Useful Expressions to Use at Restaurant in English

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Common expressions to use at restaurant including booking a table, ordering / asking about the menu, getting and paying the bill.

Learn more about useful phrases for English telephone conversations.

Useful Expressions to Use at Restaurant

Booking a Table in A Restaurant

What you say:

• I booked a table for two for…(7 pm)
• It’s under the name of…
• A table for two pleases
• May we sit at this table?

What the restaurant staff say:

• What can I do for you?
• Can I help you?
• Do you have a reservation?
• Have you booked a table?
• How many are you?
• Would you like to wait in the bar?
• We’re full booked at the moment. Could you come back a bit later?
• Or Your table isn’t quite ready yet.
• If you wait, there’ll be a table for you free in a minute.
• Smoking, or non-smoking?
• Of course. Please come this way.
• Would you follow me, please?

Ordering / Asking about The Menu

What the restaurant staff say:

• Hi, I’m Sue, I’ll be your server for tonight.
• Can I take your order, sir/madam?
• Are you ready to order? (We’re not ready yet)
• Can I take your order?
• Are you ready to order yet?
• What would you like to start with?
• What would you like for a starter?
• What do you want for the main course?
• How would you like your steak? (rare, medium, well done)
• Do you want a salad with it?
• What kind of dressing?
• The burgers are very good.
• Sorry, the hamburgers are off.
• Do you want vegetables with it?
• Why don’t you try the pizza?
• It’ll take about 20 minutes.
• Would you like…(chips) with that?
• What would you like for dessert?
• Do you want a dessert?
• What would you like to drink with your meal?
• What would you like to drink?
• Anything to drink?
• Would you like any wine with that?
• Can I get you a drink while you’re waiting?
• Red or white?
• Would you like any coffee?

What you can say:

• Could you bring us the menu, please?
• The menu, please.
• What’s on the menu?
• Do you have a set menu?
• What’s …exactly?
• Is this served with..(salad)?
• Does this have any…(Seafood) in it?
• What do you recommend?
• I’ll have…
• I’d like…
• Can I have…
• We’d like to order…
• Could you bring us the salt/pepper/ketchup/vinegar, please?
• I’ll have the soup as a starter.
• I’ll have the steak for the main course.
• I’ll have it rare/ medium rare/ medium/ well done, please.
• That’s all, thank you.

If there are problems with the order, the waiter can say:

• I don’t think we have anymore…(steak) left. I’ll check with the kitchen.
• I’m sorry, but the king prawn soup is finished.

Getting the Bill

What you say:

• Could I have the bill, please?
• Can we have the bill please?
• Could we get the bill?
• Could we pay please?

Paying at A Restaurant

What you hear:

• Are you paying together?
• Did you enjoy your meal?

When you want to pay, you can say:

• Could I have the check, please?
• Can I have the check, please?
• We’ll take the check.

Sometimes, you may also want to say:

• Do you accept credit cards?
• Can we have separate checks?
• We’re going to split the bill.

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