The document discusses common phrases and expressions used by waiters, waitresses, and other restaurant staff when interacting with customers. It describes the typical phrases used by hosts when seating customers, by servers when taking drink and food orders, checking on customers and clearing dishes, and for concluding the meal by bringing the check. Examples of phrases include "How many in your party?", "Can I get you something to drink?", "How was everything?", and "I'll bring the check right out." The document provides a script of the standard restaurant experience and vocabulary.
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English expressions that waiters, waitresses, and restaurant staff use phrase mix.com
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English expressions that waiters, waitresses, and restaurant staff
use
When you go to a restaurant, you usually have a good idea of what's going to happen. That's because eating at a
restaurant usually follows a set script. The wait staff isn't actually given a written script to memorize, of course.
But even so, waiters and waitresses usually stick to a very narrow range of phrases. Here's what you can expect
when you go to a restaurant.
The host or hostess
When you first go in, the host or hostess will want to know how many people are eating with you. They might
ask:
How many?
Or, in a fancier restaurant:
How many are in your party (/phrases/your-party) ?
If they can see how many people walked in together, they might simply ask:
Two?
Some popular restaurants expect you to have a reservation before you come. In that case, the hostess might ask:
Do you have a reservation (/phrases/someone-has-a-reservation) ?
If the place is really busy, you might have to wait. They'll say:
It's going to be about a 15-minute wait.
If you decide to wait, they'll write your name on a list:
Can I get your name?
And then, when it's your turn to sit:
Mr. Knight, your table is ready.
The host or hostess will take you to your table with one of these phrases:
Right this way.
Follow me, please.
If it's a nice restaurant, they may ask:
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Would you like me to take your jackets for you?
And then they say goodbye:
Jacob will be your server tonight.
Enjoy your meal.
The waiter or waitress
The waiter will usually start off by introducing him- or herself:
Welcome to D'Angelo's. My name is Rebecca.
Depending on the atmosphere of the restaurant, they may try to make some small talk:
How are you doing this evening?
If the restaurant has daily specials, the server will tell you about them:
Let me tell you about our specials today. We have a miso-glazed Chilean Sea Bass with a side of
mashed sweet potatoes and sauteed spinach.
Then you're expected to order drinks:
Can I get you something to drink? (/phrases/can-i-get-you-something-to-drink)
If you're not sure, the server will offer to come back again in a few minutes:
Do you need a little time to decide?
They'll go around the table to each person, using phrases like these:
And for you sir?
And for you miss?
What can I get for you?
Then they'll leave:
I'll be right back with your drinks.
When the waiter or waitress returns, he or she will ask you to order your food:
Are you ready to order?
If the dish you order has a choice of side dishes, they'll offer to let you choose:
That comes with either fries or a baked potato. Which would you prefer?
Would you like fries with that, or a baked potato?
If you ask for something, the server will say:
Sure.
Or at a fancier restaurant:
Certainly.
But if you ask for something that's not available, you'll hear:
Oh, I'm sorry. We're all out of the salmon.
When the waiter or waitress brings you your food, they'll probably ask:
