Chunks English
    Eating out

    Restaurant English: 31 Chunks You Can Use Tonight

    Between sitting down and paying, the same handful of sentences comes up again and again. Here they are as 31 chunks, each with its meaning and three examples in context.

    31 chunks
    Chunky at a table, reading the menu

    The hard part of restaurant English was never the vocabulary — everyone knows menu, order, bill. The hard part is timing: in the three seconds the server is standing there, you're still assembling a sentence, and then they're gone.

    The fix is to store whole lines instead of parts. The 31 chunks below follow the order of a meal: being seated and reading the menu, ordering, adding and confirming, flagging a problem, paying. Each comes with its meaning and three examples — and the variation across those three is exactly the variation you're most likely to need.

    1. 01

      Could I see the menu, ...?

      Could I see the menu, ...?

      Examples

      • Could I see the menu, please?

        Could I see the menu, please?

      • Could I see the menu, before I order?

        Could I see the menu, before I order?

      • Excuse me, could I see the menu, please?

        Excuse me, could I see the menu, please?

    2. 02

      I'll have the ..., please.

      I'll have the ..., please.

      Examples

      • I'll have the pasta, please.

        I'll have the pasta, please.

      • I'll have the coffee, please.

        I'll have the coffee, please.

      • I'll have the soup and a salad, please.

        I'll have the soup and a salad, please.

    3. 03

      Does this have ..., please?

      Does this have ..., please?

      Examples

      • Does this have nuts, please?

        Does this have nuts, please?

      • Does this have meat, please?

        Does this have meat, please?

      • Does this have spicy sauce, please?

        Does this have spicy sauce, please?

    4. 04

      Excuse me, this is a bit ..., please.

      Excuse me, this is a bit ..., please.

      Examples

      • Excuse me, this is a bit cold, please.

        Excuse me, this is a bit cold, please.

      • Excuse me, this is a bit salty, please.

        Excuse me, this is a bit salty, please.

      • Excuse me, this is a bit spicy, please.

        Excuse me, this is a bit spicy, please.

    5. 05

      Could we get the bill, ...?

      Could we have the check, ...?

      Examples

      • Could we get the bill, please?

        Could we have the check, please?

      • Excuse me, could we get the bill, when you have a moment?

        Excuse me, could we have the check, when you have a moment?

      • Could we get the bill, for table number five?

        Could we have the check, for table number five?

    6. 06

      A table for ..., please.

      A table for ... people, please.

      Examples

      • A table for two, please.

        A table for two people, please.

      • We need a table for four, please.

        We need a table for four people, please.

      • A table for one, please, near the window.

        A table for one person, please, near the window.

    7. 07

      What do you recommend, ...?

      What do you suggest, ...?

      Examples

      • What do you recommend, today?

        What do you suggest for today?

      • What do you recommend, for a vegetarian?

        What do you suggest for a vegetarian?

      • What do you recommend, that's not too spicy?

        What do you suggest that's not too spicy?

    8. 08

      Could I have some more ..., please?

      Could I have a little more ..., please?

      Examples

      • Could I have some more water, please?

        Could I have more water, please?

      • Excuse me, could I have some more napkins, please?

        Excuse me, could I have more napkins, please?

      • Could I have some more bread, please? It's delicious!

        Could I have more bread, please? It's delicious!

    9. 09

      What is the ..., please?

      What is the ...?

      Examples

      • What is the soup of the day, please?

        What is today's soup, please?

      • What is the special pasta, please? I'm curious.

        What is the special pasta, please? I'm curious.

      • Excuse me, what is the chef's recommendation, please?

        Excuse me, what is the chef's recommendation, please?

    10. 10

      Do you have any ..., please?

      Do you have any ...?

      Examples

      • Do you have any vegetarian options, please?

        Do you have any vegetarian options, please?

      • Do you have any decaf coffee, please?

        Do you have any decaf coffee, please?

      • Do you have any daily specials, please?

        Do you have any daily specials, please?

    11. 11

      It's very ..., thank you.

      It's very ..., thank you.

      Examples

      • It's very delicious, thank you.

        It's very delicious, thank you.

      • It's very good, thank you.

        It's very good, thank you.

      • It's very fresh, thank you.

        It's very fresh, thank you.

    12. 12

      Could I get a ..., please?

      Could I get a ...?

      Examples

      • Could I get a fork, please?

        Could I get a fork, please?

      • Could I get a napkin, please?

        Could I get a napkin, please?

      • Could I get a glass of water, please?

        Could I get a glass of water, please?

    13. 13

      Do you accept ..., please?

      Do you accept ...?

      Examples

      • Do you accept credit cards, please?

        Do you accept credit cards, please?

      • Do you accept mobile payments, please?

        Do you accept mobile payments, please?

      • Do you accept cash, please?

        Do you accept cash, please?

    14. 14

      How long is the wait, ...?

      How long is the wait ...?

      Examples

      • How long is the wait, please?

        How long is the wait, please?

      • How long is the wait for a table for two, please?

        How long is the wait for a table for two, please?

      • How long is the wait for a window seat, please?

        How long is the wait for a window seat, please?

    15. 15

      We need a little more time to ..., please.

      We need a little more time to...

      Examples

      • We need a little more time to look at the menu, please.

        Excuse me, we need a little more time to look at the menu.

      • We need a little more time to decide what to order, please.

        Excuse me, we need a little more time to decide what to order.

      • We need a little more time to choose, please.

        Excuse me, we need a little more time to choose.

    16. 16

      Excuse me, we'd like to ...

      Excuse me, we'd like to...

      Examples

      • Excuse me, we'd like to order now.

        Excuse me, we'd like to order now.

      • Excuse me, we'd like to pay the bill.

        Excuse me, we'd like to pay the bill.

      • Excuse me, we'd like to ask a question.

        Excuse me, we'd like to ask a question.

    17. 17

      Could I get the ... without ..., please?

      Could I get the... without...?

      Examples

      • Could I get the burger without onions, please?

        Excuse me, could I get the burger without onions?

      • Could I get the salad without dressing, please?

        Excuse me, could I get the salad without dressing?

      • Could I get the sandwich without pickles, please?

        Excuse me, could I get the sandwich without pickles?

    18. 18

      Is this dish ..., please?

      Is this dish...?

      Examples

      • Is this dish spicy, please?

        Excuse me, is this dish spicy?

      • Is this dish vegetarian, please?

        Excuse me, is this dish vegetarian?

      • Is this dish sweet, please?

        Excuse me, is this dish sweet?

    19. 19

      Could I get a doggy bag for ..., please?

      Could I get a doggy bag for...?

      Examples

      • Could I get a doggy bag for my pasta, please?

        Excuse me, could I get a doggy bag for my pasta?

      • Could I get a doggy bag for the rest of the pizza, please?

        Excuse me, could I get a doggy bag for the rest of the pizza?

      • Could I get a doggy bag for these fries, please?

        Excuse me, could I get a doggy bag for these fries?

    20. 20

      What are the specials for today, ...?

      What are the specials for today, ...?

      Examples

      • What are the specials for today, please?

        What are the specials for today, please?

      • Could you tell me what are the specials for today, sir?

        Could you tell me what are the specials for today, sir?

      • Are there any specials for today, ma'am?

        Are there any specials for today, ma'am?

    21. 21

      Excuse me, I ordered a..., but it hasn't arrived yet.

      Excuse me, I ordered a..., but it hasn't arrived yet.

      Examples

      • Excuse me, I ordered a coffee, but it hasn't arrived yet.

        Excuse me, I ordered a coffee, but it hasn't arrived yet.

      • Excuse me, I ordered a side salad, but it hasn't arrived yet.

        Excuse me, I ordered a side salad, but it hasn't arrived yet.

      • Excuse me, we ordered a pitcher of water, but it hasn't arrived yet.

        Excuse me, we ordered a pitcher of water, but it hasn't arrived yet.

    22. 22

      Can we split the bill, ...?

      Can we split the bill, ...?

      Examples

      • Can we split the bill, please?

        Can we split the bill, please?

      • Excuse me, can we split the bill into two?

        Excuse me, can we split the bill into two?

      • Is it possible to split the bill between us?

        Is it possible to split the bill between us?

    23. 23

      How is the ... prepared?

      How is the ... prepared?

      Examples

      • How is the salmon prepared?

        How is the salmon prepared?

      • Could you tell me how the chicken is prepared?

        Could you tell me how the chicken is prepared?

      • I'm curious, how is the soup prepared?

        I'm curious, how is the soup prepared?

    24. 24

      Could I get a refill for my..., please?

      Could I get a refill for my..., please?

      Examples

      • Could I get a refill for my soda, please?

        Could I get a refill for my soda, please?

      • Excuse me, could I get a refill for my coffee?

        Excuse me, could I get a refill for my coffee?

      • Is it possible to get a refill for my iced tea?

        Is it possible to get a refill for my iced tea?

    25. 25

      Could we sit by the ..., please?

      Could we sit near the...?

      Examples

      • Could we sit by the window, please?

        Could we sit near the window, please?

      • Could we sit by the door, please?

        Could we sit near the door, please?

      • Could we sit by the wall, please?

        Could we sit near the wall, please?

    26. 26

      We're ready to ..., please.

      We are ready to...

      Examples

      • We're ready to order, please.

        We are ready to order, please.

      • We're ready to order our drinks, please.

        We are ready to order our drinks, please.

      • We're ready to order our main courses, please.

        We are ready to order our main courses, please.

    27. 27

      Does this dish contain ..., please?

      Does this dish contain...?

      Examples

      • Does this dish contain nuts, please?

        Does this dish contain nuts, please?

      • Does this dish contain dairy, please?

        Does this dish contain dairy, please?

      • Does this dish contain gluten, please?

        Does this dish contain gluten, please?

    28. 28

      Could I get a receipt, please?

      Could I get a receipt?

      Examples

      • Excuse me, could I get a receipt, please?

        Excuse me, could I get a receipt, please?

      • I've paid, could I get a receipt, please?

        I've paid, could I get a receipt, please?

      • Could I get a receipt for my payment, please?

        Could I get a receipt for my payment, please?

    29. 29

      What does the ... come with?

      What does the... come with?

      Examples

      • What does the steak come with?

        What does the steak come with?

      • What does the soup come with?

        What does the soup come with?

      • What does the special burger come with?

        What does the special burger come with?

    30. 30

      We have a reservation under the name ..., please.

      We have a reservation under the name ...

      Examples

      • We have a reservation under the name Smith, please.

        We have a reservation under the name Smith, please.

      • I have a reservation for two at 7 PM, under the name Lee.

        I have a reservation for two at 7 PM, under the name Lee.

      • We have a reservation under the name Johnson for a party of four.

        We have a reservation under the name Johnson for a party of four.

    31. 31

      Is this dish a ... portion, please?

      Is this dish a ... portion, please?

      Examples

      • Is this dish a sharing portion, please?

        Is this dish a sharing portion, please?

      • Is this dish a small portion, please?

        Is this dish a small portion, please?

      • Is this dish a children's portion, please?

        Is this dish a children's portion, please?

    How to work through this page

    1. 1Pick five first — the five you'll definitely use on your next trip. Thirty-one at once means none of them stick.
    2. 2Say them out loud, don't read them silently. Could I see the menu, please? is one rhythmic unit, and it only goes into muscle memory out loud.
    3. 3Treat the examples as substitution drills. Three examples per chunk is there to show you how the same opening finishes in different situations.

    For why this beats memorising words, see What are chunks? A complete guide. The other half of the trip is Hotel English.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you get a server's attention?

    Don't call out `Waiter!` — it reads as rude in both the US and the UK. Make eye contact and raise a hand slightly, then wait. If they're already nearby, Excuse me is all you need.

    Is it the check or the bill?

    Can I get the check, please? in the US and Canada; Could I have the bill, please? in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Both are understood everywhere — using the other one marks you as from elsewhere, nothing more.

    What if I don't understand the server's question?

    Sorry, could you say that again? or Sorry, I didn't catch that. sounds more natural than the textbook Pardon?. In practice servers ask the same few things: how many people, drinks first, how you'd like the steak, eat in or take away. Learn those four questions by ear and your hit rate goes way up.

    Do I have to say `I would like ...` when ordering?

    No. What native speakers actually say most is I'll have the ... — shorter and more natural than I would like. Can I get ... is extremely common in the US but strikes some British speakers as casual; Could I have ... is the safe option everywhere.

    Get these 31 into your mouth, not just your notes

    Every chunk in ChunksEnglish comes with native audio you can shadow and record yourself against. Core features are free.

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