English at a restaurant: booking, ordering, and paying

A few phrases cover most situations at a restaurant: for a table, “A table for two, please.”; to order, “I'd like…” or “Could I have…?”; for the bill, “Could we have the bill, please?” Waiters' questions are usually short and repeat the same patterns.

Booking and getting a table

On the phone: “I'd like to book a table for four at eight o'clock.” When you arrive: “Do you have a table for two?” or, with a booking, “We have a reservation under the name Kaya.” The waiter may ask: “Inside or outside?”, “Is this table OK?”

The menu and ordering

Waiter: “Are you ready to order?” Answers: “Yes, I'd like the soup, please.”, “Could I have the chicken salad?”, “Not yet, could we have a few more minutes?” Questions about the menu: “What do you recommend?”, “Is this dish spicy?”, “Does this have nuts in it?” Drinks: “Just water, please.”

When there is a problem

State the problem politely and briefly: “Excuse me, I ordered the fish, not the chicken.”, “This is a bit cold. Could you warm it up, please?”, “We've been waiting for a while. Is our food coming?” Starting with “Excuse me” gets the waiter's attention politely.

The bill

“Could we have the bill, please?” (“check” in American English). Paying: “Can I pay by card?”, “Can we pay separately?” If the waiter asks “Did you enjoy your meal?”, a short answer is enough: “Yes, it was delicious, thank you.”

A short exercise

Act out a restaurant visit from start to finish: asking for a table, two questions about the menu, ordering, a small problem, and the bill. Write one sentence for each part, then add the waiter's likely questions and say it with a friend, switching roles.

To keep going, see English at the shop and the café: ready-made dialogues and Food in English: fruit, drinks, breakfast, and the kitchen.

Frequently asked questions