English in Restaurants and Pubs
Using English in Restaurants
General vocabulary for restaurants
eating out
reservation, booking
reserved
table for one/two/three/four people
candlelit dinner
three course meal
starter, appetiser, apperitif
main course, desserts, puddings, afters
liquor coffee, still/sparkling water
menu, bar menu, wine list, dessert menu,
house wine, house red/white, corked wine
the bill (American – the check)
speciality dish, soup of the day
waiter, waitress, barman, barmaid, landlord, landlady, maitre d’
self-service, buffet, table service
steak – rare, medium rare, medium, well done
| Phrases you may want to use | Phrases for making complaints |
| Shall we eat out tonight? | This isn’t what I ordered. |
| Can I reserve a table for tonight, please? | I think this wine is corked. |
| Could I book a table for 8 O’clock, please? | This meat is under-cooked / over-cooked. |
| I’d like to make a reservation | The food is cold / unsatisfactory. |
| Can we get the bill, please? | We are still waiting for a table. |
| I’d like a table for two, please | I’d like to move to a different table. |
| Which dish do you recommend? | |
| Please can we see the wine list / dessert menu? | |
| I’d like a jug of water for the table, please. | |
| Can we pay together/separately? | |
| Shall we split the bill? | |
| Can we see the children’s menu, please? |
| Phrases you may hear | |
| Do you have a reservation? | The soup/dish of the day is… |
| Is that a table for two? | May I take your order? |
| Would you like any sauces with that? | Are you ready to order? |
| Is everything OK with your meal? | Are you being served? |
| Would you like to see the dessert menu / wine list? | How would you like your steak cooked? |
| Would you like to taste the wine? | Would you like anything else? |
| Would you like the set menu? | Is that all? |
| Phrases you may see | |
| Specials board | Early bird special / discount |
| Service charge included | Please wait here to be seated / served |
| Service not included | Soup / Dish of the day |
| Starters / Mains / Desserts | Suitable for vegetarians |
..
Using English in Pubs
General vocabulary for pubs
beer, a pint, half a pint, a half, draught beer, bottled beer
bitter, lager, stout, real ale
wine, white wine, red wine, rose
a round of drinks, order, bar
with ice, on the rocks
spritzer, soda, tonic
gin, vodka, rum, tequila, brandy, whisky, alchopops
coke, lemonade, orange, lemon, lime
crisps, nuts, sandwiches, baguette, snacks
house red/white wine, guest ale
beer garden, pool, darts
| Phrases you may want to use | |
| What are you having? | Can you tell me your guest ales? |
| It’s my round. | Do you serve food? |
| Are you still serving food? | Shall we sit outside? |
| Do you have any snacks? | Keep the change. |
| A pint of bitter please and a glass of house red | Half a mild and a bag of nuts please. |
| Phrases you may hear | |
| Whose round is it? | Who’s next? |
| Do you want ice with that? | Cheers! |
| Anything else? | Same again? |
| Today’s specials are on the board | Last orders! |
| Phrases you may see | |
| Order at the bar | Early bird special |
| Specials board | Beer garden |