Have you ever felt blocked when it comes to ordering food at a restaurant?
You're at the restaurant and the waitress asks you, what would you like?
And you're like uh uh, and then you just randomly point to an item and order because you don't know what else to say.
I've done that.
I've been there in france at a chinese restaurant.
I ended up ordering something just terrible.
I couldn't even eat it.
So let me spare you the misery and teach you some of the most common phrases used when ordering food and some of the most common questions asked.
First of all, It might be helpful to reserve a table.
It's quite simple.
You can call the restaurant and they will most likely answer by the restaurant's name.
And then you can say, I would like to make a reservation for this evening or whenever it is.
So it could be tomorrow.
It could be next week.
They will usually ask you for how many people and you would respond two people, four people, however many people.
It's common to hear how many people are in your party.
Or if you're at a restaurant and say your name was on the waiting list, so you're just sitting there waiting for your table, the hostess will say your last name plus party of how many people.
So for me, my last name is Hanson.
I would hear Hanson, party of five, and that just means my group.
So then you stand up and go to the table.
Okay, back to that phone call.
After you say how many people are in your party, they will ask you what time that you would like your reservation for.
Remember, In the US we don't use military time.
So if you say 18 o'clock, they won't know what you're talking about.
Trust me.
So 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., whatever time.
They may also ask you, do you prefer indoor or outdoor seating?
Because some restaurants have a nice terrace outside, but some people don't like to sit outside.
They may also ask, you, do you prefer a booth or a table?
So a booth?
It's a table, but it usually has benches on two or even three of the sides that you can't move.
So you could say, I would like indoor seating, or I would like outdoor seating.
I would like a booth or I would like a table.
Okay, so then you show up to the restaurant.
Maybe you're right on time, maybe you're a minute early and the hostess may ask you do you have a reservation?
And you can respond, yes, under the name Brown.
Obviously, whatever your name is.
Yes, under the name, she will most likely confirm, Brown, party of four.
And you can say, yes, that's correct.
Or you can just say, yes, ma'am.
They use ma'am a lot here in the South.
It's a way to be extra polite and to also show respect.
She will then say, right this way or follow me.
And she will proceed to seat you at your table, usually with the menus.
Then she will say your server your waitress means the same thing will be right with you.
So she may say can I start you off with any drinks?
She means like any drinks, so you can say water, if she hasn't brought it soda.
She'll ask you what kind alcoholic drink.
Whatever you prefer to drink.
She usually won't take your order right away, So I just recommend to memorize the drinks that you prefer.
The other day a Brazilian friend ordered lemon soda and our server was like we don't have lemon soda.
And then me and my husband were like, he wants Sprite, which is lemon soda.
So she's like, Oh, Sprite.
Yes.
Okay.
So she also may ask you in this moment after drinks, if, You want any appetizers.
Can I start you off with an appetizer?
So that's just a small portion of something that you share before your meal.
Many restaurants serve things like bread if you're in an Italian restaurant, or chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant, and you don't have to pay for those.
Those are complimentary.
The restaurant gives them, but an appetizer that's listed on the menu.
Yes, you have to pay for that, so you can say yes, we will have or no thanks.
Yes, we will have then whatever you want, or no thanks.
So typically in an american restaurant there are appetizers and drinks, a main course and dessert.
That's most restaurants, but you don't have to get an appetizer desserts, it's up to you.
Here's where it can get tricky food vocabulary.
So i would recommend at least memorizing the foods you really like, foods that you're allergic to and foods that you just hate, that you don't want to eat, just so then you can be sure that you're at least ordering something that you like, that you're not allergic to and and that you don't hate because you want to enjoy your meal.
Restaurants are expensive, so you don't have to memorize every single vocabulary word for food.
But if you can memorize those few, it will help you out.
You can also ask your waiter or waitress server are there any specials today?
Because often restaurants offer specials that are not on the menu.
Okay.
Or if you don't know what to order, you can say, what is your best seller?
What is your best seller?
That means that they sell that dish all the time.
So it's probably good.
If you're a vegetarian, that means you don't eat meat.
So you can ask your server, Do you have any vegetarian options that you can recommend?
Do you have any vegetarian options you can recommend?
If you're a vegan, this could be a little trickier, meaning harder, because that's no animal products, including eggs or cheese.
So you could ask your server, do you have a vegan option?
Do you have a vegan option?
If you order a salad, your server will ask you, what kind of dressing do you want with that?
So I know most restaurants in the rest of the world serve olive oil and vinegar, and then maybe you have salt and pepper you can add on.
Here in the US, we have so many dressing options.
So you can say, I will have French.
I will have ranch.
I will have a thousand Island.
I know there's a lot.
Don't be overwhelmed.
You can also order the house dressing, which is usually typically a special dressing made in that restaurant.
So you can say, I'll have the house dressing.
I'll have the house dressing.
If you order a steak, they will ask you, How would you like that cooked?
Okay, so there's a lot of options for this one.
Let's go over this briefly.
This is getting away from me.
You can say rare.
You want your steak cooked rare, which means pretty bloody, very red on the inside.
Medium rare means a warm red center.
It's the most standard option medium no red, but pink.
Medium well just has a tiny bit of pink, and well done means you won't see any pink at all.
Okay, so now you know how you can order your steak depending on how red or not red you want.
It so very common to hear what side dish would you like with that or what sides would you like with that?
So that just means what do you want with your steak or with your chicken?
So some common sides, or french fries, or broccoli or a potato.
So there's usually a list of what you can order, but that's what sides mean.
Typically you don't order your dessert at the beginning of the meal, so it'll be after you've finished your meal.
Your server may come up to you and say Did you save room for dessert?
And you can say, no, I'm so full.
Or yes, what do you have?
And you'll typically find chocolate options like a brownie or chocolate cake, fruity options like an apple pie or sometimes ice cream, creme brulee even.
There's a lot of good options.
So after your dessert, time for the bill.
Typically your server doesn't come up to you and bring you your bill.
Usually you have to ask so you could say the bill please, or can we get the check?
Can we get the check?
Maybe you see your waiter across the restaurant and you just capture her eye.
You can go like this, like pretend you're signing, and she'll know ah, they're ready for their bill.
So she'll come over to you with the bill and maybe she sees a lot of food because American portions are huge.
And so she might ask you, do you want a to go box?
Or if she doesn't, you can say, can I get this to go or can I get a to go box?
And then she'll bring you something to package up your food.
Some restaurants take your plate and package it up for you in the back, but more common than not, you are the one to package up your food.
So then she'll bring you the bill and you can pay by cash or with a card, but remember to tip.
In the US, we leave anywhere from 15 to 25%.
So if your meal was $50, you should leave at least $7.50 to $12.50 for the tip.
I know it seems like a lot, but servers are only paid a couple dollars an hour.
They live off of their tips.
So it's super important to tip.
Waiters actually make a really good salary on tips here in the States.
So I think that brings us to the end of our video.
I hope that you feel more confident now, just understanding the experience what could happen at a restaurant and that you feel like okay, I'm prepared for this.
So have you ever eaten out before and had to use your English?
I would love to hear about your experience.
As always, thank you so much for your support.
Thank you guys.
Ciao, ciao.
