Whether you're a traveler exploring foreign lands or simply enjoying a night out in your hometown, understanding restaurant vocabulary can significantly enhance your dining experience. From deciphering the menu to effectively communicating with the staff, grasping key restaurant words and phrases is as crucial for everyday conversations.
Common Words Used in Restaurants
- Reservation: a prior arrangement with the restaurant to secure a table at a specific date and time.
- Menu: a restaurant food list or board displaying the available food and drink options.
- Waiter/Waitress: the restaurant staff member who attends to the diners, takes orders, and serves food and drinks.
- Tip: an optional gratuity given to the server as a gesture of appreciation for their service.
- Bill/Check: the itemized statement of the total amount owed for the food and beverages consumed.
- Cuisine: the style or type of cooking associated with a particular region or culture.
- Cutlery: utensils such as knives, forks, and spoons used for eating and serving food.
- Tablecloth: a decorative covering placed on the table to provide a clean and presentable dining surface.
- Chef: the professional cook responsible for preparing and overseeing the kitchen operations.
- Corkage: the fee the restaurant charges for opening and serving a bottle of wine brought by the customer.
- Sommelier: a wine expert or specialist who assists in selecting and recommending wines to complement the meal.
- Takeout: food ordered from a restaurant to be consumed off the premises, often in a to-go container.
- Tableware: the dishes, plates, bowls, glasses, and silverware used for serving and eating meals.
- Host/Hostess: the restaurant staff member who greets and seats customers upon arrival.
- Napkin: a piece of cloth or paper used to wipe or clean the hands and mouth while dining.
Places to Eat Out
1. Restaurants
- Casual Dining: Relaxed atmosphere with a range of menu options. Examples include family restaurants, bistros, and diners.
- Fine Dining: Upscale, formal establishments with a focus on high-quality ingredients and presentation. Examples include gourmet restaurants and high-end steakhouses.
- Ethnic Restaurants: Specialize in cuisine from a specific culture or region, such as Italian, Japanese, Mexican, or Indian.
2. Cafés and Coffee Shops
- Coffee Shops: Focus on coffee and espresso drinks, often with pastries and light snacks.
- Cafés: Serve a variety of breakfast and lunch options, often with a cozy atmosphere.
3. Fast Food
- Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs): Offer fast, convenient meals with a focus on speed. Examples include burger joints, taco stands, and fried chicken outlets.
4. Food Trucks and Street Food
- Food Trucks: Mobile eateries offering a range of cuisines, from gourmet meals to street food favorites.
- Street Food Stalls: Often found in markets or festivals, offering quick, tasty, and often affordable dishes.
5. Buffets
- All-You-Can-Eat Buffets: Feature a wide selection of dishes where diners can serve themselves as much as they like. Often found in hotels or dedicated buffet restaurants.
6. Bakeries
- Artisan Bakeries: Specialize in baked goods like bread, pastries, and cakes. Some offer a café-style experience with seating.
- Pastry Shops: Focus on a variety of pastries and desserts.
7. Bars and Pubs
- Bars: Serve alcoholic beverages and may offer light snacks or small plates.
- Pubs: Often serve hearty meals and snacks in a casual setting with a focus on drinks and socializing.
8. Diners
- Classic Diners: Known for their retro vibe and extensive menus that typically include breakfast items served all day, as well as burgers, sandwiches, and comfort food.
9. Food Courts
- Mall Food Courts: Feature multiple food vendors in one area, offering a variety of cuisines and quick-service options.
10. Specialty Dining
- Seafood Restaurants: Focus on dishes made from fish and other seafood.
- Steakhouses: Specialize in beef and steak dishes, often offering a range of cuts and preparation styles.
11. Ethnic and Regional Eateries
- Dim Sum Houses: Offer a variety of small, shareable dishes from Cantonese cuisine.
- Sushi Bars: Specialize in sushi and other Japanese dishes, often with a focus on fresh ingredients.
12. Brunch Spots
- Brunch Restaurants: Serve a combination of breakfast and lunch items, typically from late morning to early afternoon.
13. Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants
- Vegan Restaurants: Offer dishes that contain no animal products.
- Vegetarian Restaurants: Focus on plant-based dishes, though they may include dairy and eggs.
14. Pop-Up Restaurants
- Temporary Venues: Often set up for a limited time or in unconventional locations, offering unique dining experiences.
15. Wine Bars
- Wine-focused Establishments: Serve a variety of wines and often pair them with complementary foods like cheese or charcuterie.
Here are some English words or expressions you’ll hear while dining
1. Reservation (n)
To make sure there will be a free table at your chosen restaurant, it’s a good idea to make a reservation. The best way to do this is usually to call. When calling the restaurant, say “I’d like to reserve a table for [XXX people] on [date] under [last name]”. (E.g., “I’d like to reserve a table for five on March 1st under Johnson.” By giving your last name, the people you’ve invited will be able to find your table if they get there first.
2. Order (n, v)
You’ve gone to a restaurant to eat and drink, right? Of course! This is your order: the things you choose from the menu. “Order” is a noun (“Your order is ready,”) and also a verb (“Would you like to order?” or “We ordered the chicken,”) so listen out for it!
3. Server (n) To serve (v)
Your server is the person who takes your order, brings your meal and looks after you while you are at the restaurant. In the United Kingdom, and most other English-speaking countries, they are called waiters or wait staff. They will visit your table several times during your meal to take your order, serve your food, refill your glasses, clear away empty plates and glasses and make sure everything is going well.
4. BYO (a)
Short for “bring your own.” Some restaurants let you drink your own wine instead of ordering from their list and “BYO” is how they identify this option. When you bring your own wine, your server will open it, keep it chilled if necessary, and serve it. Later, you will pay a few dollars’ “corkage” for each person who drank or for each bottle.
5. Starter (n)
This is the fun bit – where you begin to choose what to eat. So let’s start at the very beginning: with a starter! These are the small dishes that arrive before your meal. It’s common to share these between the table. What can you expect to eat? Well, depending on the type of restaurant, typical starters might be spring rolls, pita bread and dips, cheese sticks, papadams, calamari, or grilled prawns. To order, say “I’ll start with the [XXX].”
6. Main course (n)
Now it’s time for your main course (sometimes just called the “main”). Usually, everyone will order their own main – however, particularly if you’re eating with good friends or at a Chinese restaurant, your group might choose to share mains. To help you make your choice, the menu is often divided into types of mains such as: chicken, meat, vegetarian, pasta, rice, fish and seafood, and salads.
7. Dessert (n)
There’s always room for something sweet at the end of the meal. Try cake, cheesecake, a fruit tart, ice cream, fruit salad or crepes. Coffee, tea, herbal tea or dessert wines are good drinks choices to have with dessert!
FAQ: English Restaurant Vocabulary
1. What does “menu” mean?
- Menu: A list of dishes available for order at a restaurant. It often includes descriptions and prices of each item.
2. What is an “appetizer”?
- Appetizer: A small dish served before the main meal to stimulate the appetite. Also known as a starter or entrée in some regions.
3. What is the difference between “entree” and “main course”?
- Entrée: In some places, it refers to the main course, while in others, it refers to the first course or appetizer.
- Main Course: The principal dish of a meal, usually more substantial than the appetizers or starters.
4. What does “dessert” refer to?
- Dessert: The sweet course served at the end of a meal. Examples include cakes, ice cream, and pastries.
5. What is a “special” in a restaurant context?
- Special: A dish or menu item that is offered for a limited time, often created to highlight seasonal ingredients or chef’s creations.
6. What does “reservation” mean?
- Reservation: A booking made in advance to ensure a table at the restaurant. It is advisable for busy restaurants or special occasions.
7. What is a “waiter” or “waitress”?
- Waiter/Waitress: Staff members who take orders, serve food and drinks, and assist diners throughout their meal.
8. What does “bill” or “check” mean?
- Bill/Check: The statement of the total amount owed for the food and drinks consumed during the meal.
9. What is “tipping” and what is the usual amount?
- Tipping: Giving a gratuity to the service staff for their service. The standard tip amount in many places is 15-20% of the total bill.
10. What is a “beverage” in a restaurant setting? - Beverage: Any drink served at a restaurant, including soft drinks, water, tea, coffee, and alcoholic drinks.
