Restaurant English sentences: 100 examples for ordering

11. Could we see the menu, please?
12. We're not ready to order yet. Could you give us a few minutes?
13. What do you recommend?
14. What's today's special?
15. I'll have the chicken curry, please.Note: "I'll have" or "Could I have" is more polite than "Give me".
16. Could I have the pasta without cheese?
17. Is this dish spicy?
18. Could you make it less spicy?
19. Does this have nuts in it?
20. I'm vegetarian. What would you suggest?
21. I'm allergic to peanuts.
22. Could I have some extra sauce on the side?
23. We'd like to share a starter.
24. That's all for now, thanks.

25. Could I have a glass of water, please?
26. Still or sparkling?
27. I'll have a fresh lime soda.
28. Could we have a jug of water for the table?
29. Could I have a coffee after the meal?
30. No ice, please.
31. Could I have another one, please?
32. Do you have any fresh juice?
33. A cup of tea with milk and no sugar, please.
34. What soft drinks do you have?

35. Enjoy your meal.
36. This is delicious.Note: Delicious is already strong: not "very delicious". Say "really tasty" or "absolutely delicious".
37. Could we have some more bread, please?
38. Excuse me, could I have a spoon?
39. Could you pass the salt, please?
40. How's your food?
41. This is a bit too salty for me.
42. I think this is undercooked.
43. Sorry, I ordered the soup, not the salad.
44. We've been waiting for forty minutes.
45. Could you warm this up, please?
46. I'm full. I can't eat another bite.

47. Could we see the dessert menu?
48. I'll skip dessert, thanks.
49. Could we have the bill, please?Note: The bill is British; the check is American.
50. Can we pay separately?
51. Shall we split the bill?
52. This one's on me.
53. Is service included?
54. Do you take cards?
55. I think there's a mistake on the bill.
56. We didn't order this.
57. Could you pack the leftovers for us?Note: "Parcel this" is understood in India, but "Could you pack this to take away?" works everywhere.
58. Can we pay at the table?

59. I'd like to order a takeaway.Note: Takeaway is British; takeout is American.
60. I'll collect it in twenty minutes.
61. How long will it take?
62. Do you deliver to this area?
63. I'll order food on the app.
64. The delivery is running late.
65. My order is missing a drink.
66. Can I pay when it arrives?
67. Shall we order in tonight?
68. Is there a minimum order?

69. A large cappuccino to take away, please.
70. Is that to eat in or take away?Note: Eat in or take away is British; for here or to go is American.
71. Could I have a sandwich and an orange juice?
72. Could you heat that up?
73. Do you have oat milk?
74. Are refills free?
75. Is anyone sitting here?
76. Do you have Wi-Fi?
77. I'll have a small coffee and a muffin.
78. Sorry, we've run out of croissants.

79. Let's go out for dinner tonight.
80. Shall we try the new Italian place?
81. I'm starving. Let's eat.
82. What are you in the mood for?
83. I don't mind. You choose.
84. I've heard the food there is amazing.
85. It's a bit pricey, but it's worth it.
86. Let's eat at home tonight. I'm tired.
87. I can't eat spicy food.
88. I'm trying to eat healthily.
89. Have you tried the biryani here?
90. We should come here again.

91. Everything was lovely, thank you.
92. Please pass our thanks to the chef.
93. The service was excellent.
94. The food was good, but the music was too loud.
95. I'll leave a review online.
96. It was a bit disappointing.
97. We'll definitely be back.
98. The portions were huge.
99. It was good value for money.
100. Thank you for a lovely evening.

• Wrong: Give me one coffee.

  Right: Could I have a coffee, please?

  A question with please sounds polite. Use a, not one, unless the number matters.

• Wrong: Bring the bill.

  Right: Could we have the bill, please?

  A command sounds rude to staff.

• Wrong: The food is too much tasty.

  Right: The food is really tasty.

  Too much means more than you want. Use really or very for praise.

• Wrong: I want more water.

  Right: Could I have some more water, please?

  I want sounds demanding when you speak to staff.

Role-play ordering a meal for two people. Say every line out loud: greeting, ordering, one special request and paying.

• Order with "I'll have" or "Could I have".
• Ask one question about a dish.
• End by thanking the staff.

Preparing for IELTS? Try these Part 1 style questions

IELTS Speaking Part 1 lasts 4 to 5 minutes, and the examiner asks general questions about familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies and interests (ielts.org). Answer each question below in two or three sentences, using phrases from this page.

1. Do you prefer eating at home or eating out?
2. What kind of food do you like most?
3. Do you often order food for delivery?
4. Is there a restaurant you would recommend in your city?

• Shopping and money
• Polite requests, apologies and thanks
• Small talk and making friends
• All topics
• English grammar lessons