At a Cafe/Restaurant 

table outside
table inside 
Can I sit outside?
Do you have a table for one/two/three?
Can I sit where I want? 
Would you like to sit outside or inside?
a reservation
Is someone sitting here?
Is this table free?
Is this place free?
Do I order at the counter or at the table?

Can I change tables?
Can I have a table in the sun?
Can I have a table in the shade?
Would it be possible to sit over there?
Could someone clean/clear the table?


small/medium/large coffee 
filter coffee 
machine coffee
black coffee
white coffee 
Americano
espresso
double espresso

a cake
a piece of cake
a slice of cake
with regular cream
with whipped cream
with jam  


I would like a coffee. 
I’d like a coffee.
I will have a tea please. 
I’ll have a tea please. 


Where are the serviettes?
Where are the napkins?
Can I have a lid?
Where is the cutlery?
a fork
a knife 
a spoon
a teaspoon
a tablespoon
a stirrer

Do you have..........................oat milk?
                                         goat’s milk?
                                         low-fat milk?
                                         full-fat milk?
                                         skimmed milk?
                                          soya milk?
                                       a plastic fork?
                                       a wooden knife?
                                        a real spoon? 
                                        a metal spoon?

This is the wrong order. 
I didn’t order this. 
This is a mistake. 
I ordered coffee, not tea.

The coffee is..................cold.
                                   tasteless. 
                                   bitter. 
The cake is inedible. 
It doesn’t taste good. 
                                    

This table is unsuitable. 
The table is shaky.
The table is unsteady. 
The table is wobbly. 
The chair is uncomfortable.


I would like to pay. 
I’d like to pay.
Can I pay please?
The bill please.
Do I pay here or at the counter?
Can I pay you directly?
Can I pay by card?
Can I pay by cash?
Is there a tip jar?
Can I give a tip in cash?
Can I give a tip on the card?

Can I see the menu please?
What are the specials?
Are there daily specials?
What do you recommend?


a starter (BE)/an appetiser (AE)
a main course (BE)/an entrée (AE)
a side order
a dessert
soup 
tomato soup 
chicken soup 
vegetable soup
salad 
green salad
lettuce 
tomato(es) 
cucumber(s)
lentil(s) 
smoked salmon

meat
ham
beef 
pork
minced meat
venison 
veal 
lamb
chicken
turkey
duck
goose

steak
lamb chop
fillet of beef
fish 
salmon 
herring 
trout 
tuna
plaice 
cod 
haddock
prawn(s)


potato(es)
roast potatoes
mashed potatoes 
onion(s)
cabbage 
broccoli
cauliflower
sprout(s) 
carrot(s) 
bean(s) 
pea(s)
leak(s)



garlic
horseradish
chive(s)
ketchup
mayonaise
chilli sauce
soy sauce
dressing 
relish
salsa 
salt
vinegar
pepper  
mustard 



How is it cooked?
rare 
medium
well-done
boiled 
baked
barbecued
basted 
fried 
roasted
braised
slow-cooked
blanched
sautéed 
seared
skimmed 
whisked 

complaint(s). 
I have a complaint. 
I want to complain about the food. 
I must complain about the food. 
Our food hasn’t come. 
Our food hasn’t come yet. 
We are still waiting for our food. 
We have been waiting a long time for our food. 
We have been waiting for over thirty minutes. 
This is unacceptable. 
The service was not good. 
The service was bad. 
The service was terrible. 
The server was impolite. 
The waiter was rude. 
The waitress was impatient. 
Everything was fine except for the long wait.