There are many types of restaurant. In this lesson, Niharika will cover what you need to say in fine-dine restaurants, regular sit down restaurants, and luxury fine dining restaurants.This lesson teaches common words and expressions for describing food and drink, restaurant service and parts of meals.

Note: Niharika is from India but she's living in the United States for some years, so her British Indian accent is very mixed up with American English now.

Useful phrases :

1. Asking for a table

Do you have any free tables?
I'd like to make a reservation
I'd like to book a table, please
I've got a reservation in the name of...

2. Ordering your meal:

Could I see the menu, please?
Could I see the wine list, please?
Do you have any specials?
What's the soup of the day?
What do you recommend?
What's this dish?

3. Making changes to the order

If you'd like to get the waiter's attention, the most polite way is simply to say:

Excuse me! Could we have ...?
   another bottle of wine
   some more bread
   some water
Could you make this soup 1 by 2?
Please see to it that the food is spicy/nonspicy

4. Problems with the food

This isn't what I ordered
This food's cold
This is too salty
This doesn't taste right
We've been waiting a long time
Is our meal on its way?
Will our food be long?

5. Asking for the check / the bill

The bill, please
Could we have the bill, please?
Can I pay by card?
Do you take credit cards?
Is service charge included?