Eating out Intermediate level

(B1) Lesson 1 Eating Out

Cultural notes

Many restaurants automatically add a service charge to the bill. If the service is terrible you can refuse to pay it.

Key Vocabulary

Order- to ask for food or drink in a restaurant

• Are you ready to order your meal?

Menu-a list of the food that you can order at a restaurant

• I'm still looking at the menu can you come back?

Beverage-a drink

• What beverage would you like to order? I'll buy one for you.

Tips- money you pay your waiter/waitress when you eat out

• I enjoyed our meal and the service was great let's tip our waiter

Check/Bill- you have to pay at the end of your meal

• Are you ready for the check? Yes we are ready to pay.

Reservation- the way to book a table at a restaurant in advance

• Hi I booked a reservation for a table for two it's under the name...

Let's Think!

Restaurant Phrases

What is your favourite restaurant? Do you usually book a reservation there?

Ordering food

Paying for the meal

Arriving at a restaurant

Excuse me could I have the bill, please?No, please. This is on me. (when you want to pay for everyone) We'd like separate bills, please. Is service included? Can I have the card machine please?

For starters I'll have the soup and for the main course I'd like the roast beef. Could I have chips instead of roast potatoes, please? What do you recommend? Can I order another drink please? Can I see the wine menu please?

Good evening, I have a table booked for six the name is... Can I have a table for two please? Could we have a table over there, please? Could we have an extra chair, please?.

Cultural notes

Roleplay

It's best to reserve a table for evenings on the weekend. Or when you need a table for 4 people as wait times can be up to 1 hour

Waiter- Good evening do you have a reservation?Customer- No sorry I don't Waiter- That's okay we aren't busy tonight is that a table for one? Customer- Actually my friend is joining me but she's running late. Waiter- No problem right this way, sir you can sit by the window. Customer- May I have the menu, please? Waiter- Certainly, here it is. I’ll be back in a few minutes to take your order. Waiter- Are you ready to order, sir? Customer-Not yet. Do you have any specials? Waiter- Today’s special is beef stroganoff. Customer-OK, that sounds good. I’ll have that Waiter- Very good. What would you like to drink, sir? Customer-A beer, please. Waiter- Certainly. I’ll be back with your beverage in a minute.

Listen to Kevin at a noodle bar what is he ordering?

Does Kevin like spicy food?

What's your favourite food?

How often do you eat out?

A Busy night

Situation

YA customer has a reservation at a nice restaurant tonight and it's very busy. He/She hasn't been here before and needs help to order from the menu. The customer complains because they have been waiting too long for their main course.

Waiter/Waitress

Greet the customer and take their drink orderOffer to come back in 5 minutes to take their food orderApologise for the delay and offer a free drink Check to see if everything is okay

Excuse me I have been wating a while for my food.I apologise sir/ma'am can I get you a complimentary drink? What would you recommend? Excuse me can I have the bill please? How was your meal? Could I have__ instead of the ___?

Customer

You need some time choose from the menu. Ask the waiter/waitress for recommendations You have sat here for 30 minutes and your food hasn't come yet. Complain to your waiter/waitress and ask for an explanation Ask for the bill and the card machine

Question Time

What kinds of food can you cook? Would you like to learn how to cook more types of food? What is your national dish? What ingredients does it have? Is it eaten at a special time of year? Do you eat a healthy diet? Why or why not? Where is the best place to eat in your city? Why is it so good? What kinds of food did you eat when you were a child? Do you eat the same things now? If you could only eat three meals for the rest of your life, what would they be? What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?