Welcome to today’s lesson! Whether you’re a foodie or just looking to navigate a restaurant confidently, this lesson will help you learn essential vocabulary for dining out.
Understanding these words will make ordering food and communicating with restaurant staff much easier. Let’s dive in!
Restaurant vocabulary list:
- Menu – A list of dishes available in a restaurant.
- Table – A piece of furniture with a flat top and legs, where you sit to eat.
- Waiter/Waitress – A person who serves food and drinks in a restaurant.
- Order – A request for food or drink in a restaurant.
- Appetizer – A small dish served before the main course to stimulate the appetite.
- Main Course – The primary dish in a meal, typically including meat or fish.
- Dessert – A sweet dish typically served at the end of a meal.
- Beverage – A drink, especially one other than water.
- Specials – Dishes that are not on the regular menu and are offered for a limited time.
- Bill/Check – A statement of the total cost of a meal in a restaurant.
- Reservation – An arrangement to have a table reserved at a restaurant.
- Tip/Gratuity – Additional money given to the waiter or waitress for good service.
- Cuisine – A style or method of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country, region, or establishment.
- Utensils – Tools or instruments used in the kitchen or for eating, such as forks, knives, and spoons.
- Condiments – Sauces or seasonings used to add flavor to food, like ketchup, mustard, or salt.
- Buffet – A self-service counter or table where meals are laid out for guests to serve themselves.
- Chef – A professional cook, typically the chief cook in a restaurant.
- Vegetarian – A person who does not eat meat.
- Allergies – A strong, abnormal response of the immune system to substances in the environment, especially food.
- Takeout/To-Go – Food prepared in a restaurant for customers to take home.
Practice sentences:
- The menu has a variety of options, from appetizers to desserts.
- Please find a comfortable table for us by the window.
- The waiter will take your order shortly.
- I’d like the lasagna as my main course, please.
- The chocolate cake for dessert is delicious here.
- What beverage would you recommend to pair with the steak?
- The specials tonight include a seafood risotto and a grilled salmon dish.
- Could we get the bill when you have a moment, please?
- I made a reservation for two under the name Smith.
- It’s customary to leave a tip for good service.
Congratulations! You’ve completed the “In the Restaurant” vocabulary lesson. Now you’ll be better prepared to enjoy dining out and communicate effectively in a restaurant setting!
