Everyday English for ESL

Lesson 8 — Restaurant Meal

1. Video Transcripts
2. Language Notes
3. Word List
4. Language Exercises
5. Answer Key
6. Crossword Puzzle
7. Word Search Puzzle
 EVERYDAY ENGLISH LESSON 8 — RESTAURANT MEAL

TRANSCRIPTS
DIALOGUE

Waitress: Good evening sir, madam1. Are you ready to order2?

Man: Yes, I think so3.
Waitress: Would you like a starter?
Man: No, I think we’ll just have a main course and a dessert4.
Man: What are you having5, dear?
Woman: I’m going to have the fish.
Man: And I’ll have the steak. Well done6, please.
Waitress: Certainly sir. And what would you like to drink?
Man: Two glasses of red wine7 and a bottle of mineral water8, please.
Waitress: And for dessert?
Man: Fruit salad for me.
Woman: And the same for me too9.

LISTENING COMPREHENSION

If you are going for a meal in a restaurant, it’s always a good idea to book10 in advance.
When you arrive, the waiter or waitress11 will show you to your table. He or she12 will then hand you the menu and
give you some time to choose13 what you want to eat.
When you are ready to order, the waiter will take your order and ask you what you want14 to drink.
A typical restaurant meal consists of three courses: a starter, a main course15, and a dessert. However16, people
sometimes choose not to have the starter or the dessert.
Some restaurants offer fixed menus at a set price, but you may prefer to order ‘à la carte’17.
When your food is ready, the waiter will bring18 it to your table and serve it.
During your meal the waiter may come to ask you if everything is OK. Hopefully19, it will be, but if you have a dirty
glass or cutlery20, or your food is cold, or the service too slow, or the music too loud, then you may have to
complain. But do so21 politely.
At the end of the meal, the waiter will bring you the bill22. If you enjoyed23 your meal and were satisfied with the
service, you may decide to leave a tip24. About ten percent of the total is customary.

QUESTIONS

 How often do you eat in a restaurant?

 Describe your favourite restaurant.
 Describe a meal you had recently in a restaurant.
 How do you choose which restaurants to go to?
 What are the things that make a good restaurant for you?

EVERYDAY ENGLISH JEFFREY HILL

 EVERYDAY ENGLISH LESSON 8 — RESTAURANT MEAL

LANGUAGE NOTES

1. Madam is the female equivalent of ‘sir’ when addressing customers in shops, restaurants, etc.
2. Order can be a verb or a noun: He ordered (v.) a takeaway. The waiter took our order (n.).
3. In English, you cannot just say ‘I think’ after ‘yes’. You have to add ‘so’. The negative form is ‘I don’t
think so’: Is this the right address? — I think so/I don’t think so.
4. Don’t confuse dessert (food) which has a double ‘s’ and has the stress on the second syllable, and
desert (e.g., the Sahara), which only has one ‘s’ and has the stress on the first syllable.
5. The verb ‘to have’ is used with the meaning of ‘going to eat’ here, which is why it can be used in the
progressive form. For possession, we always use the present simple: I have a big kitchen (not I’m
having).
6. Steak is usually served ‘rare’ (=cooked just on the outside), ‘medium’, or ‘well done’.
7. There are three basic types of wine: red, white, and rosé. And no, rosé is not made by mixing red and
white!
8. Mineral water can be ‘still’ (without gas), or ‘sparkling’ (with gas). You can also ask for tap water.
9. Too has the meaning of ‘also’ or ‘as well’ here.
10. You can book or reserve a table. The corresponding nouns are ‘booking’ and ‘reservation’: Do you have
a reservation?
11. Many restaurants now use the word server, which can refer to a man or woman.
12. To avoid having to say ‘he or she’ if the gender of the subject is unknown, some people use ‘they’
(though some grammar purists dislike this usage): The server will show you to your table. They (yes!)
will then give you the menu.
13. Choose is an irregular verb: choose, chose, chosen.
14. ‘… what you want to drink is an indirect question. Note that in indirect questions we do not use the
auxiliary verb ‘do’, and the subject precedes the verb. The direct question is, of course, ‘What do you
want to drink?’.
15. Americans use the word ‘entree’ to refer to the main course, which is confusing because ‘entrée’ is
French for ‘starter’!
16. However is a conjunction used to express contrast. It means the same as ‘nevertheless’.
17. The French term à la carte refers to food that can be ordered as separate items, rather than as part of a
set meal.
18. Bring is an irregular verb: bring, brought, brought. People bring things to the place where we are:
Please bring a bottle to the party.
19. Hopefully is used for saying that you hope something will happen: Hopefully, we’ll get more news next
week. Some grammar purists argue that ‘hopefully’ should only be used to mean ‘in a hopeful way’.
20. Cutlery is an uncountable mass noun (no plural form) used for knives, forks and spoons.
21. So goes with ‘do’, not ‘politely’. ‘Do so’ means ‘do the thing that’s just been mentioned’. The usage is
similar to ‘I think so’.
22. Americans use the word ‘check’ for bill: Can I get the check, please?
23. The verb ‘to enjoy’ is used in the same way as ‘to like’, and has a similar meaning: Did you enjoy/like
your meal?
24. In America you should always leave a tip.

EVERYDAY ENGLISH JEFFREY HILL

 EVERYDAY ENGLISH LESSON 8 — RESTAURANT MEAL

WORD LIST
à la carte ......................................... a French expression that refers to food that can be ordered as separate
items, rather than part of a set meal
bill ................................................... piece of paper showing how much you must pay for something (AmE = check)
book (v) .......................................... to arrange to have or use something in the future (= to reserve)
bottle............................................... a glass container with a narrow part at the top used for holding liquids
choose ............................................ to take or decide on one particular thing from a group of things
complain ......................................... to say that you are not happy or satisfied about something
course............................................. one of the parts of a meal
customary ....................................... if something is customary, it is what usually happens
cutlery [U] ....................................... knives, forks, and spoons
dear ................................................ a word used for talking to someone that you like: ‘What did you say, dear?’
dessert............................................ sweet food eaten at the end of a meal
dirty................................................. not clean
drink (v)........................................... to swallow a liquid
enjoy ............................................... to like doing something
fish .................................................. an animal that swims in the sea and is eaten as food
fixed menu ...................................... a type of menu featuring a pre-selected list of dishes at a set price
food (U) .......................................... the things that people and animals eat
fruit salad ........................................ a dish with small pieces of different fruits
glass ............................................... a container made of glass which you drink from
hand (v) .......................................... to give something to someone
hopefully ......................................... used to say you hope something will (not) happen: ‘Hopefully, it won’t rain.’
in advance ...................................... before a particular time in the future
loud................................................. making a lot of noise
madam ........................................... polite word used for talking to a woman when serving in a shop or restaurant
main course .................................... the most important part of a meal
meal................................................ food that you eat at a particular time, e.g., breakfast, lunch, or dinner
menu .............................................. a list of the food available in a restaurant
mineral water .................................. water that you buy in bottles that comes from under the ground
order (n) .......................................... the food you ask for in a restaurant
politely ............................................ in a pleasant way towards other people
ready .............................................. prepared for something
restaurant ....................................... a place where you can buy and eat a meal
satisfied .......................................... pleased because you have got or done something good
serve............................................... to give someone food or drink
service ............................................ the help that someone gives you in a shop, hotel, restaurant, etc.
set price .......................................... a specific price that does not change
slow ................................................ not fast, or not acting quickly
starter ............................................. the first part of a meal
steak ............................................... a thick piece of meat (usually from a cow)
tip (n) .............................................. a small amount of extra money you give a waiter if you are satisfied with the
service. Tip can also be a verb: ‘Make sure you tip the waiter’.
total................................................. a particular number or amount when individual items are added together
waiter .............................................. a male server in a restaurant
waitress .......................................... a female server in a restaurant
well done ........................................ cooked for a long time

EVERYDAY ENGLISH JEFFREY HILL

 EVERYDAY ENGLISH LESSON 8 — RESTAURANT MEAL

LANGUAGE EXERCISES
A. MATCH THE WORDS WITH THE PICTURES

waiter tip cutlery steak bill waitress fish menu restaurant

wine starter fruit salad glass mineral water dessert complain

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

EVERYDAY ENGLISH JEFFREY HILL

 EVERYDAY ENGLISH LESSON 8 — RESTAURANT MEAL

B. TRUE OR FALSE?

1. A waiter is someone whose job is to give people orders in a restaurant.

2. A typical restaurant meal includes a starter and a dessert.
3. If you order ‘à la carte’, you will probably pay more than you would for a fixed menu.
4. You should complain if everything is OK.
5. You should give the waiter the bill at the end of the meal.

C. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

If you are going (1) out/for a meal in a restaurant, it’s always a good idea to book
(2) in/on advance.

When you arrive, the waiter or waitress will show you (3) at/to your table. He or she will
then hand you the menu and give you some time to (4) chose/choose what you want to
eat.

When you are ready to order, the waiter will (5) take/place your order and ask you what
you want to drink.

A typical restaurant meal consists (6) in/of three courses: a starter, a main course, and a dessert.
(7) However/Although, people sometimes choose not to have the starter or the dessert.

Some restaurants offer fixed menus at a set (8) prize/price, but you may prefer to order ‘à la carte’.

When your food (9) is/will be ready, the waiter will bring it to your table and (10) serve/serves it.

(11) While/During your meal the waiter may come to ask you if everything is OK. (12) Hopefully/Fortunately, it will
be, but if you have a dirty glass or cutlery, or your food is cold, or the service too slow, or the music too loud,
(13) after/then you may have to complain. But do so politely.

At the end of the meal, the waiter will bring you the (14) cheque/bill. If you enjoyed your meal and were satisfied
(15) with/of the service, you may decide to leave a tip. About ten (16) percent/percents of the total is customary.

EVERYDAY ENGLISH JEFFREY HILL

 EVERYDAY ENGLISH LESSON 8 — RESTAURANT MEAL

ANSWER KEY
A. MATCH THE WORDS AND PICTURES

1. starter 9. dessert
2. menu 10. tip
3. cutlery 11. fish
4. fruit salad 12. glass
5. complain 13. bill
6. steak 14. waitress
7. waiter 15. restaurant
8. mineral water 16. wine

B. TRUE OR FALSE?

1. FALSE — a waiter takes people’s orders

2. TRUE
3. TRUE
4. FALSE — you only complain if there’s a problem
5. FALSE — you should give the waiter a tip

C. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD

1. for 9. is
2. in 10. serve
3. to 11. During
4. choose 12. Hopefully
5. take 13. then
6. of 14. bill
7. However 15. with
8. price 16. percent

EVERYDAY ENGLISH JEFFREY HILL

 EVERYDAY ENGLISH LESSON 8 — RESTAURANT MEAL

CROSSWORD
1 2 3 4 5

7 8

10 11 12

13

14 15

16 17

18 19 20

21 22 23

24 25

Across Down
2 You can have it rare, 15 It's usually included 1 Meat often served 12 The biggest part of a
medium, or well in the bill (7) cold in salads (3) meal (4,6)
done (5)
18 Male server (6) 2 The first course of a 13 A healthy dessert
6 (Restaurant) meal (7) (5,5)
19 The things you eat
reviewer (6)
(4) 3 We ate ____ an 16 How much do we
7 Enjoy your ____! (4) expensive restaurant ____ you? (3)
22 Hot drink (3)
(2)
9 You pay this after 17 Red wine ____ white
23 Female server (8)
eating (4) 4 Polite way of wine? (2)
24 What you can do if addressing a male
10 Romantic 20 Salmon or tuna, for
you're not satisfied customer (3)
(restaurant) rendez- example (4)
(8)
vous (4) 5 A set list of dishes
21 To reserve (a table)
25 American word for (5,4)
11 “____ you can eat (4)
'bill' (5)
for $10” (3) 6 Knife, fork, and
22 Extra money you
spoon (7)
12 I'll have the home- give to a waiter (3)
____ apple pie (4) 8 You drink wine or
23 Alcoholic drink made
water from this (5)
14 Waiter or waitress from grapes (4)
(6) 10 Usually the last
course (7)

EVERYDAY ENGLISH JEFFREY HILL

 EVERYDAY ENGLISH LESSON 8 — RESTAURANT MEAL

WORD SEARCH
F M I N E R A L W A T E R H D
R J C L V Z C O M P L A I N G
U I U T S V X J R Q B F U S K
I G T W I W B E S D D N Q E V
T X L H I Z X O E U E J V R O
S T E A K N H J R M P R E V G
A Q R X B S E C V T Z T B I L
L M Y V I R V O E W R S I C A
A K B F E D O U R A T V L E S
D M D T A Z E R T I K L L B S
A H I Z Y U T S W T B O O K N
R A Z F E V I E S R J O W M Y
W A A Q O R P C H E C K T F O
W E L L D O N E D S R P M J Z
M E A L M Q D K H S Z T Y F H

Bill Mineral water

Book Order
Check Server
Complain Service
Course Starter
Cutlery Steak
Dessert Tip
Fish Waiter
Food Waitress
Fruit salad Well done
Glass Wine
Meal
Menu

EVERYDAY ENGLISH JEFFREY HILL

 EVERYDAY ENGLISH LESSON 8 — RESTAURANT MEAL

CROSSWORD — SOLUTION
1 2 3 4 5
H S T E A K S F
6
A T T C R I T I C
7 8
M E A L G U R X
9
R B I L L T E
10 11 12
D A T E A L L M A D E
13
E E F S E A M
14 15
S E R V E R S E R V I C E
S U Y N N
16 17
E O I O C U
18 19 20
R W A I T E R F O O D F
T E S U I
21 22 23
B T E A W A I T R E S S
O I L I S H
24 25
C O M P L A I N C H E C K
K D E

WORD SEARCH — SOLUTION

F M I N E R A L W A T E R H D
R J C L V Z C O M P L A I N G
U I U T S V X J R Q B F U S K
I G T W I W B E S D D N Q E V
T X L H I Z X O E U E J V R O
S T E A K N H J R M P R E V G
A Q R X B S E C V T Z T B I L
L M Y V I R V O E W R S I C A
A K B F E D O U R A T V L E S
D M D T A Z E R T I K L L B S
A H I Z Y U T S W T B O O K N
R A Z F E V I E S R J O W M Y
W A A Q O R P C H E C K T F O
W E L L D O N E D S R P M J Z
M E A L M Q D K H S Z T Y F H

EVERYDAY ENGLISH JEFFREY HILL