Use appropriate vocabulary in specific contexts and situations.
E.g
- When asking for and giving advice
- I need some advice. I’ve no idea what to do.
- What do you think I should do?
- What would you recommended?
- What would you do if you were me?
- Do you think I should….?
GIVING ADVICE : POSSIBLE SUGGESTIONS
- You could always …( go to the shop and ask for an exchange.)
- My advice would be to …( take it back and ask for refund.)
- What you need to do is ( make a copy in case the original gets lost)
- One thing you could do is … (read your speech/ presentation to a friend.)
When agreeing and disagreeing
- I tend to agree with you.
- That’s good idea.
- I’m with you on that point.
- I’ll go along with that.
Disagreeing
- I see things differently.
- I tend to disagreeing with that idea.
- I agree up to a point, however…..
- You have a point there, but…
A List of Expressions to Order Food in a Restaurant
- Can I get a chicken sandwich, please?
- May I have a chocolate donut, please?
- Can I have a hamburger with extra cheese, please?
- May I get a coke, please?
- Could I have some chocolate ice cream, please?
- Could I get some oreo cookies with the coffee, please?
- Do you have shrimp creole?
- Can I order Spanish rice?
- May I order a key lime pie?
- I would like to have a cobb salad.
- I would like to order chicken fried steak.
- I’ll have a hotdog.
- Are nachos available now?
- How about Chicago-style pizza?
Remember! You can use these expressions mentioned above while you have your food sitting at the restaurant. If you prefer taking a parcel, you use the phrase “to go” or “take out.”
- Can I have this Philly cheesesteak to go, please?
- Can I get this beef sizzling? Take out?
Note: Some restaurants have both “take out” and “dine-in” services. Servers usually ask if your order is “for here” or “to go.” “For here” refers to “dine-in,” and “to go” refers to “take out.”
Besides the mentioned expression, there are some interesting common food idioms native English speakers use. I’ll share them in the latter part of the post. Also, at the end of the post, I’ll share a real conversation between a customer and a server at an American restaurant. Let’s move on.
Now, let’s look at the following tips that you might follow while ordering food at a restaurant.
Greet the Server Back & Share Your Table Requirement
It’s obvious that the restaurant people will greet you while entering the restaurant and ask you how they can help you. You are expected to greet the server back and politely ask for a table that fulfills your requirements.
You can say, for example, “I would like a table for six, please?” Now you can ask for the menu if not provided yet and proceed with the order.
Appreciate Any Suggestions from the Server
Sometimes you may get confused about which one to choose from the menu. In that case, you can ask for suggestions. Appreciate the suggestions and ask further questions about the food if needed. Also, respond to the questions from the server politely to enjoy the best food and service.
- What’s the most popular food here?
- Should I go for this one?
- What do you suggest?
- I would like to have vegan items. Which one do you suggest?
- Does this pizza have both chicken & beef?
To respond to the reconfirmation of the server, you can say
- Yes, that’s all. Thanks.
- Yeah, that’s it. Thank you.
A Conversation between a Server and a Customer at a Restaurant
Server: Good evening! Welcome to Chef’s Table. How can I help you, sir?
Customer: Good evening! I would like to have a table of four.
Server: Here you go.
Customer: Thank you. It’s a nice place, especially the outside view from the window.
Server: Thank you, sir! What can I get for you? Here is the menu.
Customer: Alright! I would like to order some appetizers. What do you suggest?
Server: Our fried calamari is tremendous. You may try this.
Customer: Oh, I see! I’ll have two calamari and two clear Thai soups then. And for the main course, we would prefer some rice items.
Server: That’s great. We have Spanish rice.
Customer: is that very popular here?
Server: Yes, it is. You can have shrimp creole with this.
Customer: No, thanks. I prefer Spanish chicken? Is this available?
Server: Yes, of course. That’s an excellent choice, sir.
Customer: Well, two Spanish rice and chicken.
Server: Alright! How about desserts? We have authentic Italian gelato. I’m sure the kid will love this ice cream and you as well.
Customer: Great! Can I get a hazelnut gelato mixed with pieces of chocolates?
Server: Sure, sir! So, the order is Two calamari, two clear Thais soups, Spanish rice for four, one pan of Spanish chicken, and a hazelnut gelato mixed with pieces of chocolates? Is that all?
Customer: Yes! That’s it.
Server: Great! Thank you, sir.