Ordering Food and Drink in Busy Local Restaurants.

In this lesson you sit down in a busy local restaurant or café and use English to enjoy your meal. You learn vocabulary for menu sections, common dishes and cooking methods so you can understand what is on offer. You practise asking for a table, checking what is included and asking the server for recommendations. You also learn how to explain allergies and dietary needs clearly, so you can stay safe and comfortable. Listening tasks help you catch typical questions from staff about drinks, sides and desserts. You then work on handling the bill: asking for the bill, checking items, splitting the bill and talking about tips. Through guided role plays you bring all of these steps together, from arriving to paying. By the end you can order food and drink politely and deal with small questions or problems without stress.

1. Arriving and asking for a table.

Imagine you have just walked into a busy local restaurant on a Friday night. People are talking, music is playing softly, and staff are moving quickly between tables. You are a bit hungry and maybe a little nervous. Now it is your turn to speak to the host or server at the door. In this block we will focus on this first moment: how to ask for a table, how to answer simple questions, and how to sound polite and confident. You will hear a short conversation between a customer and a host. Listen carefully for three things: first, how the customer asks for a table; second, how many people are in the group; and third, where they want to sit. Do not worry if you do not catch every single word. Your main job is to understand the key information and to recognise some useful phrases such as ‘Table for two, please’ and ‘Could we sit by the window?’. After you listen, you will answer a few questions in writing, and then you will write what you would say in the same situation. This is the language you really use when you go out to eat on your next trip.

The first step in a restaurant: talking to the host.

When you enter a busy restaurant or café, the first person you usually speak to is the host or a server at the door. This short conversation is important, because it decides where you sit and sometimes how long you wait.

Here is a typical door conversation:

Host: Good evening. How many people?

Customer: Table for two, please.

Host: Do you have a reservation?

Customer: No, we do not.

Host: No problem. Would you like to sit inside or on the terrace?

Customer: Could we sit by the window?

Host: Of course. This way, please.

Notice how the customer keeps the language short, polite and clear. At B1 level you do not need very complex sentences here. Simple, correct phrases are perfect.

Useful phrases for asking for a table.

Here are some very common and natural phrases you can use when you arrive:

• Table for two, please.
• Table for four, please.
• Can we sit outside?
• Could we sit by the window?
• Can I see the menu, please?

A good pattern to remember is:

Table for + number of people + please.

For example:

• Table for one, please.
• Table for three, please.

You can add a short extra detail:

• Table for two, please, near the window if possible.

Common questions from staff.

The host may ask you these questions:

• How many people?
• Do you have a reservation?
• Inside or outside?
• Would you like a table by the window?

Try to answer with full but short sentences:

• We are three people.
• No, we do not have a reservation.
• Inside, please.

In a moment you will listen to a real example and then try to write your own answer, as if you are really standing at the restaurant door.

Practice & Feedback

First, listen to the short conversation between the host and the customer. Do not write while you listen the first time. Just try to understand the situation: how many people, where they sit, and whether they have a reservation.

Then listen again if you need. After that, in the box, write:

The answers to these three questions in full sentences:

• How many people is the table for?
• Do they have a reservation?
• Where do they sit?

One or two sentences about what you would say in this situation. For example, imagine you are with one friend and you want to sit outside. Use phrases from the screen such as Table for two, please or Could we sit outside?.

Try to write at least 4–5 sentences in total. Focus on being clear and polite, not on being perfect.

2. Understanding a simple menu.

Now that you have your table, the next step is usually the menu. In a new country, menus can be confusing: many dishes, unknown words, and sometimes a lot of information in a small space. In this block we will slow down and look at a simple restaurant menu together, so you can find the information you really need. When you read a menu, you do not have to understand every single word. Instead, it helps to recognise the main sections, such as starters, mains, desserts and drinks. It is also useful to know common cooking words like grilled, fried and baked, and to see symbols for vegetarian or spicy food. On the screen you will see a short example menu from a small local bistro. We will focus on understanding the sections, basic dish types and key words. Then you will answer some questions about the menu in writing. This will help you practise scanning the text for important details, like which dish has chicken, which one is vegetarian and which dessert contains nuts. These are exactly the skills you need when you sit in a busy café and the server is waiting for your order.

Reading the menu without stress.

In many restaurants, menus are full of information. Your goal is not to translate every word, but to find what matters: type of dish, main ingredients and maybe price.

Look at this example menu from a small place called Sunny Street Bistro:

Sunny Street Bistro – Evening Menu.

Starters

• Tomato soup (V) – Fresh tomato soup served with bread.
• Garlic bread (V) – Warm bread with garlic and herbs.
• Grilled prawns – Prawns grilled with lemon and chilli.

Mains

• Grilled chicken with vegetables – Chicken breast grilled and served with seasonal vegetables.
• Spaghetti with tomato and cheese (V) – Pasta in a tomato sauce with cheese on top.
• Baked fish of the day – Local fish baked in the oven with herbs.

Desserts

• Chocolate cake – Rich chocolate cake with cream.
• Fruit salad (V) – Mix of fresh seasonal fruit.
• Almond ice cream – Vanilla ice cream with almonds and caramel sauce.

Drinks

• Still water / sparkling water
• Soft drinks
• House wine (red or white)
• Coffee / tea

Menu vocabulary.

Some useful words from this menu:

• grilled – cooked on a grill, often with lines on the meat or vegetables.
• fried – cooked in hot oil in a pan.
• baked – cooked in the oven.
• soup – a hot liquid dish, often eaten with a spoon.
• seasonal – made with food that is in season now.

The symbol (V) usually means vegetarian.

When you read a menu, ask yourself simple questions:

• Is this a starter, a main or a dessert?
• Is it meat, fish or vegetarian?
• Does it contain anything I cannot eat, for example nuts?

In the activity, you will answer questions about this menu so you can practise these skills.

Practice & Feedback

Read the menu on the screen carefully. You can look up at it again while you answer the questions. There is no time limit, so take your time to understand the main idea of each dish.

In the box, answer these questions in full sentences:

1. Which starter is vegetarian and does not contain seafood?
2. Which main course is suitable for someone who does not eat meat?
3. Which dessert contains nuts?
4. Which dishes are baked or grilled? Write at least two.
5. Which drink would you normally choose with your meal? Explain in one short sentence, for example: I would choose still water because....

Try to write at least 5–7 sentences in total. Use the menu words from the screen, and do not worry if your spelling is not perfect. Focus on choosing the correct items and writing clear, simple sentences.

3. Ordering mains and drinks politely.

You have your table and you understand the menu. Now it is time for the most important step: actually ordering your food and drink. This is the moment when many learners feel nervous, because the server may speak quickly and ask extra questions. In this block we will practise clear, polite phrases for ordering, so you know exactly what to say. When the server comes to your table, they might say something like, `Are you ready to order?` or `Can I take your order?`. Your job is to say what you want in a simple way. At B1 level, you do not need long, complex sentences. Natural English is short and direct: `I would like the grilled chicken, please` or `Can I have the spaghetti with tomato and cheese?`. We will look at a short model dialogue between a customer and a server. Pay attention to the order of information: first the main dish, then any changes or details, then drinks. You will also see useful questions such as `What do you recommend?`. After that, you will write your own short order, choosing a main dish and a drink, and asking one polite question. This is exactly the kind of language you need every time you eat out.

A complete ordering mini-dialogue.

Here is a typical exchange when you order food and drink:

Server: Are you ready to order?

Customer: Yes, I think so. What do you recommend today?

Server: The baked fish of the day is very popular.

Customer: OK, I would like the baked fish, please.

Server: Would you like any sides?

Customer: Yes, some salad, please.

Server: And to drink?

Customer: Could we have some tap water and a glass of house white wine?

Server: Of course. Thank you.

Key phrases for ordering.

Here are some useful chunks you can reuse in many restaurants and cafés:

• What do you recommend?
• I would like the grilled chicken, please.
• Can I have the spaghetti with tomato and cheese?
• Could we have some tap water?
• Everything was delicious, thank you. (for the end of the meal)

A good structure for ordering is:

1. Say you are ready: Yes, we are ready.
2. Ask for advice if you want: What do you recommend?
3. Order your main dish: I would like the grilled chicken, please.
4. Add details or sides: With a salad, please.
5. Order drinks: Could we have some tap water and two soft drinks?

Politeness and clear pronunciation.

Notice how often the customer uses please and a friendly tone. This is more important than perfect grammar. Try to speak slowly and clearly. If you are not sure how to say the dish name, you can point at the menu and say:

• This one, please.

In the activity, you will read the dialogue again and then write your own short order, using the menu from the previous block or your own favourite food.

Practice & Feedback

Look again at the model dialogue on the screen. Read it slowly and notice how the customer orders the main dish and the drink, and how they ask for a recommendation.

Now imagine you are in Sunny Street Bistro from the previous block. You are ready to order. In the box, write a short dialogue between you and the server with at least four sentences from you. Follow these steps:

1. Say you are ready to order.
2. Ask the server for a recommendation, or ask a small question.
3. Order one main dish from the menu (or invent a similar dish if you prefer).
4. Order at least one drink. Try to include the chunk Could we have some tap water or a similar phrase.

You do not need to write the server’s exact words perfectly, but you can if you like. Focus mainly on your own sentences. Use polite phrases like I would like..., Can I have... and please. Aim for 5–7 lines in total.

4. Talking about allergies and diets.

Ordering food is not only about what you like. Sometimes it is also about your health or your values. If you are allergic to something or you do not eat certain foods, it is very important to explain this clearly in a restaurant. In this block we will practise simple, strong sentences for allergies and diets, and questions to check ingredients. Many learners feel shy about this, but remember: staff need this information to keep you safe. Short and direct is best. For example, `I am allergic to nuts` is much safer than a long, confused sentence. You can then add a request such as `Could I have it without cheese?` or `I do not eat meat`. On the screen you will see some mini-dialogues between customers and servers. Notice how the customer first says the allergy or diet, and then asks a clear question about the dish. After that, in the activity, you will read some short profiles of people with different needs. You will choose one and write what they should say to the server, plus one or two questions. This is very practical language for real travel, especially in busy local restaurants.

Explaining what you cannot eat.

Here are some common and useful sentences when you have a food allergy or a special diet:

• I am allergic to nuts.
• I am allergic to shellfish.
• I do not eat meat.
• I do not eat dairy.
• I am vegan.
• I am vegetarian.

You can also ask the server about ingredients:

• What is in this dish?
• Does this contain nuts?
• Does it have milk or cheese?
• Could I have it without cheese?

Mini-dialogues.

Dialogue 1

Customer: Excuse me. I am allergic to nuts. What is in this dish?

Server: It is chicken with vegetables. There are no nuts in it.

Customer: Thank you. I will have that, please.

Dialogue 2

Customer: I do not eat meat. Is the spaghetti with tomato and cheese vegetarian?

Server: Yes, it is vegetarian. There is no meat.

Customer: Great. Can I have it without cheese?

Server: Of course.

Dialogue 3

Customer: I am vegan. Do you have any vegan options?

Server: The tomato soup without cream and the fruit salad are vegan.

Customer: OK, I would like the soup and the fruit salad, please.

Tips for clear communication.

1. Say the allergy or diet first.
2. Then ask a simple question about the dish.
3. Finally, ask for a change if you need one.

For example:

• I am allergic to nuts. Does this dessert contain nuts?
• I do not eat meat. What do you recommend?

In the activity, you will practise writing these kinds of sentences for different people.

Practice & Feedback

Read the mini-dialogues and useful sentences on the screen again. Think about the clear pattern: first say what you cannot eat, then ask about the dish, then make your request.

Now read the three short profiles in the resource text. Choose one person. Imagine you are that person, sitting in a busy restaurant with the Sunny Street Bistro menu.

In the box, write what you would say to the server. Include:

1. One sentence about your allergy or diet.
2. One clear question about a dish you are interested in.
3. One request to change something in the dish, if necessary (for example without cheese, without cream).

Try to write at least 3–5 sentences in total. Use phrases like I am allergic to, I do not eat, What is in this dish?, Could I have it without.... Focus on being very clear and safe.

5. Asking for and splitting the bill.

The meal is finished, you feel full and happy. Now there is one more important moment: dealing with the bill. In a busy local restaurant this can feel a bit stressful, especially if you want to split the bill with friends or you are not sure about service and tips. In this block we will look at simple, polite phrases to ask for the bill, check items and talk about payment. When you are ready, a very common sentence is `Could we have the bill, please?`. You might also hear the word cheque or check in some countries, but bill is understood in many places. If you and your friend want to pay separately, you can say `Can we pay separately?` or `Can we have two bills?`. Sometimes you need to ask about service charge or tipping. A typical question is `Is service included?`. If everything was good, it is nice to say something positive like `Everything was delicious, thank you` when you pay. On the screen you will see some short examples and then a chat-style conversation between two friends after a meal. In the activity, you will continue the chat and decide how to split the bill, using polite and clear language. This will help you feel more confident when talking about money at the end of a meal.

Key phrases for the bill.

Here are some very useful chunks for the end of your meal:

• Could we have the bill, please?
• Can we pay separately?
• Can we pay together?
• Is service included?
• Can I pay by card?
• Everything was delicious, thank you.

A short mini-dialogue:

Customer: Excuse me. Could we have the bill, please?

Server: Of course. I will bring it in a moment.

Customer: Thank you. Can we pay separately?

Server: Yes, no problem.

Customer: Is service included?

Server: Yes, ten per cent is included.

Customer: Great. Everything was delicious, thank you.

Splitting the bill with a friend.

Often, you will discuss the bill with friends, not with staff. This might be in a quiet conversation at the table, or in a chat app after the meal if one person pays first.

Here is an example WhatsApp style chat after a meal:

Alex: Thanks again for dinner, it was great.

Sam: Yes, it was really nice. The total bill was 60 pounds.

Alex: OK, so that is 30 each.

Sam: I also left a tip of 6 pounds.

Alex: No problem, I can send you 33.

Sam: Thanks. Card or bank transfer is fine.

In the activity, you will continue this kind of conversation and use phrases like Can we pay separately?, Is service included? and a friendly thank you sentence about the food.

Practice & Feedback

Read the example mini-dialogue with the server and the WhatsApp style chat between Alex and Sam on the screen again. Notice the simple, friendly tone and the clear numbers.

Now imagine this situation: you and your friend went to Sunny Street Bistro. The total bill was 48 pounds, and you want to pay separately. Your friend paid everything in the restaurant. Now you are chatting on your phone.

In the box, write a short chat-style conversation between you and your friend. You can write it like this:

You: ...

Friend: ...

You: ...

Include:

• Asking how much the total bill was.
• Suggesting how to split it.
• Asking if service was included.
• Saying you will send your part of the money.
• A friendly sentence like Everything was delicious, thank you.

Try to write at least 6–8 short messages in total. Keep the language simple and polite, like real chat messages.

6. Full restaurant role play from arrival to payment.

You have now practised all the key stages of a restaurant visit: asking for a table, understanding the menu, ordering food and drink, explaining allergies or diets, and dealing with the bill. In this final block we will put everything together in one complete role play. This is your chance to rehearse a whole restaurant experience in English from start to finish. To help you, you will see a simple checklist of steps on the screen, plus a bank of useful chunks such as `Table for two, please`, `What do you recommend?`, `I am allergic to nuts`, `Could we have some tap water?`, and `Could we have the bill, please?`. Use them as building blocks to create your own conversation. Your task is to write a short script or dialogue between you and a server in a busy local restaurant. Imagine it is a real place during your next trip. The conversation should move from arriving and asking for a table, through choosing and ordering, to paying and leaving. Do not worry about being perfect. Focus on including all the main steps and sounding clear and polite. This kind of rehearsal is powerful: when you are really in a restaurant, you will remember these lines and feel much calmer.

Your complete restaurant journey.

Here is a simple checklist of stages in a typical restaurant visit:

1. Arrive and talk to the host.
2. Sit down and look at the menu.
3. Ask for recommendations or more information.
4. Explain any allergies or diets.
5. Order food and drink.
6. Enjoy your meal and maybe ask for extra water or bread.
7. Ask for the bill and talk about payment.
8. Say goodbye and maybe give a compliment.

Useful chunk bank.

Here are some key phrases from this lesson. Try to use many of them in your script:

• Table for two, please.
• Could we sit by the window?
• Can I see the menu, please?
• What do you recommend?
• What is in this dish?
• I am allergic to nuts.
• I do not eat meat.
• Could I have it without cheese?
• I would like the grilled chicken, please.
• Could we have some tap water?
• Could we have the bill, please?
• Can we pay separately?
• Is service included?
• Everything was delicious, thank you.

Mini example script.

Host: Good evening. How many people?

You: Table for two, please. Could we sit by the window?

Host: Of course. This way, please.

Later, when ordering:

Server: Are you ready to order?

You: Yes. I am allergic to nuts. What is in this dish?

Server: It is grilled chicken with vegetables. There are no nuts.

You: Great. I would like the grilled chicken, please. And could we have some tap water?

Later, at the end:

You: Excuse me. Could we have the bill, please?

Server: Of course.

You: Is service included?

Server: Yes, it is.

You: Perfect. Everything was delicious, thank you.

Now it is your turn to create a full dialogue that fits your style and your next trip.

Practice & Feedback

Use the checklist and the chunk bank on the screen to help you. Imagine a real situation: you are in a busy local restaurant during your next holiday or work trip.

In the box, write a complete dialogue between you and the restaurant staff. You can write it like a script with names, for example:

Host: ...

You: ...

Server: ...

You: ...

Your dialogue should:

• Start with arriving and asking for a table.
• Include at least one question about the menu or a recommendation.
• Include one sentence about an allergy or diet, even if it is imaginary.
• Show you ordering at least one main dish and one drink.
• End with asking for the bill, a question about service or payment, and a friendly goodbye.

Try to write at least 10–14 lines in total. Use as many of the useful chunks as you can, but change the details to make it personal. This is your final practice to prepare for real restaurants.