My favourite restaurant

We found out about the restaurant when an ……. (INVITE) from one of its owners found its way on my desk. The restaurant is situated downtown. The Wedge stands out not only for the simplicity of its décor (bare brick walls, polished floorboards, white linin tablecloths) but also because of its long menu of about 50 items. Needless to say, we were intrigued and chose to dine out at the Wedge last Monday.

When we came to the restaurant, we were welcomed by a team of excellent staff who were …. (ATTENTION) without being overbearing. The menu was …. (REAL) extensive, …… (INTEREST) and suitable for all budgets. I chose crab soup as a ….. (START) and roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for my main course. The ….. (HELP) were generous and the food was delicious.

We spent a great time there and would definitely eat out there again.

EXERCISE 4. Read the text. Fill in the gaps with a, the or nothing.

My favorite restaurant

If you are looking for … good place with ….Italian food, I will recommend you the Olive Garden. It is my favourite restaurant to dine in. It is ….. chain of restaurants located all over …. United States.   …. restaurant offers ….. wide variety of ….Italian food that I love. I go there with my friends at least once …. month. Every time I go there, I enjoy …. atmosphere of …. restaurant, … taste of …. food, and …. friendly service.

The Olive Garden is …. good place where I always experience ….welcoming atmosphere. The walls’ décor makes me feel like I am in ….Italy. …. service is great from …. time I walk through the door of the restaurant. The staff are very nice while taking …..dinner orders and taking care of all ….guests. I also love ….. Italian specialties. I usually start with their homemade soup with ….grated cheese on the top and …..freshly baked garlic bread sticks. After that, I order ….delicious lasagna, …..stuffed ravioli, or …..chicken and …..seafood Alfredo. I like all the food they serve in the Olive Garden, and I have tried all of the dishes. Sometimes, if it is hard to decide what I would like to eat, I order a special mix of the three meals on one plate.   Also, I order …. glass of white or red wine, hinge on kind of food I eat.   I often go to the Olive Garden because I am always satisfied with ….. food.

The Olive Garden is …. great traditional family restaurant where I like to go with my friends. During my every visit, I enjoy the spectacular food and excellent service. This is … best restaurant where I always have …. good time. Also, it is a great place to celebrate …..birthdays, ….anniversaries, or any other special occasions.

Eating out

EXERCISE 1. Look at the expressions. Use them to talk about a visit to a café/a restaurant.

eat/dine/meet at/in a restaurant

go out/take smb out for lunch/dinner

have a meal with smb

make/have a reservation in/under the name of

reserve/book a table for 6

ask for a table for 2/a table by the window

wait to be seated

show smb to their table

sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter

give smb the menu/wine list

open/read/study the menu

the waiter/take/your order

order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house speciality

serve/finish the first course/the starter/the main course/dessert/coffee

complain about the food/the service

enjoy your meal

pay/ask for the bill

pay for smb/treat smb to smth

leave a tip

Tipping is optional.

be happy with the service

The usual amount is 15% of the total cost of the bill.

EXERCISE 2. Make direct sentences.

1. The waiter asks you if you are ready to order.

2. The waiter asks her if she would like anything for dessert.

3. The waiter asks the man if he wants anything to drink.

4. The waiter asks Tom if he wants potatoes.

5. The waiter asks Bella what her order is.

6. The waiter asks them where they would like to sit.

7. Jack asks if they could have a table by the window.

8. Helen asks the waiter to bring the menu.

9. Teddy asks the waiter to bring the wine list.

10. The waiter asks if they are ready to order now.

11. Bob asks if they can order something for dessert later.

12. The waiter asks us if we’d like to order a dessert.

13. Tom asks if I’d like another helping of mashed potatoes.

EXERCISE 3. The sentences are incomplete. Make them complete.

1. For one?

2. Peas. I think they are nice with lamb.

3. And for the main course?

4. Smoking or non smoking?

5. Same for me.

6. Excellent choice!

7. Anything else?

8. Sounds good.

EXERCISE 4. Who can say such sentences: a waiter or a customer?

1. May I take your order?

2. Could I have a few minutes, please?

3. Are you ready to order sir?

4. How would you like your steak?  

5. Yes, I’ll have an iced tea.

6. May I get you anything else?

7. No, I'm fine thanks.

8. Could I get another roll, please?   

9. Certainly, I will bring it right away.

10. Could I see the menu? 

11. Yes, I'll have the salmon.

12. One moment, please.

13. This steak is still bloody. Could you have the chef cook it a little more? 

14. Right away, ma'am.

15. This isn't what I ordered, I wanted fish and you gave me meat.      

16. I'm so sorry sir. It's my first day and I’m still a little confused.

17. Can I get the check, please?  

18. Medium, please.

19. Would you like this table by the window?

20. What do you recommend?

21. Could we have a non-smoking table, please?

22. For starters I'll have the soup and for the main course I'd like the roast beef.

23. What is the house special today?

24. Good evening, the name is Hand. I have a table booked for six.

EXERCISE 5. Retell the dialogue.

Waiter: Welcome to Kasey’s Kitchen. Do you have a reservation?

Customer: Yes, the name is Johnson, Paul.

Waiter: Ah, yes, here you are. That was a party for one, correct?

Customer: Yes.

Waiter: Right this way. Here’s the menu. I’ll return in a moment to take your order.

Waiter: Are you ready to order, sir?

Customer: Yes, I’ll have the T-bone steak.

Waiter: How would you like that cooked?

Customer: Well done, please.

Waiter: You have a choice of potatoes- French fried, mashed, or baked.

Customer: I’ll have the baked potato.

Waiter: Would you like that with butter or sour cream or both?

Customer: I’m on a diet, so only butter.

Waiter: The vegetables today are corn on the cob, peas and carrots, or broccoli.

Customer: I’ll take the corn on the cob.

Waiter: And what would you like for dessert?

Customer: What do you have?

Waiter: We have apple, cherry, and lemon meringue pies, chocolate and vanilla cakes, peach cobblers, and chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream.

Customer: I’ll take the cherry pie, a la mode, please.

Waiter: Would you care for something to drink?

Customer: I’ll take a large ice tea with my meal and a cup of black coffee with dessert.

Waiter: Very good sir. Enjoy your meal.

Customer: Thanks.

EXERCISE 6. Retell the dialogue.

• May I take your order, sir?

• Yes, can I see the menu?

• Here you are.

• Ok, let me see… I’d like the White Fish Dinner.

• Nice choice, sir. Potatoes?

• Mashed.

• How about vegetables?

• Green beans.

• Anything to drink?

• Yes, coffee with cream and sugar.

• Dessert?

• Not today.

• Good.

EXERCISE 7. Render the text.

Модная Британия

В целом, мы стали более серьезно относиться к тому, что едим мы и наши дети. Недавняя кампания по улучшению качества школьных обедов, организованная известным поваром Джейми Оливером, помогла привлечь внимание к нашей жизни в стиле фаст-фуд.

Мода на здоровое питание?

Есть ли у вас определенные предпочтения и запреты в еде и чем они мотивируются? Сейчас, когда появилось так много программ и книг, которые учат нас, что следует есть и чего стоит избегать, если мы хотим оставаться здоровыми, однако не запутаться во всех этих советах очень непросто. Некоторые люди становятся вегетарианцами из моральных соображений, некоторые просто не любят мясо и всегда найдется пара-тройка людей, которые переходят на вегетарианство, следуя последним модным течениям. Точно также, различные диеты становятся популярными, если появляется информация, что та или иная известная личность следует им.

Рестораны

Люди стали ходить в рестораны более часто, теперь, в отличие от прошлых лет, нередко без всякого повода. Да и количество ресторанов за последние десятилетия увеличилось: к традиционным итальянским, китайским и индийским прибавились монгольские, мексиканские, японские, турецкие, да мало ли еще какие! Бары и пабы также не теряют своей популярности и поддерживают традиционную английскую кухню, в блюдах которой используются продукты местного производства. По случаю 80-ти летнего юбилея королевы самые известные повара Великобритании "сражались" за создание Британского меню всех времен и народов, которое должно было подаваться на торжественном банкете.

"Мы обычно выбираемся куда-нибудь не реже пары раз в месяц, либо вместе с друзьями, либо просто вдвоем. Нам нравиться пробовать все новое, поэтому мы ходим по разным ресторанам." Крэйг, 25 лет, графство Дарем.

Перекус на бегу

Все больше людей едят на бегу - на улице, в машине, в автобусе или в поезде. В ход идет все: от шоколадных батончиков до сэндвичей и тортилльи. И, хотя наши родители и дедушки с бабушками неодобрительно относятся к такой практике, считая это проявлением плохих манер, люди продолжают есть на бегу, потому что они спешат из одного места в другое. И даже дома, число тех, кто вечером садиться за обеденный стол, снижается, так как традиционное время приема пищи становится все более и более неформальным.

"Если я опаздываю на работу, я без особых зазрений совести ем свой тост в машине или автобусе, но я точно знаю, что моя мама не одобряет такого поведения." Стэйси, 24 года, Лидз.

Да, похоже, несмотря на то, что мы пытаемся сделать наше питание более здоровым, от плохих привычек нам пока не удалось избавиться.

Люси