One of the best ways to practice your English in a real-life situation is eating out at a restaurant. Whether you eat at a formal restaurant where bookings are essential, or go to a fast-food restaurant, the following dialogue can give you a good idea of the vocabulary used and the etiquette expected of a patron at an English restaurant.
Example conversation:
Entering the restaurant:
Patron: “Good evening, may I please have a table for one?”
Waiter: “Of course. Please follow me to your table.”
Ordering your food and drinks:
Patron: “May I please see the menu and the drinks menu/wine list?”
Waiter: “Would you like to order something to drink, or should I give you a couple of minutes to go through the menu?”
Patron: “Please give me some time to go through the menu.”
Patron: “I am ready to order now. I would like a glass of your house wine please.”
Waiter: “Would you like to order something to eat now?”
Patron: “Please tell me if this dish is Kosher? / Do you have a vegetarian option?”
Waiter: “Yes it is. / Yes we do.”
Patron: “I would like to have the _____ with a side of salad/rice.”
Waiter: “How would you like your meat done?”
Patron: “Rare/medium/well done.”
Asking for the bill:
Patron: “Thank you, that was delicious. May I please have the bill?”
Some things to remember:
When eating at a restaurant in another country, always research whether you should tip your server and how much you should tip them. In some English countries, servers expect a tip of 10% or even 20%.
Some restaurants expect you to make a reservation while others work on a first-come-first-serve basis. Before choosing a restaurant to eat at, it is wise to research the different dietary needs the restaurant can cater for such as vegan/vegetarian options or religious requirements that are available. Formal restaurants also have dress codes that need to be followed.
Vocabulary:
Restaurant – מִסְעָדָה
Booking – הזמנה מראש
Fast food – אוכל מהיר
Etiquette –כללי ההתנהגות והנימוס המקובלים בחברה מסוימת ,אֶטִיקֶט
Patron – לָקוֹחַ, צַרְכָן, קוֹנֶה
Table for one – שולחן לאחד
Menu –) תַּפְרִיט ( מֶנְיוּ
Wine list – רשימת יינות
Order –להזמין
Vegetarian – צִמְחוֹנִי
Vegan – טִבְעוֹנִי
Bill – חֶשְׁבּוֹן
Dress code – קוד לבוש, התאמת הלבוש לסיטואציה מסוימת