There is hardly a person in the modern world who does not like to go to cafes or restaurants. Going to a restaurant, especially in a foreign country, is not just an opportunity to satisfy your hunger, but also to spend time with friends, have a great rest, gain new impressions, taste unfamiliar dishes, right? In addition, there is no need to clear the table and wash the dishes after dinner. In European countries, dining out is the norm. And if you are visiting one of the English-speaking countries, be prepared for the fact that you will have to visit a restaurant every day. In order to avoid getting into trouble when ordering foreign dishes, you will need knowledge of English restaurant vocabulary. How to book a table in a restaurant, how to place an order to the waiter, how not to get confused about the names of dishes? Before going to an English restaurant, it is better to be well prepared. We have collected for you the basic phrases that you will need when going to an English restaurant.

If you go to a restaurant in the evening, it is better to book a table in advance at the restaurant where you want to go. This can be done by phone or by visiting the desired restaurant the day before.

We would like to make a reservation. — We would like to reserve a table.

You can say it a little differently:

I'dlikeatablefor 7p.m.please.– I would like to reserve a table for 7 pm.

Be prepared for the waiter to ask you how many people the table is for, in a smoking or non-smoking room, in whose name to reserve a table, etc.

You came to the restaurant and sat down at a table. The waiter will bring the menu and ask:

Would you like a drink?

Would you like something for aperitif?

Don't be alarmed. It simply invites you to order drinks before the main course, which is an aperitif.

After the waiter brings you drinks, he will ask if you are ready to choose something and if you are ready to place an order:

Can I take your order? — Can I take your order?

Areyoureadytoorder? — Are you ready to order?

If you're not ready yet, don't worry. You can ask the waiter to wait a few minutes – can we take a few more minutes? or we need a few more minutes.

You can also ask the waiter for advice, especially if you are not entirely sure about the correct understanding of the names of the dishes.

Whatdoyourecommend?– What do you advise us?

Whatareyourspecialties?– What are the most popular dishes in your restaurant (or the most delicious)?

If you don't find what you would like on the menu, ask the waiter: « Doyouhave...?"- you have…?

To order your chosen dish, just say Iwouldlike(I would like) and the name of the dish. It would also be correct to say - Couldyoubring…?(could you bring...?). Not sure if you'll pronounce it correctly? Just point to the desired line in the menu.

If you don't hear what the waiter says, don't hesitate to ask again. It's better to ask again than to receive the wrong dishes.

Couldyourepeat,please?– could you repeat?

or simply

Excuseme?

If, nevertheless, they brought you something that was not at all what you wanted, say:

ThisisnotwhatIordered;Iordered…- this is not at all what I ordered, I ordered... and name the dish you wanted.

The order is placed, you enjoy delicious food and drinks, a pleasant atmosphere and conversation with friends. And now the dinner is coming to an end, it’s time to ask for the bill.

The easiest way to do this is to tell the waiter - Check, please! Which translated into Russian means – Invoice, please.

When dining in some prim English restaurant, it is better to say “ May we have the bill?" It will sound more "English".

And the last thing you need to know is service charge or tip, in other words, a tip, which usually amounts to 10 or 15% of the total order amount. Often in restaurants, service charges are already included in the bill.

Knowing all these phrases, you will probably not experience any problems when going to a restaurant in England. Bon appetit in an English restaurant!

They say that a patriot is a person who does not order a dish on the menu if he cannot pronounce its name. But what to do if you not only cannot pronounce the complex name of the dish, but also do not know how to communicate in English with the waiter? For you, we have prepared a simple Russian-English phrasebook with phrases for communicating in a restaurant or cafe. You'll learn how to order a table and food, ask for the bill, and complain about bad service in English.

We have written a simple phrasebook for travelers, in which you will find dialogues, phrases and vocabulary on 25 essential topics. Go on a journey with the main character and improve your English. You can download the book for free at.

Book a table

If you are going to have dinner at a famous restaurant, you need to book a table in advance, for example by phone. In this case, you must give your name, specify the number of seats required, as well as the exact time of booking. In addition, almost every establishment has two rooms: for smokers and non-smoking. Please specify which room you would like to reserve a table in. Let's see in the dialogue how to book a table in a restaurant in English:

Now let's see what phrases you can use when making a table reservation:

Now study the phrases that a cafe employee may use when communicating with you:

Please note: when ordering a table, we use the word party, which most people are familiar with as “party”. In this context, a party is a group of people who are going to visit a restaurant or cafe together.

We arrive at the restaurant

When entering the restaurant you will be asked if a table is reserved for you. Let's look at two dialogue options in English: with and without a table reservation.

The dialogue in a situation where you have booked a table in advance may look like this:

If you have not reserved a table in advance, the dialogue may look like this:

Below are phrases you can use when you go to a restaurant:

The following phrases can be used by the cafe administrator:

How to order food in English

After you are seated at the table, ask for the menu if the waiter has not done so. Next, you can order your dishes, as well as choose a drink and dessert.

You can use the following phrases to order food in a cafe or restaurant in English:

The waiter may use the following phrases when communicating with you:

You probably noticed the words starter and appetizer, which can be translated as “aperitif”. However, in Russian, by the word “aperitif” we usually mean low-alcohol drinks that are drunk immediately before a meal to improve appetite. In English, these words are often used in a different sense. This is the name for a small portion of salad, soup, appetizer or other dish that is served before the main course to stimulate the appetite.

And now we offer you to watch a useful video that will help you understand the types of dishes and order food correctly in English:

Additional requests for ordering

Perhaps when choosing a dish, it will not always be clear to you what it consists of. If you are allergic, be sure to learn the names of the foods you are allergic to and let the waiter know. Maybe you just don't like some ingredient? You can ask the chef to prepare the dish without it. Were you served “hot” at room temperature? Ask for the dish to be replaced or reheated. Or maybe they handed you a dull knife? Ask for it to be replaced.

In addition, you can ask for some addition (sauce, bread) to your order or change the order altogether if you wish.

Do you need constant access to the Internet? Many cafes have free Wi-Fi, just ask the waiter for the password.

If you are in a hurry, check how long you need to wait for the dish. You can also take it or the food you haven’t finished eating with you. In the UK, as a rule, every establishment offers a doggie-bag (literally, “dog bag”), that is, you will wrap everything you haven’t finished eating with you in a paper bag.

In addition, in a cafe you may need an extra chair or a special high chair for a child.

How to complain to a cafe

It happens that the meal is not as pleasant as you would like: sometimes you have to wait a long time for the dish, sometimes the waiter forgets about you, sometimes he brings the wrong dish, or the product makes you suspicious of the notorious “second freshness”. In this case, you need to complain tactfully but confidently. Use the following phrases for dialogue in a cafe in English:

The waiter may respond to your complaints as follows:

Bill payment

After you have eaten, you need to ask for the bill. To correctly formulate your request, use the following phrases:

The waiter may use the following phrases when communicating with you:

As you noticed, we used two words to describe the word “bill” - bill and check. Often these two words are used interchangeably.

As for tips, this is a delicate point. Abroad, it is customary to leave 10-15% as a tip to the waiter. However, sometimes the cost of service is included in the bill, in which case you just need to pay it.

We all make mistakes. If you find an error in your bill, politely inform the waiter, he will definitely resolve your issue. Take into account the following phrases:

Leaving the restaurant

When leaving a restaurant or cafe, leave a good impression of yourself - praise the establishment and the work of the waiter. Rest assured that if you come here again, you will receive even better service. In addition, it would be nice to destroy the myth about “impolite Russian people.” Moreover, you don’t have to be full of praise; one of the simple phrases is enough:

Complete list of words and phrases for download

We have compiled two documents for you that will make it easier for you to conduct a dialogue in a restaurant or cafe in English. You can download them from the links below.

We hope our simple and detailed guide with phrases for dialogue in a restaurant or cafe in English will help you prepare for your trip. And if you want to feel comfortable abroad, we invite you to attend, during which you will learn vocabulary and phrases for traveling. After completing the training, you can easily order exactly what you need in any establishment. Bon appetit!

Or a pub - the task, at first glance, is completely simple. Despite its apparent simplicity, many Russian tourists make mistakes or are simply lost when trying to find the right phrase. As a result, the majority simply translates what they want to say verbatim from Russian. This is called “tracing” and in most cases puts waiters, bartenders, cashiers and other service personnel into a cultural stupor.

The first thing a Russian tourist in an English-speaking country should learn is that literal translation is his worst enemy. In addition, even if a tourist had straight A’s in English at school, he will hardly be able to freely explain what exactly he needs without learning a number of useful phrases, which will be given later in this article.

How to call a waiter?

Let's say a tourist has received his order, emptied his plate, and is now about to ask for the bill. Before you rack your brains over the phrase “Can I have the bill?” in English, in a restaurant you need to attract the attention of the wait staff. The tourist recalls how he would do this in an ordinary Russian cafe:

• Young woman! Can I see you?

Then, if the tourist did not look into the phrase book and did not learn the corresponding phrases, he will certainly translate his version, familiar to Russian cafes, literally:

• Girl! Can I have you?

After which he will be puzzled for a long time and with concentration why the waitress was offended/angry/crying/slapped him in the face, and he was rudely thrown out of a decent establishment.

The fact is that the above phrase is in no way suitable for communicating with service personnel in a restaurant or cafe. Moreover, the only group of people for whom rough treatment of a girl is applicable are women of easy virtue. This is why tracing is the worst enemy of the tourist.

You should contact waiters or waitresses using one of the following options, depending on the situation:

• Miss.
• Madam (M"am).
• Mister.

To attract the attention of the service personnel, you do not need to contact them at all - you can simply raise your hand.

Let's assume that the tourist managed to attract the attention of the waiter and did not find himself thrown out of the establishment with a demand not to return to it again. To ask for a bill in a restaurant in English, he can use one of several phrases of varying degrees of politeness.

If a traveler has not sat down with an English textbook for many years, an easy-to-remember remark will help him:

• Bill, please.

If he really had an A in this subject, and retained some knowledge from school, he may well show politeness and good manners and ask for a restaurant bill in English, using a more complex but more cultural phrase:

• Can I have the bill, please?

• Can I please have the bill?

If a tourist for some reason does not use these phrases, for example, he forgot what the English translation of the word “bill” in a restaurant is, he may well use another phrase that does not contain a direct request:

• I would like to pay now, please (I would like to pay/pay now).

In addition, he will certainly receive a bill if he asks how much his order costs.

• How much does it cost?

To ask for a bill in English in a restaurant or cafe, the following option is a little more familiar:

• How much is the total (How much does it all cost)?

In addition, the tourist may ask how much he owes. In English there is a phrase for this, almost similar to Russian:

• How much do I owe you?

From these phrases, it is quite possible to choose only the ones you like, but it will be much more effective to learn them all. Just in case.

Having received the invoice, the tourist will certainly study it carefully. And it is possible that he will find an error or inaccuracy in it, which he will definitely want to report.

Of course, in English.

• I think/guess/believe the bill is added up wrong (I think/it seems to me that there is a mistake in the bill).

This expression is appropriate if the traveler had an A not only in English, but also in mathematics, and he is absolutely sure that there is something wrong with the score. If he is not sure, and there is no calculator at hand, you can formulate your claim more politely - in the form of a question:

• Is it just me, or the bill is added up wrong?

Or even more politely:

• Are you sure the bill is added up right?

Such a claim is not considered offensive or rude in cultural institutions. This only means that the tourist wants to check everything again, so any waiter will readily explain what the tourist is going to pay for.

How to pay in a company

A traveler may well dine not alone, but with friends.

If these are not very close friends of different social status, and on the common table expensive lobsters are side by side with cheap vegetable salad, the following phrase will come in handy:

• We are paying separately.

Each person present will receive a separate bill, and guests will not have to pay for someone else's lobster.

If the company is friendly and everyone eats about the same thing, the bill can be divided:

• Let's split the bill (Let's pay equally).

If one person has more green bills in his wallet than his companions, he may well show a gesture of goodwill and pay for everyone:

• I "m paying for everything (I pay for everything / I pay for everyone)!

If you do not want to remain in debt to anyone, offer to pay for yourself:

• Let me pay my share (Let me pay my share).

By the way, when trying to impress your companions (or companion), you can use the following phrase:

• Put it on my bill, please.

How to ask for a check

To receive a check, you can use a phrase very similar to the one used to ask for an invoice.

• Check, please (Check, please).

The more polite option is slightly different:

• Can I get the check, please?

In general, asking for a check or bill at a restaurant does not require any particularly complex phrases.

Summing up

Asking for a bill in English in a cafe or restaurant is not difficult. If you learn the appropriate phrases, practice at home in front of a mirror and try not to worry, you can make a good impression on others, not lose face and enjoy visiting a cafe or restaurant. It is important to remember that you should not copy phrases from Russian and do not hesitate to ask for help if necessary.

When traveling, you want to visit all the sights and interesting places. At the same time, it is no less interesting to taste exotic dishes in the best cafes and restaurants around the world. Probably every traveler has encountered the problem of ordering something delicious in another country when the language level is not very high. This article will help you learn how to book a table, check with the waiter for information, or, sometimes this is also very necessary, complain to the administrator in English.

Book a table

If you are planning to visit any fancy restaurant, it is better to reserve a table (to book a table) in advance, especially if you plan to visit on a Friday or Saturday evening.

• I would like to book a table, please.- I would like to reserve a table, please.
• I would like a table for two.- I would like a table for two.
• When for?- for when?
• For what time?- for how long?
• Smoking or non-smoking?- (The hall) for smokers or non-smokers?
• Can I get your name?- May I know your name?

Dialogue
Customer: Good evening. I"d like to book a table in your restaurant, please.
Receptionist: I will be happy to help you. When would you like a table for?
Customer: For Wednesday evening, at 6 p.m. m.
Receptionist: Wednesday evening, October 13. For how many people?
Customer: For five people.
Receptionist: Sure. Can I get your name please?
Customer: Smith.
Receptionist: Could you give me your contact number?
Customer: Sure, it's 7589634129.
Receptionist: So, that"s a table for 5 people for Wednesday evening, October 13. Thank you, Mr. Smit. We are waiting for you.
Customer: Thank you. Goodbye!

Dialogue
Client: Good afternoon, I would like to reserve a table in your restaurant please.
Administrator: I will be glad to help you. When would you like to book a table?
Client: For Wednesday evening, at 6 o'clock.
Administrator: Wednesday evening, October 13. How many people?
Client: For five.
Administrator: Of course. May I know your name?
Client: Smith.
Administrator: Could you give me your contact telephone number?
Client: Of course. 7589634129.
Administrator: So, a table for five for the evening of Wednesday, October 13th. Thank you Mr Smith. We are waiting for you.
Client: Thank you. Goodbye!

Order food

Arriving at a cafe, you will need to order delicious dishes, the list of phrases below will help you do this quickly and easily. But, do not forget to mention if you are allergic to foods, use the phrase I'm allergic to...(I'm allergic to...) or just tell me I don't eat...(I do not eat...)

• Could you bring the menu, please?- Could you bring me the menu, please?
• Could I see the wine list, please?- can I see the wine list, please?
• Are you ready to order?- Are you ready to order?
• I am not ready yet.- I'm not ready yet.
• What do you recommend?- What do you recommend?
• I would like the set lunch.- I would like a set lunch.
• I will take this.- I will take it.
• Does it contain...?- Does this dish contain...?
• What specials do you have?- What special dishes do you have?
• For here or to go?- Here or with you?
• - Would you like anything else?
• Nothing else, thank you- Nothing more, thank you
• How long will it take?- How long will it take?
• Would you like any coffee or dessert?- Do you want coffee or dessert?
• Could you bring us some more bread/ milk/ water?- Could you please bring us some more bread/milk/water?

Dialogue
Waiter: Welcome to our restaurant. Here are your menus. I’ll be back to take your order in a few minutes.
Waiter (in a few minutes): Are you ready to order?
Customer: I’ll have the fried potato.
Waiter: Would you like anything to drink?
Customer: I'll have tea.
Waiter: Would you like anything else?
Customer: Yes, please. I would like some boiled vegetables.
Waiter: Would you like any dessert?
Customer: No, thank you. How long will it take?
Waiter: It will take about 15 minutes.

Dialogue
Waiter: Welcome to our restaurant. Here are your menus. I'll be back in a few minutes to take your order.
Waiter (after a couple of minutes): Are you ready to order?
Visitor: I'll have fried potatoes.
Waiter: Would you like something to drink?
Visitor: I'll have tea.
Waiter: Anything else?
Visitor: Yes, please. I would like some boiled vegetables.
Waiter: Would you like dessert?
Visitor: No, thank you. How long will it take?
Waiter: It will take about 15 minutes.

Complain

Unfortunately, situations arise when breakfast, lunch or dinner are not as rosy as expected. The waiter may be rude, the dish may be too salty, bitter or cold. It is better to resolve such issues immediately so that in the future you can only use high-quality service.

• This food is cold.- The food is cold.
• This dish is too salty.- This dish is too salty.
• We've been waiting a long time.- We've been waiting for a long time.
• Can I see the manager, please?- Can I see the administrator?
• This meat is underdone/over roasted.- This meat is undercooked/overcooked.
• This dish is not cooked enough- This dish is undercooked.
• On the house.- At the expense of the establishment.

Dialogue
Customer: Excuse me! My meal is too salty. Could you take care of it, please?
Waiter: Excuse me. I'll change it right now.
*2 hours later*
Customer: Thank you. Now it's ok.

Dialogue
Visitor: Sorry! My dish is too salty. Could you take care of this please?
Waiter: Sorry. I'll replace it right now.
*2 hours later*
Visitor: Thank you. It's fine now.

Bill payment

To leave in English means to leave a place without saying goodbye. Of course, this English tradition is quite interesting, and nevertheless, while in a restaurant or cafe, you will still have to talk to the waiter again before leaving to ask for the bill (bill, check). By the way, both words are used to mean the word bill, only the word bill is used in Britain, and check in the USA.

• The check, please.- The check, please.
• Could we have the bill, please?- Can we have the bill, please?

You can clarify questions about payment using these phrases:

• Can I pay by card?- Can I pay by card?
• Do you take credit cards?- Do you accept credit cards?
• Is service included in bill?- Is the service charge included in the bill?
• Can we pay separately?- Can we pay separately?
• Keep the change. - Keep the change for yourself.

Dialogue
Waiter: May I take away the dishes?
Customer: Yes, please. And could you bring us the bill?
Waiter: Yes, of course. How would you like to pay: in cash or by credit card?
Customer: By credit card. Here you go.
Waiter: Ok. Here is your bill.
Customer: Thank you. Is the service included?
Waiter: Yes, it is. Have a good day!

Dialogue
Waiter: Can I clear the dishes?
Visitor: Yes, please. And could you bring me check?
Waiter: Yes, of course. How would you like to pay: cash or card?
Visitor: Credit card. Here she is.
Waiter: Okay. Here is your bill.
Visitor: Thank you. Is maintenance included?
Waiter: Yes. Have a good day.

Idioms about food

Apple polisher- this is not the profession of an apple polisher, as one might think. This is how you can call a person a sucker or a sycophant.
To compare apples to oranges- you don't have to literally compare apples and oranges, this phrase should be used when you are comparing something that is undersupplied.
To go bananas- use this phrase when someone is going crazy with joy or anger.
As easy as pie- if the business you are doing is very easy, then use this phrase - as easy as shelling pears.
Cool as a cucumber- this is how you can call a person who remains calm in any situation and remains absolutely cold-blooded.

It’s always a pleasure to sit in a cozy atmosphere with friends, have a nice conversation and eat delicious dishes, and especially if you can order food in English without any problems. You can also gain additional experience thanks to this video.

We hope this article will help you feel more confident in any restaurant.

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

When traveling to other countries, it is important to know English at least at a basic level. Today we will look at English phrases in a restaurant. These expressions will help you book a table, make a polite order and pay.

Booking a Table / Reserve a table

If the restaurant is popular, you may want to make a reservation for the time you plan to visit. Let's first look at a few expressions that will help you reserve a table in advance, or ask to be seated at a table if you haven't reserved one.

• Hello! I’d like to reserve / book a table, please — Hello! I would like to reserve a table please.
• Hello! Do you have any free tables? - Hello! Do you have any free tables?
• I’d like to book a table for three tonight. — I would like to reserve a table for three for tonight.
• What time do you want to come? — What time would you like to come?
• Hello! Do you have a reservation? - Hello! have you booked a table?
• Hello! I do not have a reservation. We would like a table for two, please. - Hello! I don't have a reservation. We'd like a table for two, please.
• Could we get a table by the window? —Can we sit at a table by the window?
• Hello! I do not have a reservation. May we sit at this table? - Hello! I don't have a reservation. Can we take this table?
• I’ve got a reservation - I booked.
• Please wait to be seated - please wait, you will be seated at a table.

How to make an order / How to make an order in English

So, you are comfortably seated at your table, and it’s time to place your order. Let's look at phrases that will help you cope with this task.

• Could I see the menu, please? — can I see the menu?
• Could you bring me the menu, please? - Bring me the menu, please.
• Can I get you any drinks? — Shall I get you something to drink?
• Can I take your order? — May I take your order?
• Are you ready to order? —Are you ready to order?
• Would you like an appetizer to start? — Would you like a snack to start?
• We are not ready yet. — We are not ready yet (to place an order)
• Yes, we are ready. - Yes, we are ready.
• Come to us in 5 minutes, please - come to us in 5 minutes, please
• Do you have any specials? — do you have special dishes?
• What dish do you recommend? — What dish do you recommend?
• Does it contain dairy products? — Does it contain dairy products?
• I’m allergic to dairy products / peanuts - I am allergic to dairy products / peanuts.
• I'd like the set lunch. — I'll have a set lunch.
• What's this dish? - what kind of dish is this?
• How does it taste? -What does it taste like?
• I'll take this. - I will take him.
• May I have a glass of water, please? — can I have a glass of water?
• Can I have a plate of that? — can I have a portion (a plate) of this?
• I'm a vegetarian. Do you have anything without meat? - I am a vegetarian. Do you have anything without meat?
• Do you have any vegetarian dishes? - Do you have vegetarian dishes?
• I’m sorry, we’re out of that - Sorry, we’ve run out of this.
• Thank you for the recommendation. - Thanks for the recommendation.
• Could I see the wine list, please? — Can I see the wine list, please?
• Can I get this to go? -Can I take this to go?
• How would you like your steak? — What kind of steak do you want?
• Rare/medium/well done. — Rare/medium rare/done.
• I will be right back with your order. - I'll be right back with your order.
• Would you like anything else? - would you like anything else?
• Nothing else, thank you - nothing more, thank you
• We're in a hurry. How long will it take? - We're in a hurry. Will everything be ready soon?
• Will our food be long? — How long will it take until it’s cooked?
• Enjoy your meal! - Bon appetit!

Problems / Problems

Unfortunately, sometimes restaurants make mistakes, as a result of which they may bring us a cold dish, or even not what we ordered.

• This isn’t what I ordered
• I’ve ordered another dish - I ordered another dish.
• This food's cold. May you pop it in the microwave? — This food is cold. Can you heat it up in the microwave?
• I can fry them up - it’d just take a second - I can warm them up - it will take a second.
• We’ve been waiting a long time - We waited a long time.
• This tastes a bit off. / It doesn't taste right. — This dish tastes strange.
• This meat is underdone/over roasted. — This meat is undercooked/overcooked.
• Can I see the manager, please? — Can I see the administrator?

Asking for a bill / Asking for a bill

• Could we have the bill, please? — could we get the bill, please?
• Can I pay by card? — can I pay by card?
• Do you take credit cards? - Do you accept credit cards?
• Is service included? - Is there a service fee included?
• Can we pay separately? — can we pay separately?
• Let's share the bill - let's pay together.
• Are you paying together? - Will you pay together?
• I will bring the check right now. - I'll bring the bill now.
• Do you need any change? —Will you need change?

Before leaving the restaurant, do not forget to thank the staff:

• Thank you it was delicious. - Thank you, it was very tasty.
• I really enjoyed it. - I liked it very much.
• I will come again. - I'll come again.
• My compliments to the chef. — My compliment to the cook.

We hope you find English restaurant phrases useful during your travels. We wish you a wonderful holiday and bon appetit :).