Food and Drink
Foods are important to learn for when you go shopping or eat out at a restaurant. They are also useful for conversation when discussing what you are going to have for dinner. As we all need to eat food, learning the names for the foods is a great idea as this is something common to every language.
The meals of the day can be split into early, afternoon and evening meals. In English, we generally call these breakfast, lunch and dinner. Small meals in between main meals are called ‘snacks’.
Acidic – foods that taste sharp and/or contain a lot of acid.
For example, citrus fruits such as lemons and limes and carbonated drinks are acidic.
bitter – food with a sharp taste. Foods that taste bitter include chicory, broccoli, lemon pith and almonds.
Example sentence: Almonds taste very bitter, but they are very healthy for you.
burnt – food that has been cooked for too long.
For example, barbecued food is sometimes overcooked on purpose, to give it a charred taste.
creamy – soft, smooth foods that contain cream, or taste as if they do.
Examples: Yogurts and mousses are foods that have a creamy texture.
crisp, crispy – food that is firm and fresh and also food that is easily breakable.
Example: She ate a crisp, red apple after lunch.
crumbly – food that crumbles to the touch, and breaks easily when you try to eat it.
Examples: crackers, biscuits, some types of cheese.
crunchy – food that is crisp and easily breakable. Examples: cereal, biscuits, nuts.
Example sentence: Rosa had a bowl of crunchy cereal for breakfast.
greasy – food that has been fried in oil.
Example sentences: Most fried foods are very greasy. Too much fried food is not good for your health.
juicy – food that contains a lot of juice.
Example sentence: Ripe pears are very juicy.
mushy – food that is very soft. Examples: mushy peas, mashed potato.
Example sentence: She bought fish, chips and mushy peas from the chip shop.
rancid – food that has “gone off (is no longer fresh). Mainly used to describe butter and other fats.
Example sentence: Store butter in a fridge to stop it going rancid.
ripe – food that is ready to eat.
Example sentences: Zainab bought a bunch of ripe bananas. She plans to eat them later.
salty – food that has had a lot of salt added to it, or which has a high salt content.
Example sentence: Dry roasted peanuts are very salty.
sour – food with a sharp, acidic taste, such as lemons and limes. Milk that has ” gone off ” also tastes sour.
Example sentence: If you forget to put milk in the fridge, it will go sour!
unripe – food that is not ready to eat. Some foods need to ripen at home before you can eat them.
Examples: Bananas, avocados, tomatoes.
booking – an arrangement made with a restaurant in advance, to eat there a particular time.
a party – a group of people who arrange to eat together.
example sentence:” would like to book a table for a party of five, please. Can you fit us in at seven o’clock?”
menu – a printed list of meals that a restaurant serves.
set menu – a list of dishes you can order together (such as a main meal, a starter & a dessert) for a set price.
drinks menu – a list of soft drinks and alcoholic drinks that you can choose from. Some restaurants may also have a wine menu.
today’s special/specials – extra dishes cooked on the day, which are not on the main menu. cutlery – knives, forks, and spoons.
napkin – a cloth or folded piece of soft paper that you use to mop up spilt food.
starter – the first course of the meal. Small portions of food, served either hot or cold. You might decide to skip this course if you are not very hungry.
main course – the main part of the meal. Medium to large portions of food, served either hot or cold.
side dish – a small portion of food. Typically bread, salad, or vegetables in sauce, that you eat with a main meal. Side dishes are often shared with other people eating at your table.
dessert – the last course of a meal. Typically a sweet dish, such as cake, pudding or ice-cream. Alternatively, a savoury dish like cheese and biscuits may be offered as the final course, instead.
vegetarian option – dishes suitable for people who don’t eat meat or fish.
vegan option – dishes suitable for people who don’t eat meat, fish, dairy, or any other animal products.
tip – a small sum of money often given to restaurant staff, for good service.
If you have booked a table:
“Hello. We’ve booked a table for ____ people.” (say how many people will be eating with you)
If you haven’t booked a table:
“Hello. Do you have a table free?”
“Hello. We haven’t booked a table. Can you fit us in?”
Ordering Food
“Could we see the menu, please?”
“Could we see the drinks menu, please?”
Dietary Needs
“Is this dish suitable for vegetarians?”
“Is this dish suitable for vegans?”
“Does this dish contain nuts?”
Choosing What To Eat
“We’re not ready to order yet. Could you give us a few more minutes, please?”
“We’re ready to order now.”
“We would like to order now, please.”
Placing your order:
“Could I have…? (say what you would like to eat)”
“I would like… (say what you would like to eat)”
“I would like a glass of water, please.”*
“Could we have a jug of water, please?”
Asking for more drinks:
“Same again, please.”
“Could I have another glass (or bottle) of ______________, please?” (say what you are drinking)
“Could you bring me another__________, please?” (say what you are drinking)
Dealing With Problems
If you are given the wrong food:
“Excuse me – I didn’t order this.”
“I’m sorry – I think this may be someone else’s meal.”
If the cutlery isn’t clean:
“Could I have another spoon (or other piece of cutlery), please?”
If your food isn’t hot enough:
“Could you heat this up a bit more for me, please?”
When You Have Finished Your Meal
“That was delicious! Thank you.”
“That was lovely! Thank you.”
“Everything was great.”
Paying For Your Meal
“Could we have the bill, please?”
“‘Can I pay by credit card?”
“Keep the change.” (if you pay by cash, and want to leave a tip)
If you think your bill is wrong:
“Could you check the bill for me, please? It doesn’t seem right.”
“I think you may have made a mistake with the bill “
It is important to say please and thank you to the staff who look after you and serve you with your meal, or you will be considered rude. Restaurant staff tend to be friendly and chatty.