There aren’t a lot of “rules” to follow in an English conversation. You can never know or predict what the other person is going to say. However, you can learn some common sentences to use in specific situations to help you feel more relaxed, prepared, and confident.

When I was in Disney World, I listened closely to everything the servers in restaurants said so that I could help you feel comfortable when you go to a restaurant! This lesson includes things people will say to you in a restaurant, and things you can say in a restaurant.

Listen: Episode 27: I Went to Disney World!

 

Finding a Table

Please wait to be seated.
You may see this sign when you walk in the door of the restaurant. In some restaurants you can walk in and find a table yourself. In other restaurants you have to wait for a host (male) or hostess (female) to take you to a table.

Wait. Seat is a verb?

Yes, in a restaurant, seat is a verb. It means take someone to a seat or give someone a place to sit. In the sentence “Please wait to be seated,” this is the passive form of seat. It means that you need to wait for a host or hostess to seat you.

Here are some things the host or hostess will say to you:

How many?
Tell the hostess how many people are in your group.

Your table will be ready in 15 minutes. Please have a seat. We’ll call you when your table is ready.
Sometimes you have to wait for an available table. Many restaurants will have a bar area where you can wait for your table and have some drinks.

This way, please.
Follow me.
Come with me.
Anna will show you to your table.
When your table is ready, a hostess will take you to your table.

In the last sentence, the verb show means lead or take.

 
Learn more: Travel Vocabulary: Planning a Trip

 

Meeting Your Server

We used to call them waiters and waitresses, but I have noticed that they now prefer to be called servers. A server is the person who takes your order and brings your food to your table.

Your order is the food and drinks that you ask for at a restaurant.

Here are some ways that your server will introduce himself or herself:

My name is Jane. I’ll be your server this afternoon / this evening / today.
Hi, I’m Mark. I’ll be your server this evening.

If you have any questions or need anything, please let me know.

 

 

Ordering Food

Things Your Server May Say

Have you had a chance to decide?
What would you like?
What can I get for you?
Tell the server what you want to eat.

And what would you like to have?
And what would you like to eat? (with the stress on you)
The server moves around the table asking each person what he wants to eat. When she finishes taking one order, she says this to the next person.

How would you like that done?
How would you like that cooked?
When you order a steak in a restaurant, the server will ask you how you want it cooked. Choose one of these replies:

blue
rare – red on the inside
medium rare
medium – pink on the inside
medium well – a little bit of pink on the inside
well done – brown on the inside
Chicago – charred on the outside (black from burning) and rare on the inside

You can see a picture of the differences here.

Would you like the salad dressing on the side?
on the side = you want something next to your food, not on it

For example, salad dressing on the side means you don’t want your salad to come with the salad dressing on it. You want it in a little dish next to the salad.

Want me to bring out the salad with the entrées?
You order a salad as your entire meal, but other people at your table ordered a salad as an appetizer (a small plate of food you eat before the main dish) and something else as their main dish (or entrée). The server may ask you if you want to eat your salad now, or wait until everyone has their main dish. If so, she will wait and bring your salad with the entrées.

 

Your Replies

I would like the …
Can I get the … ?
When you want to order your food, start your sentences with these phrases. Notice that you use the article the when choosing something from the menu. You are choosing a specific food, and the name of that food is on the menu.

Learn more: When NOT to use “the”

Would it be possible to get that without vegetables?
Would it be possible to get that with fries instead of vegetables?
Can I get that with fries instead of vegetables?
You order an entrée, but it comes with vegetables. You don’t like vegetables. You want to eat fries instead.

Can I get the salad dressing on the side?

 

During the Meal

How is everything so far?
Are you enjoying your meal?
Throughout the meal the server will come to your table to make sure everything is OK.

Would you like a refill?
You are drinking Coke. Your glass is empty. Refill means fill again, or fill your glass with Coke again.

Some more water?
Glasses of tap water are always free at restaurants. Notice that in spoken English, in informal situations, a speaker will leave out do You will know it’s a question because her voice will go up at the end.

Does anyone care for more bread?
A lot of restaurants in Canada and the US provide a bread in a basket before each meal.

Are you finished?
All finished?

Anything else I can get for you?
Can I get you anything else?

Does anyone want to see the dessert menu?
Some restaurants have two menus: one for appetizers & entrees, and one for desserts.

 

Paying

Cash or card?
Do you want to pay your bill with cash or with your credit card? (Or your bank card?)

Pronunciation tip: Remember, in fast, natural spoken English, the conjunction or is pronounced like the -er /ɚ/ sound at the end of other or mother, so cash or really sounds like casher /kæʃɚ/.

Learn more: Episode 17: The reduced form of or

Do you need the machine?
If you want to use your credit card or your bank card to pay your bill, the server can bring a portable machine to your table.

 

Have you eaten at a restaurant in Canada or the US? Did your server say something you didn’t understand? Did you say something that your server didn’t understand? Ask questions or tell your story in the comments below!