Restaurant vocabulary
Learn the English words you need to order at a restaurant.
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Flashcards
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Learn
A quiz that adapts to your pace: multiple choice that progresses to typing the answer.
Write
Listen to the word and type it. Great for practicing spelling and pronunciation.
Match
Match the words against the clock. A fun, low-pressure way to review.
Terms in this deck
- menua list of food and drinks a restaurant offers
- waitera man who takes orders and serves food at a restaurant
- waitressa woman who takes orders and serves food at a restaurant
- orderthe food and drinks you ask for at a restaurant
- billthe piece of paper that shows how much you owe
- checkanother word for the bill at a restaurant
- tipextra money given to a server for good service
- reservationan arrangement to have a table saved for you
- hostthe person who greets you and seats you at a restaurant
- appetizera small dish served before the main meal
- main coursethe biggest and most important dish of the meal
- desserta sweet dish eaten at the end of a meal
- to gofood ordered to take away instead of eating there
- deliverywhen food is brought to your house
- servera person who serves food and drinks at a restaurant
- chefa professional cook, often in charge of a kitchen
- bootha table with bench-like seats on both sides
- buffeta meal where you serve yourself from many dishes
- speciala dish only offered on a certain day, often at a lower price
- side disha small dish served along with the main course
- portionthe amount of food served to one person
- leftoversfood that is not finished and can be saved
- doggy baga bag used to take home food you did not finish
- drive-thrua place where you order and pick up food without leaving your car
- takeoutfood you buy at a restaurant to eat somewhere else
- strawa thin tube used to drink a beverage
- high chaira tall chair used to seat a small child at the table
- vegetariana person who does not eat meat
- vegana person who does not eat any animal products
- allergichaving a bad reaction to a certain food
- spicyhaving a hot, strong taste from peppers or spices
- refillto fill a drink again after it is empty
- split the billto share the cost of a meal between two or more people
How to study this deck
With this deck you can handle a restaurant from start to finish: ask for a table (reservation), read the menu, order (appetizer, main course, dessert) and pay (bill, tip). Practice the full dialogue aloud with a friend, switching between waiter and customer.
The trickiest words
- bill / check: bill is used in the UK and check in the US. Both mean the amount to pay.
- appetizer: it is the first small dish. In the UK it is called a "starter".
- tip: it is extra money you leave for good service, usually 15 to 20 percent in the US.
Examples in context
She looked at the menu before ordering.
Can we have the bill, please?
The host showed us to our table.
I would like this order to go.
They sat in a booth by the window.
The portions at this restaurant are huge.
We got takeout instead of cooking.
The restaurant has several vegan dishes.
Mini dialogue
- A: Good evening. Do you have a reservation?
- B: Yes, a table for two under Ramos.
- A: Here is the menu. Are you ready to order?
- B: Yes, we will have the soup and the chicken. And the bill, please, at the end.