English For: Ordering Food
In my online English lessons, I help you order food and drinks politely and naturally — choosing dishes, asking about ingredients, handling problems and paying the bill — all in simple British English you can use today.
Useful Phrases and Idioms (At the Table)
- Choosing: “Could we have another minute with the menu?” / “What do you recommend?”
- Allergies & changes: “I’m allergic to nuts — is this dish safe?” / “Could I have it without cheese?”
- During the meal: “Excuse me — could we have some water for the table?” / “Everything’s lovely, thanks.”
- Problems (polite): “Sorry — this is a bit cold. Would you mind warming it up?”
- Paying: “Could we have the bill, please?” / “Do you take contactless?”
- Idioms: “Hit the spot” (very satisfying) / “Save room for dessert.”
Phrasal Verbs You’ll Use
- Look over: read the menu. “We’re still looking over the menu.”
- Go for: choose. “I’ll go for the soup to start.”
- Ask for: request. “Ask for tap water if you prefer.”
- Send back: return a dish politely. “I’ll send this back — it’s undercooked.”
- Split up: divide the bill. “Shall we split the bill?”
- Box up: pack leftovers to take away. “Could you box this up, please?”
Example Conversation (Dinner for Two)
Server: Evening! Can I get you started with any drinks?
Guest: Yes, a sparkling water and a small beer, please. We need a minute with the menus.
Server: Of course — shout if you need me.
Guest: What do you recommend for a main?
Server: The sea bass is popular. It’s nut‑free and can be made dairy‑free.
Guest: Perfect — I’ll go for that. Could we have the bill together at the end?
Server: No problem at all.
Discussion Practice
- Practise ordering a starter, main, and a drink.
- Politely ask about allergies and change one item.
- Handle a small problem and keep the tone friendly.
Mini Writing Tasks
- Write a short review of a meal (3–4 sentences).
- Write a polite message to book a table for Saturday.
- Write a friendly thank‑you to a server after great service.
Vocabulary You’ll Hear
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Natural Example |
|---|---|---|
| Starter / main / dessert | Courses of a meal. | “We’ll share a starter and order two mains.” |
| Tap water / still / sparkling | Types of water. | “Could we have a jug of tap water?” |
| Allergen | Something that can cause an allergic reaction. | “Please mark any allergens.” |
| Vegetarian / vegan / gluten‑free | Common dietary labels. | “Do you have a vegan option?” |
| Contactless | Card/phone payment without PIN. | “We accept contactless up to the limit.” |
| Service charge | Tip added to the bill. | “A 12.5% service charge is included.” |
How I Teach This (and Why It Works)
I focus on short, polite restaurant English that works anywhere — ordering smoothly, asking clear questions, and solving problems calmly. We practise real dialogues so you feel relaxed and confident at the table.
If you’d like to sound more natural when you eat out, join my online English lessons with a native speaker. My English speaking course is practical and conversation‑focused. You can take English lessons online with a native speaker online, wherever you are.