • I am ready for my bill.
  • Could we pay please?
  • I am ready to pay the bill.
  • I would like my check, please.

Sometimes, you may also want to say

  • Do you accept credit cards?
  • Can we have separate checks?
  • We’re going to split the bill.
  • Are you paying together?

Restaurant English: At the Restaurant Conversations

Restaurant English Conversation 1: Making a Reservation

  • Restaurant staff: This is Emma Restaurant.
  • Customer: Hi, I would like to make a dinner reservation for 2 people.
  • Restaurant staff: What night will you be coming?
  • Customer: We will need the reservation for Sunday night.
  • Restaurant staff: What time would you like?
  • Customer: 8.30.
  • Restaurant staff: We don’t have anything available at 8.30. Is 7.30 OK?
  • Customer: Yes, that’s fine.
  • Restaurant staff: Please just give me your name.
  • Customer: My name is John Thomas.
  • Restaurant staff: Thank you, Mr. Thomas, see you this Sunday at 7.30.
  • Customer: Thank you. Bye.

Restaurant English Conversation 2: Being Seated at the Restaurant

  • Waiter: Good evening. Welcome to Emma Restaurant.
  • John: I booked a table for two for 7.30 under the name of John Thomas.
  • Waiter: Yes, Mr. Thomas. Please come this way.
  • Waiter: Here is your table.
  • John: Thanks for your help!

Restaurant English Conversation 3: Ordering

  • Waiter: May I get you anything to drink?
  • John: Yes, please. May I get 2 glasses of orange juice?
  • Waiter: Sure. Would you like an appetizer?
  • John: I’ll have the tomato soup to start.
  • Lisa: I’ll have the shrimp soup.
  • Waiter: Would you like to order anything else?
  • John: That’ll be all for now.
  • Waiter: Let me know when you’re ready to order your food.
  • Waiter: Here is your potato soup, Madam.
  • Lisa: But I ordered shrimp soup!
  • Waiter: I’m so sorry. I’ll change it for you straightaway.
  • Lisa: I would appreciate that.
  • John: Excuse me. Could you bring us the menu, please?
  • John: We’d like to order a cheeseburger and some fries.
  • Waiter: Sorry, the fries are off. Why don’t you try the steak? It is excellent
  • John: I’ll trust your taste and take one order of that.
  • Waiter: Do you want a dessert?
  • Lisa: The chocolate mousse cake sounds great.
  • Waiter: Would you like coffee or tea with your dessert?
  • John: Just some water, please.
  • Waiter: Can I get you anything else?
  • Lisa: That’s all, thank you.

Restaurant English Conversation 4: Making Comments on Food

  • Lisa: John, is your steak OK?
  • John: The steak tastes wonderful!
  • Lisa: How is your cake?
  • John: My cake is too sweet for me.
  • Lisa: So is mine. I think they put too much sugar in cakes.
  • John: The food here is usually good, so I think that we should mention this to the waiter.
  • Lisa: You’re right. Maybe they can bring us some better food.

Restaurant English Conversation 5: Getting the bill/ check

  • Cashier: Can I help you?
  • John: Yes, could I have the bill?
  • Cashier: Of course. Here you are.
  • John: Thank you. I am ready to pay the bill.
  • Cashier: Of course, Sir. How would you like to pay, cash or card?
  • John: By cash, please.
  • Cashier: That will be $80, please.
  • John: Here you are.
  • Cashier: Thank you. Here’s your change and your receipt.
  • John: Thank you.

English Phrases to Use At A Restaurant | Video

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