At a restaurant
Task 1. Read two dialogues in a restaurant. Which one do you think sounds better? Why? How many times do the diners say please?
DIALOGUE 1
Waiter:
Hi.
Did we know you were coming?
Man: Yes, Peterson.
Waiter: Ah yes. Come on. Your table’s over here. Do you want a drink?
Man: A bottle of sparkling mineral water. It’s too cold in here. Put the heating up a bit.
Waiter: OK.
Waiter: Are you ready yet?
Woman: Yes, soup to start, and then steak with French fries and salad.
Waiter: How do you want your steak?
Woman: Well done.
Man: I want the soup as well, followed by roast lamb with new potatoes and vegetables.
Waiter: Do you want any wine?
Woman: Yes. We’ll have a bottle of the house red.
Man: Bill!
Waiter: OK. Was the food OK?
Man: Yes.
DIALOGUE 2
Waiter: Good evening. Do you have a reservation?
Man: Yes, it’s in the name of Peterson.
Waiter: Ah yes. If you’d like to follow me, I’ll show you to your table. Can I get you something to drink?
Man: Could we have a bottle of sparkling mineral water, please? We’ll decide about wine later. I’m sorry, but it’s rather cold in here. Could you put the heating up a bit, please?
Waiter: Certainly.
Waiter: Are you ready to order?
Woman: Yes, I’ll have the soup to start, and then steak with French fries and salad, please.
Waiter: How would you like your steak?
Woman: Well done, please.
Man: And I’d like the soup as well, please, followed by roast lamb with new potatoes and vegetables.
Waiter: And would you like any wine?
Woman: Yes, please. We’ll have a bottle of the house red.
Man: Could we have the bill, please?
Waiter: Of course. Did you enjoy your meal?
Man: Yes, it was very nice, thank you.
Task 2. Arrange the replicas in logical order and act out the dialogues.
1)
Have you decided, sir?
It’s white meat – boneless chicken thighs – skinned and sliced into stripes and stewed with rice, chopped onion, tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, prawns, peas and seasoned with paprika, parsley, salt and pepper. It’s really delicious.
All right, one speedy risotto.
Not quite. What’s speedy risotto?
It sounds good, all right. I’ll take your word for it and try some.
2)
I think so ... what is the warm lamb salad like?
No, thank you. I’ll just have the beef steak, rare, please.
Grilled lamb steaks cut into thick slices and mixed with leeks, cabbage, beansprouts and walnuts seasoned with orange juice and mustard. The salad is served warm. Would you like to try some?
May I take your order?
3)
Yes, I believe so. What’s your Black Forest cake like?
Can I bring you a piece?
Are you ready for dessert?
It’s a very rich chocolate cake, and comes with whipped cream and cherries on top and between the layers.
Oh, yes, that sounds delicious.
4)
A lager, please.
Oh, that just means it’s out of the barrel. It’s very good, I assure you.
Would you like bottled lager or draught?
What would you like, sir?
O.K. I’ll try some of that, then. And two cold lamb sandwiches.
What’s draught?
Task 3.1. There are some set phrases you often use in a restaurant. What do you say in these situations?
The waiter asks you if you have a reservation.
You are ordering food.
You want to ask for the bill.
The waiter asks you if you enjoyed the meal.