Today's Topic

Topic: Ordering Food at Restaurant
Difficulty: intermediate
Category: Daily English / Learning Journal

Key Vocabulary

Important words and phrases for this topic

• Menu (noun): A list of dishes available at a restaurant

  • Example: "May I see the menu, please?"

• Appetizer/Starter (noun): A small dish served before the main course

  • Example: "I'd like to start with the soup as an appetizer."

• Main course/Entrée (noun): The primary dish of a meal

  • Example: "For my main course, I'll have the grilled salmon."

• Side dish (noun): An additional dish served alongside the main course

  • Example: "Does it come with any side dishes?"

• Beverage/Drink (noun): Any liquid for drinking

  • Example: "What beverages do you have available?"

• Dessert (noun): Sweet food served after the main meal

  • Example: "I'll save room for dessert."

• Recommendation (noun): A suggestion about what to order

  • Example: "What's your recommendation for today?"

• Allergy (noun): A medical condition causing adverse reaction to certain foods

  • Example: "I have a nut allergy. Does this dish contain nuts?"

• Well-done/Medium/Rare (adjective): Cooking levels for meat

  • Example: "I'd like my steak medium, please."

• Check/Bill (noun): The statement of charges for a meal

  • Example: "Could we have the check, please?"

Examples & Application

Provide practical examples or application scenarios

Making a Reservation:

• "I'd like to make a reservation for two at 7 PM tonight."
• "Do you have any available tables for four on Friday evening?"
• "Can I book a table under the name Smith?"

Asking About the Menu:

• "What do you recommend from the menu?"
• "Is this dish spicy?"
• "How is the pasta prepared?"
• "What's the chef's special today?"

Placing an Order:

• "I'll have the Caesar salad to start, and the grilled chicken for my main."
• "Can I get the burger with fries instead of salad?"
• "I'd like the soup of the day, please."
• "Could I have the dressing on the side?"

Dietary Requirements:

• "Is this dish vegetarian?"
• "I'm allergic to seafood. Which dishes would you suggest?"
• "Do you have any gluten-free options?"
• "Can this be made without dairy?"

During the Meal:

• "Excuse me, could we get some more water?"
• "Everything is delicious, thank you!"
• "This isn't what I ordered. I asked for the salmon, not the chicken."

Paying the Bill:

• "Check, please!"
• "Can we split the bill?"
• "Do you accept credit cards?"
• "Is service charge included?"

Practice Activities

Practice today's topic through various methods, focusing on practical application and speaking

Speaking Practice

Read aloud and practice saying the following sentences, focusing on pronunciation and fluency

• "Good evening. I have a reservation under Johnson for two people."
• "Could you recommend something light? I'm not very hungry."
• "I'd like my steak medium-rare with a baked potato and steamed vegetables."
• "Excuse me, we've been waiting for our order for quite a while. Could you check on it?"
• "Everything was wonderful. We're ready for the check whenever you are."

Role Play Scenarios

Simulate real situations and practice using today's learning in conversation

Scenario: Arriving at the Restaurant

Waiter: Good evening! Welcome to The Garden Bistro. Do you have a reservation?
Customer: Yes, we have a reservation for four under the name Chen.
Waiter: Perfect! Right this way, please. Here's your table.
Customer: Thank you. Could we see the menu?
Waiter: Of course! Here you are. Can I get you started with some drinks?
Customer: I'll have a glass of white wine, please.
Waiter: Excellent choice. I'll be back in a moment to take your order.

Scenario: Ordering Food

Waiter: Are you ready to order?
Customer: Yes, I think so. What do you recommend?
Waiter: The grilled salmon is very popular today. It comes with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes.
Customer: That sounds great! I'll have that. But could I substitute the mashed potatoes for a salad?
Waiter: Absolutely! And how would you like your salmon cooked?
Customer: Medium, please. Oh, and I'm allergic to nuts. Are there any nuts in the dish?
Waiter: Let me check with the kitchen. No, the salmon dish is nut-free. Anything else?
Customer: No, that's all for now. Thank you!

Scenario: Requesting the Bill

Customer: Excuse me, we're ready for the check.
Waiter: Certainly! Did you enjoy your meal?
Customer: Yes, everything was delicious!
Waiter: I'm so glad to hear that. Here's your bill.
Customer: Can we split this between two cards?
Waiter: Of course! I'll bring the card reader right over.

Self-Practice Tasks

Using today's topic and vocabulary, try to:

1. Record: Use your phone to record yourself ordering a complete meal from appetizer to dessert
2. Describe: Describe your last dining experience at a restaurant in English (What did you order? How was it? Would you recommend it?)
3. Q&A: Come up with 3 questions about today's topic and try to answer them:
   • What's the difference between an appetizer and a main course?
   • How do you politely ask for recommendations?
   • What should you say if there's a problem with your order?

Practice Notes

Tips and common phrases to remember

Polite Phrases:

• "I'd like..." / "I'll have..." (more polite than "I want...")
• "Could I..." / "May I..." (for requests)
• "Excuse me..." (to get attention)

Useful Questions:

• "What's in this dish?"
• "How big are the portions?"
• "How long will it take?"
• "Can I see the wine list?"

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Don't snap your fingers to call the waiter
• Say "Check, please" not "Give me the bill"
• It's "appetizer" in American English, "starter" in British English

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Daily Reflection

Key Takeaway: Ordering food at a restaurant requires knowing specific vocabulary and polite phrases. The key is to be clear about what you want, ask questions when unsure, and always use polite language. Practice these phrases until they feel natural!