Everyday situations
How to order at a restaurant in English
A2
Booking a table, ordering, asking for the bill: the phrases you need for the whole meal.
Quick answer
In a restaurant in the UK or the US, a meal always follows the same steps. You arrive, order drinks, then food and dessert, and ask for the bill. At each step, the waiter asks two or three very predictable questions. You can answer them with two or three easy phrases. You don't need a huge vocabulary: just learn the phrases that take you from one step to the next. Watch out for the tip: 15 to 20% is expected in the US, but in the UK it is optional (and welcome). And in a British pub, you order at the bar, not at your table.
Step by step
Each step follows a typical conversation. Lines marked “or” are other possible answers, depending on the situation.
1. Arriving and asking for a table
With no booking, say how many people you are. With a booking, give your name.
- You
A table for two, please.
NeutralorHi, do you have a table for four?
NeutralorI have a reservation under Martin.
Neutral - Other person
Inside or outside?
orI'm afraid we're full at the moment.
→ Another possible answer: the restaurant is full, so you ask how long you will have to wait. - You
Inside, please.
orHow long is the wait?
Neutral - Other person
Right this way, please.
orAbout fifteen minutes. Can I take your name?
2. Reading the menu and ordering
The waiter comes twice: first for drinks, then for food. Asking for a recommendation is always welcome.
- Other person
Can I get you something to drink?
- You
Just water, please.
- Other person
Still or sparkling?
- You
Still, please.
- Other person
Are you ready to order?
- You
Could we have a few more minutes?
Formal - Other person
Of course, take your time.
- You
What do you recommend?
- Other person
The steak is very popular.
- You
I'll have the steak, please.
Neutral→ I'll have... is the most natural way to order. - Other person
How would you like your steak?
- You
Medium rare, please.
→ A steak can be rare (very red inside), medium rare (red-pink), medium (pink) or well done (cooked all the way through).
3. During the meal
Ask for something extra, say there is a problem, or simply answer the waiter's usual question: “How is everything?”
- Other person
How is everything?
→ The waiter always asks this after 2 or 3 minutes. A short answer is enough. - You
It's lovely, thank you.
Neutral - Other person
Glad to hear it. Can I get you anything else?
- You
Could I have some more bread, please?
Formal - Other person
Of course, I'll bring some right away.
- You
Excuse me, I think there's been a mistake with my order.
FormalorThis isn't what I ordered.
- Other person
I'm so sorry. Let me sort that out straight away.
4. Dessert and coffee
The waiter often brings a second menu. You can politely say no, or have a look.
- Other person
Would you like to see the dessert menu?
- You
I'm good, thanks.
InformalorYes, please. What do you have?
- Other person
Can I get you a coffee or a tea?
- You
I'll have a coffee, please.
orJust a tea for me.
5. The bill and the tip
In English-speaking countries, the waiter does not bring the bill until you ask for it.
- You
Could we have the bill, please?
FormalUKorCould we get the check, please?
FormalUS - Other person
Of course. Here you are.
- You
Is service included?
- Other person
Yes, a 12.5 % service charge is included.
UKorNo, it isn't included.
US - You
Can we split the bill?
- Other person
Card or cash?
- You
Card, please.
orKeep the change.
Neutral→ If you pay in cash, you leave the change as a tip.
Useful vocabulary
Dishes and the menu
- starter(UK)the small first dish of a meal
- appetizer(US)the small first dish of a meal
- main coursethe biggest dish of the meal
- side disha small extra dish, like salad
- desserta sweet dish at the end
- today's speciala dish the chef offers only today
- set menua fixed meal at one price
- à la carteeach dish chosen and paid separately
Drinks and water
- still waterwater without bubbles
- sparkling waterwater with bubbles
- tap waterfree drinking water, not from a bottle
- a glass of winea drink for adults, made from grapes
- a pinta big glass, about half a litre
- a soft drinksomething sweet and fizzy, like cola
Service and the bill
- waiter / waitressa person who brings your food
- servera waiter or waitress, mainly in the US
- the bill(UK)the list of what you must pay
- the check(US)the list of what you must pay
- tipextra money you give the waiter
- service chargea tip already added to the bill
- receipta paper that proves you paid
- takeaway(UK)food you take home to eat
- to go(US)to take with you, not eat here
UK vs US: what changes
| You want to say… | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Paying at the end | The bill | The check |
| Usual tip | 10-12.5% (often included) | 15-20% (never included) |
| Food to take away | Takeaway | To go |
| Fried potato strips | Chips | Fries |
| Saving a table in advance | Booking / to book a table | Reservation / to make a reservation |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Entrée = main course in the US
In American English, entrée means the main course, not a small first dish. The first dish is an appetizer (US) or a starter (UK). So in the US, “I'll have the entrée first” orders your main course!
2. In a British pub, you order at the bar
In most traditional British pubs, nobody sits and waits for a waiter. You go to the bar, order, pay straight away and carry your drink back. Food is often brought to your table later. Asking “Could we order, please?” from your table will make people smile.
3. In the US, the tip is not optional
In the US, waiters earn a large part of their pay from tips. Leaving less than 15% is seen as rude, and less than 10% as an insult. In the UK, a service charge is often already on the bill: check before you add a tip.
4. I want sounds too direct
To order, avoid “I want the steak”. Say I'll have, I'd like or Could I get. The difference is small in words, but big for the person who hears it.
Practice quiz
Related pages: At the restaurant
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you order food at a restaurant in English?+
The most natural phrase is I'll have + dish: I'll have the chicken, please. I'd like + dish is a little more polite. Avoid I want, which sounds too direct. If you are not sure, ask What do you recommend?: waiters are always happy to help.
How do you ask for the bill in English?+
In the UK: the bill. In the US: the check. The full phrase: Could we have the bill / check, please? In both countries, the waiter does not bring the bill until you ask for it.
Do you have to tip at a restaurant in the US?+
In the US, yes: leave 15 to 20% of the bill before tax. It is almost always expected, because waiters earn a large part of their pay from tips. In the UK: 10 to 12.5% if service is not included. Check for a service charge on the bill, so you don't pay twice.
What is the difference between starter and appetizer?+
Starter is British and appetizer is American: both mean the small first dish of a meal. Be careful: in the US, entrée means the main course, not the first dish.
How do you order a steak in English?+
There are five levels. Rare is very red inside, medium rare is red-pink and medium is pink. Medium well is a little pink, and well done is cooked all the way through. The waiter asks How would you like your steak? and you answer Medium rare, please.
How do you say no politely to a waiter?+
Three phrases work. I'm good, thanks is very common in the US: it means “no, thank you”. No, thank you is neutral and works everywhere. I'll pass, thanks is a bit more informal. Always say it with a smile.
Updated on 27 October 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 27 October 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/situations/at-the-restaurant
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.