English Restaurant Phrases
Eating out in English follows set phrases: get a table with 'A table for two, please', order with 'I'll have…' or 'Could I get…?', ask about a dish, and finish with 'Could we have the bill, please?'. These frames cover almost any meal.
Level: A2. A meal out runs in a fixed order: get a table, look at the menu, order, eat, and pay. Each step has a handful of set phrases. Learn them and you can eat out in English without switching back to your own language.
By the end of this page you can…
…ask for a table, order food and drink politely, ask what a dish is or flag an allergy, report a problem, and ask for the bill.
Getting a table
You can book a table ahead or just arrive and ask. The person who serves you is the waiter, waitress or server.
| Phrase | When to use | Register |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please. | arriving without a booking | neutral polite |
| We have a reservation under Costa. | you booked earlier | neutral |
| Could we sit by the window? | asking for a particular spot | polite |
| Do you have a high chair? | you need a seat for a small child | neutral |
Ordering
Order with I’ll have… or the more polite Could I get…? / Could I have…? Add please and you always sound right.
| Phrase | When to use | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Could I see the menu, please? | at the very start | polite |
| I’ll have the chicken, please. | giving your order | neutral |
| Could I get a glass of water? | asking for a drink | polite |
| What do you recommend? | you aren’t sure what to choose | neutral |
| Does this contain nuts? | checking before you eat | neutral |
| I’m allergic to shellfish. | warning the staff | neutral (important) |
Problems and paying
If a dish is wrong, say so calmly and indirectly. At the end, ask for the bill (British) or the check (American).
| Phrase | When to use | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Excuse me, this isn’t what I ordered. | the wrong dish arrived | polite |
| Could we have the bill, please? | you’re ready to pay | polite |
| Can I pay by card? | checking how you can pay | neutral |
| Is service included? | asking about the tip | neutral |
A short conversation
Waiter: Good evening. Do you have a reservation? Guest: Yes, a table for two under Costa. Waiter: This way. Here are the menus. Guest: Thank you. What do you recommend? Waiter: The grilled fish is very good. Guest: I’ll have that, please. Does it contain nuts?
Example sentences
Play each line and say it along. These are the exact phrases you will use at a restaurant.
- A table for two, please.Arriving without a booking.
- We have a reservation under Costa.You booked the table earlier.
- Could we sit by the window?Asking for a particular spot.
- Could I see the menu, please?At the very start of the meal.
- What do you recommend?When you aren't sure what to choose.
- I'll have the chicken, please.Giving your order — the natural frame.
- Could I get a glass of water?Asking for a drink politely.
- Does this contain nuts?Checking a dish before you eat it.
- I'm allergic to shellfish.Warning the staff about an allergy.
- Is this dish spicy?Asking about a dish you don't know.
- Could we have some more bread?Asking for extra of something.
- Excuse me, this isn't what I ordered.The wrong dish arrived.
- I think there's a problem with my order.Reporting a problem indirectly.
- Could we have the bill, please?You're ready to pay (British English).
- Can I pay by card?Checking how you can pay.
- Is service included?Asking whether the tip is already added.
- That was delicious, thank you.A friendly way to finish.
- Could we get a receipt, please?Asking for a receipt.
Quick recap before you practise.
Common mistakes
- ❌ I take the soup. → ✅ I’ll have the soup. — order with I’ll have (not the flat present).
- ❌ Give me the menu. → ✅ Could I see the menu, please? — make it a polite request.
- ❌ I want pay. → ✅ Could we have the bill, please? / I’d like to pay. — don’t drop words.
- ❌ Bring me water. → ✅ Could I get a glass of water, please? — soften with could … please.
- ❌ Is it have meat? → ✅ Does it have meat? / Does this contain meat? — use does + base verb.
Usage notes
- starter / main course / dessert (BrE): in American English a starter is an appetizer and the main course is the entrée.
- bill (BrE) = check (AmE): both mean the amount you pay at the end.
- I’ll have… / Could I get…? / Could I have…?: three natural ways to order; all are better than I take….
- service / tip: Is service included? asks if the tip is already on the bill; tipping customs differ by country.
- For the full menu vocabulary and cafe ordering, see the related lessons at the bottom.
Practice
Restaurant phrases practice
Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.
1 Match each moment of the meal to the right phrase.
- You arrive
- You want to order
- You have an allergy
- You want to pay
Show answer
- You arrive → A table for two, please.
- You want to order → I'll have the chicken, please.
- You have an allergy → I'm allergic to shellfish.
- You want to pay → Could we have the bill, please?
Each step of eating out has its own set phrase.
Hint: the verb that goes with I'll to order
Show answer
have — 'I'll have …' is the natural way to order; 'I take' sounds wrong.
Hint: the question word for 'it/this'
Show answer
Does — Use 'Does' + base verb: Does this contain nuts?
5 Put the words in order to ask for the menu.
Show answer
could I see the menu, please? — The polite frame is: Could I see the menu, please?
Quiz
Restaurant phrases quiz
11 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.
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Show answer
I'll have the fish, please. — 'I'll have …' (or 'Could I get …?') is the natural order frame.
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A table for two, please. — 'A table for two, please' asks for a table politely.
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appetizer — A starter (BrE) is an appetizer (AmE).
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Could we have the bill, please? — British English uses 'bill'; American English uses 'check'.
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I'm allergic to nuts. — 'I'm allergic to …' is direct and keeps you safe.
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Excuse me, this isn't what I ordered. — Report it calmly and indirectly with 'Excuse me, this isn't what I ordered.'
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Show answer
Is service included? — 'Is service included?' asks whether the tip is already on the bill.
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get — 'Could I get …?' (or 'Could I have …?') is the polite request frame.
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you don't know what to choose — Ask the staff to suggest a dish when you're unsure.
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Could I see the menu, please? — 'Could I … please?' turns a command into a polite request.
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Show answer
'is' can't start this question — Questions with a main verb use 'do/does', not 'is': Does it have meat?
Recap cheat-sheet
| Moment | Say |
|---|---|
| Arrive | A table for two, please. |
| See the menu | Could I see the menu, please? |
| Order | I’ll have the …, please. |
| Allergy | I’m allergic to … |
| Problem | Excuse me, this isn’t what I ordered. |
| Pay | Could we have the bill, please? |
Next
- Deep-dive lessons: English: Restaurant & Dining Out · English: Ordering at a Cafe · English: Food & Drink Basics
- Previous phrase set: English Travel Phrases
- Next phrase set: English Hotel Phrases
- More phrase sets: English Phrases
- New here? Start with Start Learning English Here
All English phrases topics
Vocabulary, pronunciation, phrases, practice and exam help, ordered by level. Pick a topic and go straight to it. New lessons go live every day, so topics marked Coming soon fill in over the next weeks.
Phrases
A1 4 topics · 4 ready
A2 7 topics · 7 ready
- 05 English Travel Phrases
- 06 English Restaurant Phrases You are here
- 07 English Hotel Phrases
- 08 English Shopping Phrases
- 09 English Asking Directions Phrases
- 10 English Emergency Phrases
- 11 English Airport Phrases