This document provides information about restaurant language and etiquette. It defines common roles in a restaurant like host/hostess, guest, and waiter/waitress. It also outlines polite phrases for booking reservations, ordering food, asking questions, and making requests at a restaurant. Sample dialogues demonstrate proper interactions between guests and staff. Key terms are defined like "shall", "would", "will", "can", "could", and "may" and how they are used differently in a restaurant setting. The document concludes with additional details about ordering meat and asking for the bill.

1. People
• Host/Hostess: the person who
greets the guest at a
restaurant. Their job is to take
the reservations, and to help
people when the arrive at the
restaurant.
• Guest: The people who come
to eat at a restaurant. You may
also hear: client, customer.
• Waiter/waitress: The person
who takes the order and serves
the food.

2. Restaurant Language
• Could we have/May we have________.
• What would you like?
• I would like_______.
• The way of speaking in a restaurant is a
bit formal to sound more polite.

3. Booking a table
• Booking a table = making a reservation
• Making the call:
• I’d like to reserve a table for four at 8pm, please
• I’d like to book a table for four at 8pm, please.
• I’d like to reserve a table for a party of five at 9pm, please
• Could we have a table by the window, please?
• Could we have a booth, please?
• Receiving a call:
• What’s the name?
• How many people?

4. Dialogue
Guest:
Hostess:
Guest:
Hostess:
Guest:
Hostess:
Guest:
Hostess:
Guest:
Hostess:
Guest:
Hostess:
Guest:
Hostess:
We’d like a table for four, please.
Do you have a reservation?
No, we don’t.
I’m afraid there will be about a ten or fifteen minute wait.
That’s okay.
Would you prefer a table or a booth?
It doesn’t matter.
Would you rather sit inside or on the patio?
The patio would be nice.
Okay. What is the name?
It’s Smith.
Could you spell that please?
S-M-I-T-H. Could we look at a menu while we wait?
Certainly. I will call your name when the table is ready.
Note: In your text book and in many activities, you may notice the question, “Smoking or non-smoking”. In many countries, including: United
States, UK, Scotland, Ireland, and now Spain, smoking is prohibited in all restaurants and bars. Therefore, the question is not necessary, because
all sections of restaurants, and now many hotels, are all non-smoking.

5. Shall
• The modal verb shall is used to give an offer:
• Shall I take your coat?
• Shall I take your order now?
• It is also used to make a suggestion:
• Let’s sit at this table, shall we?
• Shall we order a bottle of wine?

6. Would
• Invitation
• Would you like to sit at this table?
• Would you like to start with an appetizer?
• Would you like something to drink?
• Preference
• Would you prefer tea or coffee?
• Request
• I would like the soup and a salad, please.
• I would like to make a reservation for this evening.

7. Will
• Decision
• I will have the roast beef, please. /I’ll have the roast beef, please.
• We’ll have a bottle of red wine, please. /We will have__________.
• REMEMBER: “Will” can be made into a contraction:
• We’ll = We will, I’ll = I will
• Promise
• I will bring you a menu in a moment./ I’ll bring you a menu in a moment.
• I will ask the chef how it is prepared.

8. Can
• Request
• Can I have a glass of water, please?
• Can we look at a dessert menu, please?
• Can we reserve a table on the patio?
• Asking permission
• Can I take your order?
• Can I have your name and phone number?

9. Could
• Polite request (same meaning as can)
• Could I have a glass of water, please?
• Could we look at a dessert menu, please?
• Could we reserve a table on the patio?
• Could we have a fork, please?
• Suggestion
• We could order in the bar, or we could sit at a table.
• Asking permission (polite)
• Could I have your name, please?

10. May
• Polite request (same meaning as can, could)
• May I have a glass of water, please?
• May we look at a dessert menu, please?
• May we reserve a table on the patio?
• May we have a fork, please?
• Polite manner to ask permission:
• May I take your order?

11. Taking orders
• What would you like?/What can I get you?
• What would you like to drink?
• Would you like to look at a dessert menu?
• Guest
• I’d like the/I’ll have the______, please.
• A/an_________, please.
• Yes, that would be great.
• No thanks, just the bill please.

12. Restaurant Language
• Waiter
• Do you have a reservation?
• Are you ready to order?
• What would you like to start?
• What would you like as an entree?
• Would you like anything to drink?
• Would you like anything else?
• Your order will not be long.
• Notice how the waiter asks: What would you like? and the guest responds: I'd like ..."Would like" is the polite
form used when asking and requesting.
Guest
Yes, the name is____./ No, I do
not.
Yes, we are./No, not yet. A few
more minutes please.
I’d like the ________.
I’d like the ________.
Yes, a/an__________.
Yes, could we see the dessert
menu?/
No, nothing else. Just the bill,
please.
Thank you.

13. New Facts
• Often when someone orders meat, for example beef,
hamburger, steak, the waiter may ask: “How would
you like that cooked?
• Rare: poco cocido
• Medium: medio cocido
• Well-done: bien cocido

14. Restaurant Language
• Pedir la cuenta: to ask for the bill
• Bill: British English
• Check: American English