Can I help you sir? Sentences to use at the restaurant.

Sometimes in restaurants – even in Belgium – waiters have to use English in order to understand
tourists from all over the world. However, when their English is bad, it can get out of hand quickly.

An example of such a waiter is Manuel from Fawlty Tower. Let’s watch what happens when his boss,
Basil, leaves him in charge and lets him manage the front desk of his hotel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0Apd0IXZs0

You wouldn’t want this to happen when you are reserving, would you?

That’s why we are going to have a look at some sentences that are useful in a restaurant, both as a
waiter and as a costumer.

BOOKING A TABLE

Do you have any free tables?

For how many people? A table for …, please

two – three – four

I'd like to make a reservation I'd like to book a table, please

When for? For what time?

This evening at … Tomorrow at …

seven o'clock – seven thirty – eigt o’clock noon – twelve thirty – one o’clock

seven thirty twelve thirty

I've got a reservation Do you have a reservation?

ORDERING THE MEAL

Could I see the menu, please? Could I see the wine list, please? Can I get you any drinks?

Are you ready to order?

Do you have any specials? What's the soup of the day? What do you recommend?

What's this dish?

I'm on a diet I'm a vegetarian I don't eat …

meat- pork

I'm allergic to … I'm severely allergic to …

Wheat - dairy products nuts- shellfish

I'll have the … I'll take this Could we have….?

For my starter I'll have the soup, and for my main course the steak

I'm sorry, we're out of that

How would you like your steak?

Rare - Medium-rare – Medium - Well done

Is that all? Would you like anything else? Nothing else, thank you

We're in a hurry How long will it take? It'll take about twenty minutes
DURING THE MEAL

If you'd like to get the waiter's attention, the most polite way is simply to say:

Excuse me!

Here are some other phrases you may hear or wish to use during your meal:

Enjoy your meal! Bon appétit!

Would you like to taste the wine?

another bottle of wine some more bread some more milk

a jug of tap water some water Still or sparkling?

Would you like any coffee or dessert? Do you have any desserts? Could I see the dessert menu?

After the meal

Was everything alright? Thanks, that was delicious

The bill, please Could we have the bill, please?

Can I pay by card? Do you take credit cards?

Is service included? Can we pay separately?

I'll get this Let's split it Let's share the bill

PROBLEMS

This isn't what I ordered

This food's cold This is too salty This doesn't taste right

We've been waiting a long time Is our meal on its way? Will our food be long?

Exercise 1: Below, you see some cartoons with empty text balloons. What could they be saying?

Complete the text balloons with the sentences from the boxes above.
Exercise 2:

1. Every student make a pack of cards:

 Group 1: Make 6 cards with a sentence that could be used by a waiter

 Group 2: Make 6 cards with a sentence that could be used by a costumer in a restaurant.

2. Give your pack of cards another student. The ones who have a pack of waiter-cards have to be
paired up with someone with a pack of costumer-cards.

3. To play the game, both of the students have to draw a card from their pack without looking at it.
Now, both players have a sentence they have to use in a made-up conversation. Even though a lot
of times the sentences will not fit together on their own, you will have to make up a conversation
that ties those two sentences together.

4. When the teacher give a signal, find another partner and play the game again.