Ordering Food at a Restaurant

Why Learn Restaurant English?

Eating out is something we all do — at home and when travelling. Knowing how to order food, ask about the menu, and pay the bill in English gives you confidence in any English-speaking restaurant. These phrases are useful whether you are in London, New York, Sydney, or ordering at an international restaurant in your own city.

Restaurant Vocabulary

People

Things on the Table

Parts of a Meal

Useful Phrases: Step by Step

Step 1: Arriving

• "Hello, do you have a table for two, please?"
• "I have a reservation under the name Smith."
• "Can we sit by the window / outside / in a quiet area?"

Step 2: Looking at the Menu

• "Could we see the menu, please?"
• "Do you have a vegetarian / children's menu?"
• "What do you recommend?"
• "What is the soup of the day?"
• "Does this dish contain nuts / dairy / gluten?" (for allergies)
• "How spicy is this?"

Step 3: Ordering

Polite ways to order:

• "I'd like the chicken salad, please."
• "Could I have the grilled fish, please?"
• "I'll have the pasta with tomato sauce."
• "Can I get a glass of water, please?" (more casual)
• "For me, the steak, please."

Ordering drinks:

• "Could I have a still / sparkling water?"
• "I'd like a coffee with milk, please."
• "A glass of orange juice, please."

If you need more time:

• "Could we have a few more minutes, please?"
• "We're not ready to order yet."

Step 4: During the Meal

• "Excuse me, could we have some more bread, please?"
• "Could I have another glass of water?"
• "This is not what I ordered. I ordered the fish, not the chicken."
• "This is delicious, thank you!"

Step 5: Paying

• "Could we have the bill / check, please?"
• "Can I pay by card?"
• "Do you accept Visa / Mastercard?"
• "Is service included?" (= is the tip included?)
• "Keep the change." (when paying with cash and leaving a tip)
• "We'd like to split the bill, please." (= each person pays their part)

Example Dialogue

Server: Good evening! Welcome to Bella's. Do you have a reservation? You: Yes, a reservation for two under the name Park. Server: Right this way. Here's your table. I'll bring you the menus. You: Thank you!

(A few minutes later)

Server: Are you ready to order? You: Could I have the mushroom soup as a starter, and then I'd like the grilled salmon, please. Server: Excellent choice. And for you, sir? Friend: I'll have the Caesar salad and the chicken pasta, please. Server: Would you like anything to drink? You: A sparkling water for me, please. Friend: And I'll have a lemonade. Server: Perfect, I'll be right back.

(After the meal)

You: Excuse me, could we have the bill, please? Server: Of course. Here you are. You: Can I pay by card? Server: Absolutely. Just tap here. Thank you! You: Thank you, everything was delicious!

British vs. American English

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Forgetting to be polite

• Too direct: "Give me a coffee."
• Polite: "Could I have a coffee, please?"

Mistake 2: Confusing "bill" and "recipe"

• A bill = what you pay at a restaurant
• A recipe = instructions to cook food at home

Mistake 3: Saying "I want" instead of "I'd like"

• Too direct: "I want the pasta."
• Better: "I'd like the pasta, please."

Mistake 4: Confusing "cooker" and "cook"

• A cooker = the machine (oven/stove)
• A cook / chef = the person who makes food

Practice Tips

1. Read a menu in English online from a restaurant in London or New York. Practice ordering out loud.
2. Role-play with a friend: One person is the server, the other is the customer. Switch roles.
3. Next time you eat out, try to think about what you would say in English at each step.
4. Learn 5 food words from the menu section that you eat regularly — knowing the names of your favourite foods is very practical!