Are you in the mood for some good food? You might encounter certain English words when eating at a Western restaurant. To make things easier, we have rounded up the terms and phrases to know when you are dining out – step by step – so you can order like a champ, chat confidently with the server and leave with a full belly!
As you enter the restaurant
First things first, you need to ask the waitstaff for seats.
Phrases: “Table for two, please!” or “Hi, can we get a table for three?” Change the number based on your group’s size.
To start?
A starter or appetiser is a small dish you eat before the main meal. It is sometimes called the first course, which helps you get ready for the rest of your meal.
Phrases: “I would like the [dish name] to start, please” or “Can we get some starters first?” You can also ask what the soup or salad of the day is.
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Ordering steak
A steak is a cut of meat - usually beef - that comes cooked to your liking. Options include:
• Rare: very red inside, super juicy
• Medium rare: pink in the middle, tender and tasty
• Medium: slightly pink, nicely balanced
• Medium well: only a little bit pink, mostly cooked
• Well done: fully cooked, no pink at all.
Phrase: “I’ll have the steak, [medium rare], please,” changing it to match how cooked you want your meat.
If the waiter checks in
Your server might pop by and ask how your food is. Tell them what you think.
Phrases: “It’s excellent, thank you!” “Delicious!” or even “It’s OK, a little bland”. This is a good time to ask for water or a condiment like salt.
Full and finished
Are you ready to go? It is time to pay what you owe. The bill or the cheque both refer to a list of what you ate and how much it costs. In Hong Kong, it is more common to ask for the bill.
Phrases: “Can we get the bill, please?” or “Can we have the cheque, please?”
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A few extra handy phrases
• If you want to double-check your options, try: “Can I see the menu again, please?”
• Who doesn’t love a sweet treat to finish? Try asking: “What are your dessert options?”
