menu
Meaning: the list of food and drinks a restaurant offers
Example: Could we see the menu, please?
Tip: Some restaurants have a separate drinks menu or dessert menu.
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Vocabulary
Vocabulary for restaurants and foodStudy the English you need to order food, ask about ingredients, and speak confidently with waiters.
This lesson gives you practical restaurant English for menus, ordering, paying, and handling common dining situations. Learn the main food words first, then move to helpful phrasal verbs and natural questions you can use at the table.
8 words4 phrasal verbs6 questions
Visual overview
Restaurant vocabulary board
menustartermain courseside dishbilltipreservationdessertVocabulary for restaurants and food
Core words
Start with the most useful words for this topic. Read the meaning, notice the example, and reuse the phrase in your own sentence.
starter
Meaning: the first small dish before the main course
Example: We ordered soup as a starter.
Tip: In American English, appetizer is also very common.
main course
Meaning: the biggest part of the meal
Example: My main course is grilled fish with rice.
Tip: Main dish is another common way to say this.
side dish
Meaning: an extra small dish served with the main food
Example: I would like a side dish of vegetables.
Tip: Fries, salad, and rice are common side dishes.
bill
Meaning: the paper that shows how much you need to pay
Example: Could we have the bill when you have a moment?
Tip: In American English, check is also common.
tip
Meaning: extra money you leave for the service
Example: We left a tip because the service was excellent.
Tip: Tipping customs are different in different countries.
reservation
Meaning: a table booking made before you arrive
Example: We have a reservation for four people at eight o'clock.
Tip: Busy restaurants often ask if you have a reservation.
dessert
Meaning: the sweet food you eat after the main meal
Example: The chocolate cake was my favorite dessert.
Tip: Dessert has two s letters in the middle.
Useful phrasal verbs
These verb combinations appear often in natural conversations, so they are worth memorizing as full expressions.
eat out
Meaning: to eat at a restaurant instead of at home
Example: We eat out on Friday nights.
Tip: This is a very common phrase for restaurant plans.
ask for
Meaning: to request something
Example: You can ask for the vegetarian menu.
Tip: People ask for the bill, more water, or extra bread.
bring out
Meaning: to carry food from the kitchen to the table
Example: They brought out the desserts after dinner.
Tip: Restaurants often bring out food in courses.
cut up
Meaning: to cut food into smaller pieces
Example: Can you cut up the pizza for the children?
Tip: This is very useful with children or shared food.
Questions you can ask
Practise these ready-made questions so you can react faster in real conversations.
Could I see the menu, please?
When to use it: Use this when the menu is not on the table yet.
What do you recommend today?
When to use it: Use this when you want a suggestion from the waiter.
Could we have the bill, please?
When to use it: Use this when you finish the meal and want to pay.
Does this dish contain nuts?
When to use it: Use this when you need to check ingredients for an allergy or food restriction.
Do you have a table for two?
When to use it: Use this when you arrive without a reservation.
Could you make it a little less spicy?
When to use it: Use this when you want to change the level of spice in a dish.
Quick practice
Use these short exercises to check the lesson before you move on.
Practice
Complete the sentence: We asked for the ______ when we were ready to pay.
The bill is the paper that shows the total price of the meal.
Practice
Which phrasal verb means to eat at a restaurant?
Eat out is the most common phrase for having a meal away from home.
Practice
Choose the better question: Could I see the menu? / I see menu?
The first sentence is complete and polite.
Practice
Correct the sentence: We has a reservation for six people.
We takes the verb have, not has.