ENGLISH FOR REAL LIFE
English For: Restaurant Staff
In my online English lessons, I help restaurant staff, waiters and servers feel more confident speaking with guests. We practise how to greet customers, recommend dishes, take orders, and respond politely to requests — all in clear, natural British English.
Find the words you needUseful Phrases and Idioms
- Greeting guests: “Good evening, welcome to The Green Olive.” / “Do you have a reservation?”
- Taking orders: “Are you ready to order?” / “Would you like anything to drink?”
- Recommending dishes: “The grilled salmon is very popular tonight.” / “I’d recommend our chef’s special.”
- Handling complaints: “I’m really sorry about that — I’ll replace it right away.”
- When guests leave: “Thank you very much — I hope to see you again soon.”
- Idioms: “On the house” (free of charge) / “Too many cooks spoil the broth” (too many people involved can cause problems).
Phrasal Verbs You’ll Use
- Set up: prepare tables or equipment. “We need to set up the dining room before 6pm.”
- Run out of: have no more of something. “We’ve run out of soup, I’m afraid.”
- Take down: write or record an order. “I’ll take that down for the chef.”
- Put through: send an order to the kitchen. “I’ve put your order through — it’ll be ready soon.”
- Clear away: remove plates after a meal. “I’ll clear these away for you.”
- Top up: refill drinks. “Would you like me to top up your glass?”
IN CONVERSATION
Example Conversation
Waiter: Good evening! Do you have a reservation?
Customer: Yes, under Patel — for two.
Waiter: Perfect, please follow me. Here’s your table. Would you like to start with something to drink?
Customer: Just water for now, thanks.
Waiter: Of course. Today’s special is grilled sea bass with lemon butter. I’ll be back shortly to take your order.
03 / YOUR TURN
Make it
your conversation.
Discussion Practice
- How do you make guests feel welcome when they arrive?
- What polite ways can you recommend dishes?
- How do you handle complaints professionally?
Mini Writing Tasks
- Write a polite note confirming a dinner reservation.
- Write a short message apologising for a delay with food.
- Write a thank-you message to a regular guest.
Vocabulary You’ll Hear
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Natural Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reservation | A booking for a table. | “Do you have a reservation with us tonight?” |
| Special | A dish offered for a limited time. | “Our special tonight is roasted lamb.” |
| Starter | The first course of a meal. | “Would you like to start with a soup or salad?” |
| Main course | The main part of a meal. | “Your main course will be ready shortly.” |
| Side dish | Smaller food served with the main course. | “Would you like a side dish of vegetables?” |
| Tip | Extra money given for good service. | “Thank you for the tip — that’s very kind.” |
| Bill | The final amount to pay. | “Could I bring you the bill?” |
How I Teach This (and Why It Works)
In my lessons, I help restaurant staff speak more naturally with guests. We practise polite English for taking orders, giving recommendations, and dealing with problems confidently. Each session feels practical and relaxed — like you’re talking to real customers.
If you’d like to improve your communication skills at work, join my online English lessons with a native speaker. My English speaking course helps you sound natural and professional in any hospitality situation. Take English lessons online with a native speaker online and start speaking with confidence today.
Put these words into a real conversation.
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