English Expressions That Waiters Waitres PDF
English Expressions That Waiters Waitres PDF
English Expressions That Waiters Waitres PDF
When you go to a restaurant, you usually have a good idea of what's going to happen. That's because eating at a
restaurant usually follows a set script. The wait staff isn't actually given a written script to memorize, of course. But
even so, waiters and waitresses usually stick to a very narrow range of phrases. Here's what you can expect when you
go to a restaurant.
When you first go in, the host or hostess will want to know how many people are eating with you. They might ask:
How many?
Or, in a fancier restaurant:
How many are in your party?
If they can see how many people walked in together, they might simply ask:
Two?
Some popular restaurants expect you to have a reservation before you come. In that case, the hostess might ask:
Let me tell you about our specials today. We have a miso-glazed Chilean Sea Bass with a side of mashed sweet
potatoes and sauteed spinach.
Then you're expected to order drinks:
Can I get you something to drink?
If you're not sure, the server will offer to come back again in a few minutes:
Do you need a little time to decide?
They'll go around the table to each person, using phrases like these:
And for you sir?
And for you miss?
What can I get for you?
Then they'll leave:
I'll be right back with your drinks.
When the waiter or waitress returns, he or she will ask you to order your food:
Are you ready to order?
If the dish you order has a choice of side dishes, they'll offer to let you choose:
That comes with either fries or a baked potato. Which would you prefer?
Would you like fries with that, or a baked potato?
If you ask for something, the server will say:
Sure.
Or at a fancier restaurant:
Certainly.
But if you ask for something that's not available, you'll hear: