Vocabulary and Phrases

Common Vocabulary and Phrases

  • Reservation – “I’d like to make a reservation for two at 7 PM.”

  • Waiter/Waitress – “The waitress recommended the chef’s special.”

  • Appetizer – “We ordered a salad as an appetizer.”

  • Main course – “For my main course, I had grilled salmon.”

  • Dessert – “Chocolate cake is my favorite dessert.”

  • Specialty – “This restaurant’s specialty is seafood pasta.”

  • Buffet – “The hotel offers an all-you-can-eat buffet.”

  • Fine dining – “Fine dining restaurants usually have a formal dress code.”

  • Takeout – “We decided to order takeout instead of eating there.”

  • Allergic – “I’m allergic to peanuts, so I asked about the ingredients.”

  • Bill (Check in U.S.) – “Could you bring us the bill, please?”

  • Tip – “It’s customary to leave a tip for the waiter.”

  • Menu – “Can I see the menu, please?”

  • Ambience – “The restaurant had a romantic ambience with dim lighting.”

  • Crowded – “The restaurant was so crowded that we had to wait for a table.”

Short Quiz

  1. What is another word for “bill” in American English?

  2. What do you call the meal that comes after the main course?

  3. If a restaurant is “crowded,” what does that mean?

  4. What word describes the overall atmosphere of a restaurant?

  5. What should you leave for good service in a restaurant?

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