Dining & Restaurant Conversations

Order with confidence, understand menus, and navigate American dining culture

Making a Restaurant Reservation

Host: Thank you for calling The Garden Bistro. How may I help you?
Customer: Hi, I'd like to make a reservation for dinner this Saturday.
Host: Certainly! What time would you prefer, and for how many people?
Customer: For four people at 7:30 PM, if possible.
Host: Let me check... Yes, we have availability at 7:30. May I have your name and phone number?
Customer: It's Chen, C-H-E-N, and my number is 555-0123.
Host: Perfect! We have you down for four at 7:30 this Saturday. We'll see you then!

中文翻译：

主持人：感谢您致电花园小酒馆。有什么可以帮您？

顾客：您好，我想预订这周六的晚餐。

主持人：当然可以！您想要什么时间，几位用餐？

顾客：4个人，如果可能的话，晚上7:30。

主持人：让我查一下...好的，我们7:30有位置。能告诉我您的姓名和电话号码吗？

顾客：陈，C-H-E-N，我的电话是555-0123。

主持人：很好！我们已为您预订了这周六7:30，4位。到时见！

Ordering at a Restaurant

Server: Good evening! Can I start you off with something to drink?
Customer: I'll have water with lemon, please. What do you recommend for appetizers?
Server: The calamari and bruschetta are both very popular. The spinach artichoke dip is also excellent.
Customer: The bruschetta sounds great! For my main course, what's the catch of the day?
Server: Today we have grilled salmon with a lemon butter sauce. It comes with roasted vegetables and rice pilaf.
Customer: That sounds delicious! Can I substitute the rice for a baked potato?
Server: Absolutely! How would you like the salmon cooked?
Customer: Medium, please.

中文翻译：

服务员：晚上好！我可以先给您来点饮料吗？

顾客：我要柠檬水。您推荐什么开胃菜？

服务员：鱿鱼圈和意式烤面包都很受欢迎。菠菜朝鲜蓟酱也很棒。

顾客：意式烤面包听起来很好！主菜方面，今日特选是什么？

服务员：今天我们有烤三文鱼配柠檬黄油酱。配烤蔬菜和香米饭。

顾客：听起来很美味！我可以把米饭换成烤土豆吗？

服务员：当然可以！您想要三文鱼几分熟？

顾客：五分熟，谢谢。

Asking About Menu Items

Customer: Excuse me, what's in the "Southwest Salad"?
Server: It has mixed greens, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and tortilla strips with a cilantro lime dressing.
Customer: Is it spicy?
Server: Not very spicy, just a little kick from the dressing. We can serve it on the side if you prefer.
Customer: That would be great! Can I add grilled chicken to it?
Server: Absolutely! That's an extra $5. Would you like the chicken blackened or regular grilled?
Customer: What does "blackened" mean?
Server: It's coated with Cajun spices and seared at high heat. It has a slightly spicy, charred flavor.
Customer: I'll try the regular grilled, please.

中文翻译：

顾客：不好意思，"西南沙拉"里有什么？

服务员：有混合蔬菜、黑豆、玉米、西红柿、牛油果和玉米饼条，配香菜青柠酱。

顾客：辣吗？

服务员：不是很辣，酱汁只有一点辣味。如果您愿意，我们可以把酱单独上。

顾客：那太好了！我可以加烤鸡肉吗？

服务员：当然可以！加5美元。您想要黑椒烤鸡还是普通烤鸡？

顾客："黑椒"是什么意思？

服务员：是裹上卡真香料然后高温煎烤。有轻微的辣味和焦香味。

顾客：我要普通烤的，谢谢。

Dealing with Food Allergies

Customer: I have a severe shellfish allergy. Which dishes should I avoid?
Server: Thank you for telling me! Obviously the shrimp and lobster dishes. Let me also check with the kitchen about cross-contamination.
Customer: I appreciate that. Are the pasta dishes safe?
Server: The marinara and carbonara are both shellfish-free and made in separate pans. The seafood pasta obviously contains shellfish.
Customer: How about the chicken dishes?
Server: All chicken dishes are completely safe. I'll make sure the kitchen is aware of your allergy and takes extra precautions.
Customer: Thank you so much for being careful. I'll have the chicken parmesan.
Server: Excellent choice! I'll put a special note on your order for the kitchen.

中文翻译：

顾客：我对贝类严重过敏。我应该避免哪些菜？

服务员：感谢您告诉我！显然是虾和龙虾菜品。我还要向厨房确认交叉污染的问题。

顾客：谢谢您这么细心。意大利面安全吗？

服务员：番茄酱和奶油培根意面都不含贝类，用单独的锅煮。海鲜意面显然含有贝类。

顾客：鸡肉菜品呢？

服务员：所有鸡肉菜品都完全安全。我会确保厨房知道您的过敏情况并采取额外预防措施。

顾客：非常感谢您这么谨慎。我要鸡肉帕尔马干酪。

服务员：很好的选择！我会在您的订单上给厨房做特别标注。

Handling a Problem with Your Order

Customer: Excuse me, I ordered my steak medium-rare, but this is well-done.
Server: I'm so sorry about that! Let me take this back and get you a new one right away.
Customer: My friends have already started eating. I don't want to wait too long.
Server: I completely understand. I'll ask the kitchen to rush your order. In the meantime, can I bring you a complimentary appetizer?
Customer: That would be nice, thank you.
Server: I'll also talk to the manager about taking care of your entrée. We really apologize for the mistake.
Customer: I appreciate you handling this so professionally.

中文翻译：

顾客：不好意思，我点的牛排是三分熟，但这个是全熟的。

服务员：非常抱歉！让我马上把这个拿回去给您换一份新的。

顾客：我的朋友已经开始吃了。我不想等太久。

服务员：我完全理解。我会让厨房加急您的订单。同时，我可以给您送一份免费的开胃菜吗？

顾客：那太好了，谢谢。

服务员：我还会和经理商量减免您的主菜费用。我们真的为这个错误感到抱歉。

顾客：感谢您这么专业地处理这件事。

Asking for the Check and Tipping

Customer: We're ready for the check whenever you have a moment.
Server: I'll bring that right over. Did you save room for dessert, or can I box anything up for you?
Customer: We're too full, but everything was delicious! Could you box up these leftovers?
Server: Absolutely! Here's your check. I'll be right back with a to-go container.
Customer: Quick question - is the tip included in this total?
Server: No, gratuity is not included unless you have a party of six or more. The standard is 15-20%.
Customer: Great, thank you! The service was excellent tonight.
Server: Thank you so much! I really appreciate that. Have a wonderful evening!

中文翻译：

顾客：您方便的时候，我们准备买单了。

服务员：我马上拿过来。您还要甜点吗，或者我帮您打包什么吗？

顾客：我们太饱了，但一切都很美味！您能帮我们打包这些剩菜吗？

服务员：当然可以！这是您的账单。我马上回来给您拿打包盒。

顾客：快速问一下 - 小费包含在这个总额里吗？

服务员：不包括，除非您的聚会有6人或以上。标准是15-20%。

顾客：明白了，谢谢！今晚的服务很棒。

服务员：非常感谢！我真的很感激。祝您度过美好的夜晚！

Fast Food Restaurant

Cashier: Welcome! What can I get for you today?
Customer: I'll have a number 3 combo, please.
Cashier: Would you like that in a medium or large?
Customer: Medium, please. And can I get a Diet Coke instead of regular?
Cashier: No problem! For here or to go?
Customer: To go. How much is that?
Cashier: That'll be $8.47. Cash or card?
Customer: Card, please.

中文翻译：

收银员：欢迎光临！今天您要点什么？

顾客：我要3号套餐。

收银员：您要中杯还是大杯？

顾客：中杯，谢谢。我可以把普通可乐换成健怡可乐吗？

收银员：没问题！堂食还是外带？

顾客：外带。多少钱？

收银员：总共8.47美元。现金还是刷卡？

顾客：刷卡，谢谢。

Coffee Shop Order

Barista: Good morning! What can I make for you?
Customer: I'd like a cappuccino, please.
Barista: What size - tall, grande, or venti?
Customer: Grande, please. What's the difference between a cappuccino and a latte?
Barista: A cappuccino has more foam and less milk than a latte, so it's a stronger coffee flavor.
Customer: Perfect! Can I get it with almond milk instead of regular milk?
Barista: Absolutely! That's 60 cents extra. Anything else?
Customer: Do you have any pastries that aren't too sweet?
Barista: The almond croissant or the spinach feta wrap are both good options.

中文翻译：

咖啡师：早上好！我能为您做什么？

顾客：我要一杯卡布奇诺。

咖啡师：什么尺寸 - 小杯、中杯还是大杯？

顾客：中杯，谢谢。卡布奇诺和拿铁有什么区别？

咖啡师：卡布奇诺比拿铁有更多奶泡和更少牛奶，所以咖啡味更浓。

顾客：太好了！我可以用杏仁奶代替普通牛奶吗？

咖啡师：当然可以！加60美分。还要其他的吗？

顾客：你们有不太甜的糕点吗？

咖啡师：杏仁可颂或菠菜羊奶酪卷都是不错的选择。