Real-Life English: How to Order Food at a Restaurant 🍽️

Going to a restaurant in an English-speaking country? Don’t worry — you don’t need perfect English to order food. You just need a few useful phrases and a little confidence!

Here’s a simple guide with real-life English phrases you can use at a restaurant — from entering to paying the bill.

1. When You Arrive 👋

💬 Common Phrases:

• “Hi, a table for two, please.”
• “Do you have a table near the window?”
• “We have a reservation under Anna.”

Tip: Most restaurants will ask, “How many?” or “Do you have a reservation?”

2. When You Sit Down 🪑

The server might say:

• “Here are your menus.”
• “Can I get you something to drink?”

You can say:

• “Just water, please.”
• “I’ll have a Coke.”
• “Do you have any fresh juice?”

3. Asking Questions About the Menu 🧾

💬 Useful Phrases:

• “What’s the soup of the day?”
• “What do you recommend?”
• “Does this have meat/dairy/nuts?”
• “I’m allergic to peanuts.”
• “Is it spicy?”

4. Ordering Your Food 🍝

💬 Simple Phrases:

• “I’ll have the pasta, please.”
• “Can I get the chicken sandwich with fries?”
• “I’d like the steak, medium-rare.”

Extra tips:

• “I’ll have” is the most common and polite way to order.
• You can say “with” or “without” to customize your meal:
  • “I’ll have the burger without onions, please.”

5. During the Meal 🍽️

You might say:

• “Excuse me, can I get some more water?”
• “Can we get some ketchup?”
• “This is delicious!”

The server might ask:

• “Is everything okay?”
• “Can I get you anything else?”

6. Asking for the Bill 🧾💳

💬 Phrases to Use:

• “Can we get the bill, please?” (UK)
• “Can I get the check, please?” (US)
• “Do you take credit cards?”
• “Can we pay separately?” (If each person pays for themselves)

7. Saying Goodbye 👋

• “Thanks, that was great!”
• “Have a nice day!”
• “Everything was delicious — thank you!”

Final Tip 🍴

Don’t worry about speaking perfectly. Be polite, smile, and speak slowly. Most servers are friendly and patient — they’ll be happy to help you.