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AI image: A smiling man and woman sit at a table near a window and hold menus – eating out and ordering food.
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Simmonds · live on simmonds.onlineA25 min · English

Ordering at a restaurant in English: vocabulary, dialogue and typical phrases

Editorially responsible: James Simmondspublished 1 Nov 2026AI-generated text (learn more – how we use AI on these pages)

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Allow the microphone – Theo asks the first question.

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At the restaurantA2 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about eating out and ordering food (level A2)Clothes and fashionB1 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about clothes and fashion (level B1)Weather & seasonsA2 – Practise speaking English: a conversation about the weather and the seasons (level A2)

Question of the day

What does Tom order to eat?

  1. The tomato soup
  2. The pizza
  3. The fish
Show the answer – Open the answer to the question of the day

Correct answer: The pizza

You can find the answer in the English introduction.

Listen to the introduction

Speed

Transcript

Anna and Tom walk into a busy Italian restaurant in London. A waiter smiles and shows them to a table for two – Jump to the vocabulary entry for a table for two near the window. They look at the menu – Jump to the vocabulary entry for look at the menu for a few minutes. When he comes back, he asks, “Well, are you ready to order – Jump to the vocabulary entry for are you ready to order?” Anna replies, “I would like – Jump to the vocabulary entry for I would like the tomato soup, please.” Tom chooses the pizza. They also ask for a large bottle of sparkling water – Jump to the vocabulary entry for sparkling water. After a lovely meal, they ask for the bill – Jump to the vocabulary entry for ask for the bill. They pay and walk home happy.

Vocabulary

a table for two/ə ˈteɪ.bəl fɔː ˈtuː/
Meaning: A place to sit and eat for two people.
Example: We need a table for two at eight o'clock.
look at the menu/ˌlʊk ət ðə ˈmen.juː/
Meaning: To read the food and drink choices in a restaurant.
Example: We can look at the menu before we go inside.
are you ready to order/ɑː ju ˈred.i tu ˈɔː.də/
Meaning: A question a waiter asks when they want to know what you want to eat.
Example: Hello, are you ready to order your food?
I would like/aɪ wʊd ˈlaɪk/
Meaning: A polite way to say what you want.
Example: I would like a cup of tea, please.
sparkling water/ˈspɑː.klɪŋ ˈwɔː.tə/
Meaning: Water with bubbles of gas in it.
Example: She always drinks sparkling water with her dinner.
ask for the bill/ˌɑːsk fə ðə ˈbɪl/
Meaning: To tell the waiter that you want to know how much to pay.
Example: We usually ask for the bill after coffee.

Dialogue

  1. MarkGood evening. Do you need a table for two?
  2. SarahYes, please. By the window if possible.
  3. MarkHere you go. You can look at the menu.
  4. SarahThank you.
  5. MarkAre you ready to order?
  6. SarahYes, I would like a glass of sparkling water, please.
  7. MarkPerfect. I will be right back.
  8. SarahOh, and can we ask for the bill straight after the meal? We are in a hurry.

Questions for your conversation

Partner A

Easier: Do you often eat at restaurants? Why or why not?

What is your favourite food to order in a restaurant?

More challenging: How do you decide which restaurant to visit when you are in a new city?

Partner B

Easier: Do you usually leave a tip for the waiter? Why or why not?

What do you say when your food arrives cold?

More challenging: How has the experience of eating out changed over the last ten years?

Partner A

Easier: Do you prefer sparkling water to still water? Why or why not?

How do you usually pay the bill in a restaurant?

More challenging: What makes a dining experience truly excellent apart from the food?

Useful phrases

  • Could we have a table for two, please?
  • Could you bring us the menu?
  • I would like the chicken with rice.
  • Excuse me, my food is cold.
  • Can we ask for the bill, please?
  • Can I pay by card?

Topic quiz

Five quick questions check vocabulary and listening comprehension.

All conversations – Back to all English conversations

Questions

Who is Theo?

Theo is an AI conversation partner for warming up, not a teacher. The voice is synthetic. In the live rounds, a trainer talks with you.

Is my conversation stored?

We store neither audio nor a transcript. During the conversation, your voice is sent to Google (Gemini) for processing. The conversation ends after no more than five minutes.

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