English phrases for a restaurant: order, ask and pay with confidence

30 phrases · 6 min read

You don't need perfect English to enjoy a meal in London or New York: a whole dinner runs on about thirty set phrases. If you only learn five, make it these:

• A table for two, please. — The first sentence of every meal out.
• What do you recommend? — Lets the waiter help you choose.
• I'll have the grilled salmon, please. — The natural way to order any dish.
• Does this contain nuts? — The allergy question, short and clear.
• Could we have the bill, please? — How every meal ends, politely.

Here are all 30 phrases, grouped by the moment of the meal, followed by a mini-dialogue that strings them together the way a real dinner unfolds.

Arriving and being seated

• A table for two, please. — Change the number to match your group.
• We have a reservation under the name Martin. — "Under the name" is how you give your booking name.
• Could we sit by the window? — Works for any seat: by the window, outside, in a quiet corner.
• Could we have a few more minutes? — When you need more time to decide.
• What do you recommend? — Waiters answer this one all day; it never sounds strange.
• Is there a menu in my language? — Many tourist-area restaurants have translated menus.

Ordering

• I'll have the grilled salmon, please. — The standard ordering formula: "I'll have + dish".
• I'd like my steak medium rare. — The cooking scale: rare, medium rare, medium, well done.
• Can I get the soup of the day as a starter? — "As a starter" means as the first course.
• What does this dish come with? — Asks about the side dishes included.
• Does this contain nuts? — Replace "nuts" with any ingredient you must avoid.
• I'm allergic to gluten. — Restaurants take this sentence very seriously; use it when it's true.
• I'm vegetarian. Do you have any meat-free options? — "Meat-free" is clearer than listing everything you don't eat.
• Could I have it without onions? — "Without + ingredient" removes anything from a dish.
• A glass of still water, please. — Still = no bubbles; sparkling = with gas.
• Can we order now? — A friendly way to call the waiter back to order.

During the meal

• Excuse me, this isn't what I ordered. — Polite and factual when the wrong dish arrives.
• Could we have some more bread? — "Some more" asks for a refill of anything.
• Everything is delicious, thank you. — The compliment every server loves to hear.
• My dish is a bit cold. — "A bit" softens the complaint.
• Could I have a clean fork? — Works for any dropped or dirty cutlery.
• Can I get some salt and pepper? — Ask before you search the whole table.

Paying and leaving

• Could we have the bill, please? — In the US, say "the check" instead of "the bill".
• Can I pay by card? — Ask before the bill arrives if you're unsure.
• Is service included? — Tells you whether a tip is already in the total.
• We'd like to split the bill. — Each person pays their share.
• Keep the change. — Said when paying cash: the waiter keeps the rest as a tip.
• Could I have a receipt, please? — Useful for expenses and for checking the total.
• The food was lovely, thank you. — A warmer goodbye than just "thanks".
• Do we pay at the counter? — In cafés and pubs, paying at the counter is common.

Mini-dialogue: the full meal

Server: Good evening! Do you have a reservation?

Guest: Yes, under the name Martin. A table for two.

Server: Right this way. Here are your menus. Can I get you something to drink?

Guest: A glass of still water, please. And what do you recommend tonight?

Server: The grilled salmon is excellent today.

Guest: Perfect, I'll have the salmon. Could I have it without onions?

Server: Of course. I'll be right back with your water.

Guest: Could we have the bill, please? Can I pay by card?

Common mistakes

• "I want the salmon." Grammatically fine, socially blunt — it sounds like an order barked at the staff. English politeness runs on softeners: I'd like…, I'll have…, and a please at the end.
• Asking for "the addition". In several languages the restaurant bill sounds like "addition", but in English that word means 2 + 2. It's the bill in the UK and the check in the US.
• Ordering "water" without a word more. You'll usually get tap water — fine in most places — but if you want bottled, say still or sparkling. One adjective changes what lands on your table.

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