How To Communicate In English At A Restaurant

Everybody needs to eat.  And where do we usually go and eat? At a restaurant.  It can be very stressful to go and dine in America and not know how to communicate properly in English.  That’s why I decided to introduce to you vocabulary words for you to practice.

I realized how important it is to feel confident as an English student to be able to communicate and order food at a restaurant.  One of my students went to a conference and decided to go out to dinner with a friend.  She realized how much she had learned by practicing in a real life situation.  With practice and connecting with individuals that didn’t speak her native language helped her tremendously.  

What is the main point? Well, as a student you have to take the responsibility to study vocabulary, phrases and speaking to get confident in English.

Below you will find vocabulary words about dining at a restaurant.  Read the vocabulary word out loud, understand the meaning of the word or phrase and next week we will put these words into sentences and phrases to help you communicate at your local restaurant.  Have fun!

• Take Your Order -  Idiom - an expression used by food service personnel to determine if the customer is ready to order food.
• Menu - a list of the dishes served at a meal; bill of fare: Ask the waiter for a menu.
• Drink - to take water or other liquid into the mouth and swallow it; imbibe.
• Glass - a tumbler or other comparatively tall, handleless drinking container.
• Restroom - rooms or a room having a washbowl, toilet, and other facilities for use by employees, visitors,etc., as in a store, theater, or office.
• Kitchen - a room or place equipped for cooking.
• Reservation - an arrangement to secure accommodations at a restaurant or hotel, on a boat or plane, etc.
• Plate - shallow, usually circular dish, often of earthenware or porcelain, from which food is eaten.
• Fork - an instrument having two or more prongs or tines, for holding, lifting, etc., as an implement for handling food.
• Knife - an instrument for cutting, consisting essentially of a thin, sharp-edged, metal blade fitted with a handle.
• Spoon - a utensil for use in eating, stirring, measuring, ladling, etc., consisting of a small, shallow bowl with a handle.
• Napkin - a small piece of cloth or paper, usually square, for use in wiping the lips and fingers and to protect the clothes while eating.

In summary, now you have the basic vocabulary words to help you interact in a restaurant.  Whether you dine by yourself, a friend, or a group of people.  The more you practice, the better you will feel.  Practice, have patience and keep up the good work.  

Coach Barb

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