50 English phrases for restaurants

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide to common restaurant phrases in the United States, helping English learners navigate dining out. It covers interactions with waitstaff, such as checking if the food is satisfactory, asking to refill drinks, and ordering dessert. The video also highlights important payment-related phrases, including how to request the bill, ask for separate checks, and leave a tip. Additionally, it touches on handling mistakes made by the restaurant, taking food to go, and understanding tipping customs, ensuring viewers feel confident and polite in any restaurant setting.

Takeaways

• 😀 Waiters and waitresses often ask, 'Is everything tasting good?' to check if customers are satisfied with their meal.
• 😀 If your drink is low, a waiter may offer to 'top off your drink,' especially for water, by pouring more without taking your glass away.
• 😀 A common question after the main course is, 'Did you save room for dessert?' which invites guests to order dessert.
• 😀 To ask for the bill in a restaurant, you can say, 'Can we get the bill?', 'Can we get the check?', or 'Can we get the ticket?'
• 😀 If you're dining with others and wish to pay separately, you can ask for 'separate checks.'
• 😀 If you're paying for everyone, you can say, 'It's my treat' or 'Don't worry about it,' to signal you're covering the meal.
• 😀 Tipping is expected in the U.S. (typically 15-25% of the bill) and can be referred to as a 'tip' or 'gratuity.'
• 😀 If the restaurant made a mistake, they may 'comp' your food, which means offering free food or a discount to make up for the error.
• 😀 When you want to take leftovers home, you can ask for a 'to-go box,' but 'doggy bag' is an old-fashioned, humorous alternative.
• 😀 A playful phrase when receiving the check is 'What's the damage?', humorously referring to the cost of the meal.
• 😀 If you're at a casual restaurant and paying at a counter, you can ask, 'What does that come to?' to know the total amount you owe.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of waiters and waitresses in the United States?

Waiters and waitresses in the United States primarily earn their income through tips, which are added on top of the cost of the food. Their goal is to provide good service to ensure they receive these tips.

What are some common phrases used by waiters or waitresses to check if a customer is satisfied with their food?

Common phrases include 'Is everything tasting good?', 'Is everything tasting okay?', or 'Is everything tasting all right?', all of which are used to inquire about the customer's satisfaction with their meal.

What does it mean when a waiter asks if you'd like them to 'top off your drink'?

'Topping off your drink' means that the waiter will refill your drink if it's running low, typically without taking your cup away from the table.

What does the phrase 'Did you save room for dessert?' mean in a restaurant?

It is a way of asking if you would like to order dessert after finishing your meal, assuming you still have space to eat more.

What are some ways to ask for the bill in a restaurant in the United States?

You can ask for the bill by saying 'Can we get the bill?', 'Can we get the check?', or 'Can we get the ticket?' These all mean you're ready to pay.

What should you say if you and a friend need separate bills?

You can say, 'Could we get separate checks, please?' to indicate that you want individual bills for each person.

What does 'comping your food' mean in a restaurant context?

'Comping your food' means the restaurant offers complimentary or free food, typically because there was a mistake or issue with your order.

What is the common range for tipping in the United States, and how can you express this?

The standard tip range is 15%-25% of the total bill, with a higher tip of 30% being given for exceptional service. You can say, 'I would like to add gratuity to my bill' when including the tip.

What does the phrase 'What's the damage?' mean when referring to the bill?

'What's the damage?' is a humorous or casual way of asking how much the total bill is, often said jokingly as if the bill will be a financial burden.

How do you politely offer to pay for the entire meal at a restaurant?

You can say 'It's my treat' or 'I've got it' to indicate that you're covering the bill, often followed by 'Don't worry about it' to reassure the other person not to feel guilty.