[Eating Out] Most Common Questions

How often do you eat out? I eat out once a week because it is healthier to eat at home (I'm a picky eater =P).

Here are the most common questions to ask the waiter when you are eating out at a restaurant, you will have no problems ordering at the restaurant after going through this ; )

💁: waiter 👩: you

Arriving at the restaurant:

1. Made a booking:

• I have a reservation under the name _______ (your name).

• I've made a reservation under the name of _______ (your name).

2. Did not make a booking:

• 👩Is there any available table? →💁A table for how many people?

• 👩How long is the wait?

⌛After waiting for a long time:

• 👩How much longer do we have to wait?

After seated at a table, waiter will bring the menu & water:

• 💁Would you like something to drink?

1. Want to order a drink:

• 👩I'll have ______, please.

2. Don't want to order a drink:

• 👩Water is fine.

Do not have the menu/waiter is busy and does not come to take your order:

• 👩May I have the menu please?

• 👩Excuse me, I'm ready to order.

Waiter comes to the table to take your order:

• 💁Are you ready to order?

• 💁Would you like to order now?

• 💁May I take your order?

1. Not ready to order:

• 👩Can I have a couple more minutes?

• 👩Give me a minute.

2. Ready to order:

• 👩I'll have this. *points on the menu*

• 👩I would like to have _________ (dish name).

3. I don't know what to order:

• 👩What’s today’s special? →💁Today’s special is BBQ chicken.→👩Ok. I’ll have the special, please.

• I want to order the same dish as the other table: 👩I’ll have that *points at the dish from the other table*.

Questions to ask while ordering:

1. Diet preference:

• 👩Is there any vegetarian options🌱?

• 👩Is this spicy🌶? / Can I have it not spicy?

• 👩Does this have _____ (ingredient name). I can't have ______ (ingredient name). (e.g. Does this have nuts? I can't have nuts.)

• 👩Can you put the sauce on the side? (separate the sauce from the dish)

2. Don't know what the dish is

• 👩What's a _______ (dish name)? *points at the menu*

Canceling the order:

• Excuse me, I would like to cancel ____.

• Excuse me, I would like to cancel the order.

Asking for:

• 👩May I have ____ please? -- a pair of chopsticks🥢/ a knife / a spoon🥄 / a fork -- an extra bowl -- vinegar / soy sauce / pepper / ketchup

Finished eating:

• 👩May I have the check/bill please.

Need someone to practice with? Come to my eating out lesson and you'll be able to order your next meal in English!

↘ What do you usually order in a restaurant? Comment below!↙