💬 Communication ★ Core Say it yourself

Ordering in restaurants

Handle the main stages of a simple restaurant interaction from table request to payment.

Use polite fixed chunks. Quiero is direct but possible; quisiera and me gustaría are softer. Me gusta states a preference and does not itself order an item.

Patterns to reuse
Una mesa para dos, por favor.
A table for two, please.
OO-nah MEH-sah PAH-rah dohs, pohr fah-BOHR
Para mí… / Quisiera… / Me gustaría…
For me / I would like…
PAH-rah mee
¿Qué lleva…? / ¿Tiene…?
What is in…? / Do you have…?
keh YEH-bah
La cuenta, por favor.
The bill, please.
lah KWEHN-tah, pohr fah-BOHR
Watch out for
Me gusta un café to order
Me gustaría un café.

Me gusta states a liking; gustaría makes the request.

Quisiera de una cerveza.
Quisiera una cerveza.

No de is needed before the ordered item.

Quisiera una tortilla y agua sin gas.
I would like an omelette and still water.
kee-SYEH-rah OO-nah tohr-TEE-yah ee AH-gwah seen gahs
¿Qué lleva la ensalada?
What is in the salad?
keh YEH-bah lah ehn-sah-LAH-dah
Para mí, el menú del día.
For me, the set menu.
PAH-rah mee, ehl meh-NOO dehl DEE-ah
¿Nos trae la cuenta, por favor?
Can you bring us the bill, please?
nohs TRAH-eh lah KWEHN-tah, pohr fah-BOHR
Stages
Arrival
¿Tiene una mesa para…?Tengo una reserva.
Ordering
¿Nos trae…?Para mí…De primero/segundo…
Problems
Esto no es lo que he pedido. (recognition)Perdone, falta…
Payment
La cuenta, por favor.¿Podemos pagar por separado?¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Contrast
Me gusta el café.
general liking
Quiero un café.
direct order
Me gustaría/Quisiera un café.
polite order
Try it out loud
roleplay
Complete a restaurant dialogue: arrival, order, request and payment.
What to include

Use at least five standard chunks.

contrast
Say you like wine, then order a glass politely.
What to include

Me gusta el vino. Me gustaría una copa de vino.

problem solving
Report a missing drink and ask for it.
What to include

Perdone, falta… / ¿Nos trae…?

Happy with all of this?
  • I can complete a basic restaurant interaction.
  • I distinguish liking, wanting and politely requesting.

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