Practical guideRestaurant English
Restaurant English phrases: order, allergy, and the bill
Restaurant English phrases for a table, an order, allergies, and the bill, plus a prompt for the Jogen Dining & Local Cuisine scene.
These are sentences you can use in a restaurant. Read the phrase, then say it in a Jogen dining scene.
Order and get a table
Finish one job: sit down, order one dish, or change one ingredient. Say the English aloud, then hide the text and say it again.
| English | When to say it |
|---|---|
| A table for two, please. | Ask for a table for two |
| Could we see the menu? | Ask for the menu |
| What do you recommend? | Ask for a recommendation |
| I'll have the grilled chicken, please. | Name the dish you want |
| Could I get this without onions? | Remove one ingredient |
| That's all, thank you. | Show that the order is finished |
Allergies and diet limits
Say an allergy when you order, not after the dish arrives. Ask staff to check with the kitchen instead of relying only on a menu icon.
| English | When to say it |
|---|---|
| I have a peanut allergy. | State a peanut allergy |
| Does this contain gluten? | Ask about gluten |
| I can't eat shellfish. | Rule out shellfish |
| Is this dish vegetarian? | Ask if a dish is vegetarian |
| I need it without dairy. | Ask for no dairy |
| Could you check with the kitchen? | Ask staff to check with the kitchen |
The bill, service, and splitting
Ask for the bill, then ask about service, the payment method, and a receipt. If a dish is wrong, name the item.
| English | When to say it |
|---|---|
| Could we have the bill, please? | Ask for the bill |
| Can we split the bill? | Ask to split the bill |
| Is service included? | Ask if service is included |
| Could I pay by card? | Ask to pay by card |
| I think this isn't what I ordered. | Point out the wrong item |
| Could I have a receipt? | Ask for a receipt |
Practice one round with this list
Copy the instruction below. A2 is the sentence length you request, not a score of your level. In turn five, the dish is unavailable.
Act as a restaurant server and practice ordering in English with me. Use short sentences, ask one question at a time, and wait for my answer. I will order one dish, name one allergy, and ask for the bill. In turn five, tell me my first dish is unavailable. Then give one grammar correction and one more natural sentence, with a reason for each.
What to say after the server answers
After an answer, do one of three things: repeat the key word, choose an option, or use a clarification line. Do not reread the whole menu.
| English | When to say it |
|---|---|
| Could you say that again, more slowly? | Ask for a slower repeat |
| Could you write it down? | Ask for the words in writing |
| What does that mean? | Ask what a word means |
| Let me try that again. | Retry your own sentence |
FAQ
Are these sentences polite enough?
Could I and Could we fit most restaurants. I want is often grammatical and sounds more direct. For a shorter line, use The bill, please.
Can I rely on a menu icon for an allergy?
No. Name the allergen and ask staff to check with the kitchen. This page does not replace medical advice or the restaurant’s own notice.
Where do I say this in the app?
Jogen’s Dining & Local Cuisine scene. A voice turn costs 10 points; text-only costs 5.
Say it in the dining scene
A phrase list is not a conversation. Open the app, choose Dining & Local Cuisine, and say one order line, one allergy line, and one bill line.
Next: open Jogen, choose Dining & Local Cuisine, and say the three groups on this page. The balance in the app is the one that applies.