The Restaurant

Dining at a restaurant is a great way to practice English in a real-life situation. Whether you’re ordering food, making a reservation, or asking for the bill, knowing key phrases and vocabulary will help you feel more confident.

In this post, we will cover essential restaurant-related vocabulary and phrases, followed by practical exercises to improve your speaking and comprehension skills.

Essential Restaurant Vocabulary

1. People at a Restaurant

• Waiter/Waitress – The person who takes your order and serves your food.
• Chef – The person who cooks the food.
• Host/Hostess – The person who greets you and shows you to your table.
• Customer/Diner – The person eating at the restaurant.

2. Common Menu Sections

• Appetizers/Starters – Small dishes served before the main course.
• Main Course/Entrée – The largest and most important dish of the meal.
• Dessert – A sweet dish served at the end of the meal.
• Beverages/Drinks – Includes water, soda, coffee, tea, and alcoholic drinks.

3. Useful Phrases for Dining Out

Making a Reservation

• "I’d like to make a reservation for two at 7 PM."
• "Do you have a table available for four?"

Arriving at the Restaurant

• "We have a reservation under [your name]."
• "Can we have a table by the window?"

Ordering Food

• "Can I see the menu, please?"
• "I’d like to order the grilled chicken."
• "What do you recommend?"
• "Can I have this dish without onions?"

Asking for the Bill

• "Can we have the bill, please?"
• "Do you accept credit cards?"
• "Is service included?"

Practical Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct words from the vocabulary list.

1. The person who serves food at a restaurant is called a _______.
2. Before the main course, you can order an _______.
3. If you want to pay, you can ask for the _______.
4. A _______ is someone who cooks in a restaurant.

Exercise 2: Dialogue Practice

Read and practice the following conversation:

Waiter: Good evening! How many people are in your party?

Customer: _______ (Respond with a number and request a table.)

Waiter: Here’s your menu. Can I get you something to drink?

Customer: _______ (Order a drink.)

Waiter: Are you ready to order your meal?

Customer: _______ (Order a dish and ask about a recommendation.)

Exercise 3: Role-Playing

Find a partner and act out a restaurant scene. One person plays the customer, and the other plays the waiter. Use as many phrases from the lesson as possible!

• Speak clearly and confidently when ordering food.
• If you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to ask, "Could you repeat that, please?"
• Try visiting an English-speaking restaurant or practicing with a friend!

By mastering restaurant vocabulary and expressions, you'll be more comfortable dining out in English-speaking environments. Keep practicing, and soon it will feel natural!

Have you ever had an interesting experience at a restaurant? Share it in the comments below!