🍽️ Restaurants

⏱ 14 min read

In this section you will learn useful restaurant vocabulary and phrases. You'll practice making reservations, ordering food and drinks, asking about the menu, and paying the bill. Each English word or phrase includes a simple meaning plus translations in several languages.

🟢 Basic Restaurant Vocabulary

🍽️ Restaurant
a place where you sit down to eat a meal
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Restaurante
🇫🇷 Restaurant
🇩🇪 Restaurant
🇮🇹 Ristorante
🇵🇹 Restaurante
📋 Menu
the list of food and drinks you can order
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Menú / Carta
🇫🇷 Menu / Carte
🇩🇪 Speisekarte
🇮🇹 Menù
🇵🇹 Cardápio
🙋 Waiter
a man who brings food to your table
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Camarero / Mesero
🇫🇷 Serveur
🇩🇪 Kellner
🇮🇹 Cameriere
🇵🇹 Garçom
🙋‍♀️ Waitress
a woman who brings food to your table
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Camarera / Mesera
🇫🇷 Serveuse
🇩🇪 Kellnerin
🇮🇹 Cameriera
🇵🇹 Garçonete
🪑 Table
the place where you sit and eat
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Mesa
🇫🇷 Table
🇩🇪 Tisch
🇮🇹 Tavolo
🇵🇹 Mesa
📞 Reservation
a table booked for a certain time
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Reserva
🇫🇷 Réservation
🇩🇪 Reservierung
🇮🇹 Prenotazione
🇵🇹 Reserva
🧾 Bill / Check
the paper that shows how much you must pay
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Cuenta
🇫🇷 Addition
🇩🇪 Rechnung
🇮🇹 Conto
🇵🇹 Conta
💵 Tip
extra money you give for good service
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Propina
🇫🇷 Pourboire
🇩🇪 Trinkgeld
🇮🇹 Mancia
🇵🇹 Gorjeta

🟡 Ordering & Dining Vocabulary

🍴 To order
to ask for food or drinks
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Pedir
🇫🇷 Commander
🇩🇪 Bestellen
🇮🇹 Ordinare
🇵🇹 Pedir
🥗 Appetizer
a small dish before the main meal
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Entrante / Entrada
🇫🇷 Entrée
🇩🇪 Vorspeise
🇮🇹 Antipasto
🇵🇹 Entrada
🍽️ Main course
the largest part of the meal
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Plato principal
🇫🇷 Plat principal
🇩🇪 Hauptgericht
🇮🇹 Piatto principale
🇵🇹 Prato principal
🍰 Dessert
a sweet dish after the meal
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Postre
🇫🇷 Dessert
🇩🇪 Dessert
🇮🇹 Dolce
🇵🇹 Sobremesa
🥤 Drink
something you drink with the meal
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Bebida
🇫🇷 Boisson
🇩🇪 Getränk
🇮🇹 Bevanda
🇵🇹 Bebida
🍽️ Dish
one item of food on the menu
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Plato
🇫🇷 Plat
🇩🇪 Gericht
🇮🇹 Piatto
🇵🇹 Prato
⭐ Specialty
the restaurant's best or most famous dish
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Especialidad
🇫🇷 Spécialité
🇩🇪 Spezialität
🇮🇹 Specialità
🇵🇹 Especialidade
🥡 To go
food packed so you can take it home
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Para llevar
🇫🇷 À emporter
🇩🇪 Zum Mitnehmen
🇮🇹 Da asporto
🇵🇹 Para viagem

🚪 Arriving at a Restaurant

📞 I have a reservation under the name García.
a table is booked in that name
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tengo una reserva a nombre de García.
🇫🇷 J'ai une réservation au nom de García.
🇩🇪 Ich habe eine Reservierung auf den Namen García.
🇮🇹 Ho una prenotazione a nome García.
🇵🇹 Tenho uma reserva em nome de García.
👥 A table for two, please.
we need a table for two people
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Una mesa para dos, por favor.
🇫🇷 Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.
🇩🇪 Einen Tisch für zwei, bitte.
🇮🇹 Un tavolo per due, per favore.
🇵🇹 Uma mesa para duas pessoas, por favor.
🪟 Do you have a table near the window?
is there a table by the window?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tiene una mesa cerca de la ventana?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous une table près de la fenêtre ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie einen Tisch am Fenster?
🇮🇹 Avete un tavolo vicino alla finestra?
🇵🇹 Tem uma mesa perto da janela?
⏰ How long is the wait?
how many minutes until a table is ready?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Cuánto tiempo hay que esperar?
🇫🇷 Combien de temps faut-il attendre ?
🇩🇪 Wie lange ist die Wartezeit?
🇮🇹 Quanto bisogna aspettare?
🇵🇹 Quanto tempo é a espera?

💬 Useful Ordering Phrases

📋 Can I see the menu, please?
please show me the list of food
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Puedo ver el menú, por favor?
🇫🇷 Puis-je voir le menu, s'il vous plaît ?
🇩🇪 Kann ich bitte die Speisekarte sehen?
🇮🇹 Posso vedere il menù, per favore?
🇵🇹 Posso ver o cardápio, por favor?
⭐ What do you recommend?
what dish do you think is best?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Qué me recomienda?
🇫🇷 Que me recommandez-vous ?
🇩🇪 Was empfehlen Sie?
🇮🇹 Che cosa mi consiglia?
🇵🇹 O que você recomenda?
🍽️ I would like the dish of the day.
I want today's special meal
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Quisiera pedir el plato del día.
🇫🇷 Je voudrais le plat du jour.
🇩🇪 Ich möchte das Tagesgericht.
🇮🇹 Vorrei il piatto del giorno.
🇵🇹 Gostaria do prato do dia.
🥤 I would like water, please.
please bring me water
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Para beber, quisiera agua, por favor.
🇫🇷 Je voudrais de l'eau, s'il vous plaît.
🇩🇪 Ich hätte gern Wasser, bitte.
🇮🇹 Vorrei dell'acqua, per favore.
🇵🇹 Gostaria de água, por favor.

❓ Asking About the Menu

🍲 What is in this dish?
what ingredients does this meal have?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Qué lleva este plato?
🇫🇷 Que contient ce plat ?
🇩🇪 Was ist in diesem Gericht?
🇮🇹 Cosa contiene questo piatto?
🇵🇹 O que este prato leva?
🥗 Do you have vegetarian options?
is there food without meat?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tienen opciones vegetarianas?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous des plats végétariens ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie vegetarische Gerichte?
🇮🇹 Avete opzioni vegetariane?
🇵🇹 Vocês têm opções vegetarianas?
🌾 Do you have gluten-free dishes?
is there food without gluten?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Tienen platos sin gluten?
🇫🇷 Avez-vous des plats sans gluten ?
🇩🇪 Haben Sie glutenfreie Gerichte?
🇮🇹 Avete piatti senza glutine?
🇵🇹 Vocês têm pratos sem glúten?
🌶️ Is this dish spicy?
is this food hot in the mouth?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Este plato es picante?
🇫🇷 Ce plat est-il épicé ?
🇩🇪 Ist dieses Gericht scharf?
🇮🇹 Questo piatto è piccante?
🇵🇹 Este prato é apimentado?
🥜 Does this dish contain nuts?
are there nuts in this food?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Este plato contiene frutos secos?
🇫🇷 Ce plat contient-il des fruits à coque ?
🇩🇪 Enthält dieses Gericht Nüsse?
🇮🇹 Questo piatto contiene frutta a guscio?
🇵🇹 Este prato contém nozes?

🍽️ During the Meal

💧 Can you bring me more water, please?
please give me another glass of water
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Me puede traer más agua, por favor?
🇫🇷 Pouvez-vous m'apporter plus d'eau, s'il vous plaît ?
🇩🇪 Können Sie mir bitte mehr Wasser bringen?
🇮🇹 Può portarmi altra acqua, per favore?
🇵🇹 Pode trazer mais água, por favor?
🍴 I need another fork, please.
please bring me one more fork
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Necesito otro tenedor, por favor.
🇫🇷 J'ai besoin d'une autre fourchette, s'il vous plaît.
🇩🇪 Ich brauche bitte noch eine Gabel.
🇮🇹 Mi serve un'altra forchetta, per favore.
🇵🇹 Preciso de outro garfo, por favor.
🧂 Can you bring me the salt?
please give me the salt
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Me puede traer la sal?
🇫🇷 Pouvez-vous m'apporter le sel ?
🇩🇪 Können Sie mir bitte das Salz bringen?
🇮🇹 Può portarmi il sale?
🇵🇹 Pode trazer o sal?
😋 Everything is delicious.
all the food tastes very good
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Todo está delicioso.
🇫🇷 Tout est délicieux.
🇩🇪 Alles ist köstlich.
🇮🇹 È tutto delizioso.
🇵🇹 Está tudo delicioso.

💳 Paying the Bill

🧾 The bill, please.
please bring the check so we can pay
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 La cuenta, por favor.
🇫🇷 L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
🇩🇪 Die Rechnung, bitte.
🇮🇹 Il conto, per favore.
🇵🇹 A conta, por favor.
💳 Can I pay by card?
can I use a credit or debit card?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
🇫🇷 Puis-je payer par carte ?
🇩🇪 Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?
🇮🇹 Posso pagare con la carta?
🇵🇹 Posso pagar com cartão?
💵 Is the tip included?
is extra service money already in the price?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Está incluida la propina?
🇫🇷 Le service est-il compris ?
🇩🇪 Ist das Trinkgeld inbegriffen?
🇮🇹 La mancia è inclusa?
🇵🇹 A gorjeta está incluída?
👥 Can we pay separately?
can each person pay their own part?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Podemos pagar por separado?
🇫🇷 Pouvons-nous payer séparément ?
🇩🇪 Können wir getrennt bezahlen?
🇮🇹 Possiamo pagare separatamente?
🇵🇹 Podemos pagar separadamente?

🧠 Language Tips

Ordering politely
These expressions are the most polite and natural ways to order food.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Quisiera...
🇫🇷 Je voudrais...
🇩🇪 Ich hätte gern...
🇮🇹 Vorrei...
🇵🇹 Gostaria de...
Asking for recommendations
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Qué me recomienda?
🇫🇷 Que me recommandez-vous ?
🇩🇪 Was empfehlen Sie?
🇮🇹 Che cosa mi consiglia?
🇵🇹 O que você recomenda?
Asking for the bill
Every language has its own standard expression instead of translating literally.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 La cuenta, por favor.
🇫🇷 L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
🇩🇪 Die Rechnung, bitte.
🇮🇹 Il conto, per favore.
🇵🇹 A conta, por favor.

🌎 Cultural Tip

In Spain, camarero is the common word for waiter, while mesero is more common in many Latin American countries.
French restaurants commonly use carte for the menu and addition for the bill.
German restaurants usually ask whether you'd like to pay with Karte (card) or Bargeld (cash).
Italian restaurants often serve bread automatically, while Portuguese restaurants may place appetizers on the table before you order. You only pay for the items you actually eat.

💬 Restaurant Conversations

Ordering a meal
choosing food and a drink
A: Do you know what you'd like to order?
B: I'd like the chicken with rice, please.
A: And to drink?
B: Water, please.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: ¿Ya sabe qué va a pedir?
🇪🇸 B: Sí, quisiera el pollo con arroz, por favor.
🇪🇸 A: ¿Y para beber?
🇪🇸 B: Agua, por favor.

🇫🇷 A: Avez-vous choisi ?
🇫🇷 B: Je voudrais le poulet avec du riz, s'il vous plaît.
🇫🇷 A: Et comme boisson ?
🇫🇷 B: De l'eau, s'il vous plaît.

🇩🇪 A: Wissen Sie schon, was Sie bestellen möchten?
🇩🇪 B: Ich hätte gern das Hähnchen mit Reis.
🇩🇪 A: Und was möchten Sie trinken?
🇩🇪 B: Wasser, bitte.

🇮🇹 A: Ha già deciso cosa ordinare?
🇮🇹 B: Vorrei il pollo con il riso, per favore.
🇮🇹 A: E da bere?
🇮🇹 B: Acqua, per favore.

🇵🇹 A: Já sabe o que vai pedir?
🇵🇹 B: Gostaria do frango com arroz, por favor.
🇵🇹 A: E para beber?
🇵🇹 B: Água, por favor.
Paying the bill
asking for the check and paying by card
A: The bill, please.
B: Of course. Will you pay by cash or card?
A: By card, please.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 A: La cuenta, por favor.
🇪🇸 B: Claro. ¿Va a pagar en efectivo o con tarjeta?
🇪🇸 A: Con tarjeta, por favor.

🇫🇷 A: L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
🇫🇷 B: Bien sûr. Vous payez en espèces ou par carte ?
🇫🇷 A: Par carte, s'il vous plaît.

🇩🇪 A: Die Rechnung, bitte.
🇩🇪 B: Natürlich. Bar oder mit Karte?
🇩🇪 A: Mit Karte, bitte.

🇮🇹 A: Il conto, per favore.
🇮🇹 B: Certamente. Contanti o carta?
🇮🇹 A: Con la carta, per favore.

🇵🇹 A: A conta, por favor.
🇵🇹 B: Claro. Vai pagar em dinheiro ou cartão?
🇵🇹 A: Com cartão, por favor.

📝 Example Sentences

📞 We have a reservation for four people at eight.
a table for four is booked at 8:00
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Tenemos una reserva para cuatro personas a las ocho.
🇫🇷 Nous avons une réservation pour quatre personnes à huit heures.
🇩🇪 Wir haben eine Reservierung für vier Personen um acht Uhr.
🇮🇹 Abbiamo una prenotazione per quattro persone alle otto.
🇵🇹 Temos uma reserva para quatro pessoas às oito.
🍲 The soup of the day is very good.
today's soup tastes very good
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 La sopa del día está muy buena.
🇫🇷 La soupe du jour est excellente.
🇩🇪 Die Tagessuppe ist sehr gut.
🇮🇹 La zuppa del giorno è molto buona.
🇵🇹 A sopa do dia está muito boa.
⭐ The waiter recommended the house specialty.
the waiter suggested the restaurant's best dish
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 El camarero nos recomendó la especialidad de la casa.
🇫🇷 Le serveur nous a recommandé la spécialité de la maison.
🇩🇪 Der Kellner hat uns die Spezialität des Hauses empfohlen.
🇮🇹 Il cameriere ci ha consigliato la specialità della casa.
🇵🇹 O garçom recomendou a especialidade da casa.
🍰 Would you like to see the dessert menu?
do you want to look at the list of sweets?
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 ¿Quieren ver el menú de postres?
🇫🇷 Voulez-vous voir la carte des desserts ?
🇩🇪 Möchten Sie die Dessertkarte sehen?
🇮🇹 Volete vedere il menù dei dolci?
🇵🇹 Gostariam de ver o cardápio de sobremesas?
🧾 We asked for the bill after dessert.
we requested the check when dessert was finished
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Pedimos la cuenta después del postre.
🇫🇷 Nous avons demandé l'addition après le dessert.
🇩🇪 Wir haben nach dem Dessert die Rechnung verlangt.
🇮🇹 Abbiamo chiesto il conto dopo il dolce.
🇵🇹 Pedimos a conta depois da sobremesa.
💳 We paid the bill by card.
we used a card to pay
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Pagamos la cuenta con tarjeta.
🇫🇷 Nous avons payé l'addition par carte.
🇩🇪 Wir haben mit Karte bezahlt.
🇮🇹 Abbiamo pagato il conto con la carta.
🇵🇹 Pagamos a conta com cartão.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the situation. Choose the best answer.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%