Conversations in Restaurants for ESL Beginners

Knowing how to order food at a restaurant is an important task for any beginner-level English learner. Here are two short dialogues to help you learn common questions and answers used at restaurants as well as key vocabulary and phrases to practice and understand in advance.

Dining at a Restaurant Alone

This dialogue includes most of the basic questions you'll need to know while dining solo, when ordering food may be your only conversation at the restaurant. Practice it with a friend.

Waitperson: Hi. How are you doing this afternoon?

Customer (you): Fine, thank you. Can I see a menu, please?

Waitperson: Certainly, here you are.

Customer: Thank you. What's today's special?

Waitperson: Grilled tuna and cheese on rye.

Customer: That sounds good. I'll have that.

Waitperson: Would you like something to drink?

Customer: Yes, I'd like a Coke.

Waitperson: Thank you. (returning with the food) Here you are. Enjoy your meal!

Customer: Thank you.

Waitperson: Can I get you anything else?

Customer: No thanks. I'd like the check, please.

Waitperson: That'll be $14.95.

Customer: Here you are. Keep the change!

Waitperson: Thank you! Have a good day!

Customer: Goodbye.

Dining with Friends at a Restaurant

Next, use this dialogue to practice during conversations in a restaurant when eating with friends. The dialogue includes questions to help you choose what to eat. For this role-play, you'll need three people instead of two.

Kevin: The spaghetti looks really good.

Alice: It is! I had it the last time I was here.

Peter: How is the pizza, Alice?

Alice: It's good, but I think the pasta is better. What would you recommend?

Waitperson: I'd recommend the lasagna. It's excellent!

Alice: That sounds great. I'll have that.

Waitperson: Fine. Would you like an appetizer?

Alice: No, lasagna is more than enough for me!

Kevin: I think I'll have the lasagna as well.

Waitperson: Right. That's two lasagnas. Would you care for an appetizer?

Kevin: Yes, I'll take the calamari.

Peter: Oh, that sounds good! I can't decide between the chicken marsala and grilled fish.

Waitperson: The fish is fresh, so I'd recommend that.

Peter: Great. I'll have the fish. I'd also like a salad.

Waitperson: What would you like to drink?

Kevin: I'll have water.

Alice: I'd like a beer.

Peter: I'll take a glass of red wine.

Waitperson: Thank you. I'll get the drinks and the appetizers.

Kevin: Thank you. 

Conversations in Restaurants: Key Vocabulary and Phrases

Here are some key phrases used to discuss food in a restaurant when ordering and deciding what to eat:

• Are there any nuts/peanuts? My child has allergies.
• Can I get you anything else?
• Could I have a glass of water, please?
• Could I have a menu, please?
• Could you tell me where the restroom is?
• Do you have any vegetarian dishes?
• Enjoy your meal!
• Have a good day!
• Here you are.
• How is the pizza/fish/beer?
• I'd like my steak rare/medium/well done.
• I'd like the check, please.
• I'd like to have a beer/steak/glass of wine.
• I'd recommend the lasagna/steak/pizza.
  
• That'll be ...
• The spaghetti/steak/chicken looks good.
• What would you recommend?
• Would you care for an appetizer/beer/cocktail?
• Would you like ...