A restaurant is often the first place where travellers dare to speak Spanish. Good news: about twenty phrases are enough to book, order and pay without stress. Here are the ones our teachers practise first.
Booking a table
On the phone or in person, keep it simple and polite: Quería reservar una mesa para cuatro personas, para esta noche a las nueve. You will probably be asked ¿A nombre de quién? Just answer A nombre de Smith.
Ordering
When ordering, Spanish happily uses the polite imperfect or a direct phrase without sounding rude: Para mí, el menú del día. — Quería una ensalada mixta. — ¿Qué nos recomienda? In Spain, the lunchtime menú del día (starter, main, dessert or coffee and a drink) is often the best value.
| Spain | Latin America | English |
|---|---|---|
| el camarero | el mesero | the waiter |
| el zumo | el jugo | the juice |
| la patata | la papa | the potato |
| el móvil | el celular | the mobile phone |
| coger un taxi | tomar un taxi | to take a taxi |
During the meal
Need something? ¿Nos trae un poco más de pan, por favor? An allergy? Soy alérgico a los frutos secos. If everything is perfect, a simple ¡Está buenísimo! will please the kitchen.
Asking for the bill and paying
La cuenta, por favor. works everywhere. In Spain, among friends, you will also hear ¿Me cobras? To pay by card: ¿Se puede pagar con tarjeta? Tipping habits vary by country: more discreet in Spain, more expected in Mexico.
Teacher’s tip
Say “Quería…” rather than “Quiero…”: the imperfect softens the request and sounds natural in every Spanish-speaking country.
Practising before your trip
These phrases stick much better in context. In class, your teacher plays the waiter, you order and they improvise questions: after two or three sessions, you are ready to eat out in Spanish.
Why not give it a try?
Book a free half-hour with a native teacher: we look at your level and goals together.
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