English: Restaurant & Dining Out

Level: B1. Eating out in English follows a clear order: you get a table, you look at the menu, you order, you eat, and you pay. Each step has a handful of set phrases. Once you know them — and the words for the courses and the people who serve you — you can handle almost any restaurant without switching back to your own language.

By the end of this page you can…

…book or ask for a table, understand the parts of a menu, order food and drink politely, ask about a dish, send something back or report a problem, and ask for the bill.

Getting a table

You can book (or reserve) a table in advance, or just turn up and ask. The person who shows you to your table and brings your food is the waiter or waitress (together, the waiting staff or server).

• I’d like to book a table for two, please. (in advance, usually by phone)
• Do you have a table for four? (when you arrive without booking)
• We have a reservation under Costa. (you booked earlier)

If the restaurant is full, you may have to wait or be put on a waiting list. A quiet restaurant has plenty of free tables.

Reading the menu

A typical menu is divided into courses — the stages of the meal:

You will also see the drinks list (or beverages) and sometimes a set menu — a fixed group of courses for one price, often cheaper than ordering each dish à la carte (choosing each item separately).

Ordering politely

English speakers rarely order with a bare command. The natural, polite frames are I’ll have …, Could I get …? and Can I have …? You can add for me or to start to be clear.

• I’ll have the tomato soup to start, please.
• Could I get the grilled chicken for my main course?
• Can we have some still water for the table?

When you are not sure, ask. Useful questions:

• What do you recommend?
• What’s in the seafood pasta?
• Is this dish spicy / vegetarian?
• Could I have it without onions? (to change a dish)

Dietary needs and problems

If you have an allergy or follow a special diet, say so clearly before you order:

• I’m allergic to nuts — does this contain any?
• Do you have any vegetarian / vegan options?
• I can’t eat gluten. Is the sauce gluten-free?

If something is wrong with your food or table, complain politely and indirectly. Start with Excuse me and soften it with I think or I’m afraid:

• Excuse me, I think there’s a problem with my order — this isn’t what I asked for.
• I’m afraid my soup is cold. Could you warm it up?
• Sorry, could we have a clean fork? This one’s a bit dirty.

Paying

At the end, you ask for the bill (British English) or the check (American English). You might pay by card or in cash, and you may leave a tip (extra money for good service).

• Could we have the bill, please?
• Can I pay by card?
• Do you take contactless?
• Can we split the bill? (each person pays their share)
• Keep the change. (the extra is a tip)

Sometimes a service charge is already added to the bill, so check before you add a tip. Tipping is expected in some countries and not in others — when in doubt, ask a local or check online.

Example sentences

Press play and copy the rhythm. Say each line out loud as if you were really at the table.

Quick recap before you practise.

A short conversation

Waiter: Good evening. Do you have a reservation? Omar: Yes, a table for two under Omar. Waiter: Perfect, this way. Here are the menus. Can I get you something to drink? Omar: Could we have some still water to start? And what do you recommend? Waiter: The grilled sea bass is very popular tonight. Omar: Sounds great. I’ll have that, and a green salad on the side, please.

Usage notes

• I’ll have vs I’d like: both are polite and natural for ordering. I’ll have is a little more casual; I’d like is slightly more formal. Either is safe.
• starter / main / dessert: in everyday speech people shorten main course to main (“for my main”). Pudding is a common British word for dessert.
• bill vs check: ask for the bill in Britain, Ireland and Australia; ask for the check in the United States. Both are understood almost everywhere.
• a table for + number: always say the number of people, not tables: a table for three means three guests.
• some vs a/an: use some for food you don’t count (some water, some bread) and a/an for single countable items (a coffee, a dessert).

Practice

How to say it

A few restaurant words trip up English learners. Copy the audio rather than reading them letter by letter.

• restaurant is usually two or three quick beats: “RES-tron” or “RES-ter-ont”, with the stress on the first part.
• menu is “MEN-yoo”, stress on the first syllable — not “me-NOO”.
• dessert (the sweet course) has the stress on the second syllable, “di-ZURT”; don’t confuse it with desert (dry sand), stressed on the first.
• bill and meal have a short clear vowel; keep bill short (“bil”) and meal long (“meel”).

Quiz

Recap cheat-sheet

Next

• Previous lesson: English: Money & Banking
• Next lesson: English: Supermarket & Groceries
• Warm up with: English: Ordering at a Cafe and English: Food & Drink Basics
• New here? Start with Start Learning English Here