B220 words · Upper-intermediate

Eating Out vocabulary — B2

Restaurant vocabulary for the details of dining out, covering how to order a steak medium rare or well done, split the bill and mention a dietary requirement at a bistro or fine dining eatery.

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Words in this set

medium rare
Cooked so the middle of a steak is still pink and juicy.
Example: I'd like the steak medium rare, please.
refill
/ˈrifɪl/
A second serving of a drink, often free, poured into the same glass.
Example: Coffee refills are free at that diner.
well done
Cooked right through, with no pink left in the middle of the steak.
Example: Could I have my steak well done, please?
split the bill
To share the cost of a meal between everyone who ate it.
Example: Shall we just split the bill four ways?
specials
/ˈspɛʃəlz/
Dishes that a restaurant offers on one day only, apart from its usual menu.
Example: The waiter ran through the specials before we ordered.
dietary requirement
a specific need related to food, often because of allergies, health or beliefs.
Example: Please tell us about any dietary requirement you have.
upsell
when a member of staff encourages a customer to buy something more expensive or extra.
Example: The waiter tried to upsell us a bigger portion.
no-show
/ˈnoʊˌʃoʊ/
a person who books a table but doesn't arrive.
Example: The restaurant lost money because of a no-show.
eat in
to have your food at the restaurant itself, rather than taking it away.
Example: Would you like to eat in or take away?
cover charge
a fixed extra amount added to a restaurant bill, for example for entertainment.
Example: The nightclub restaurant added a cover charge.
buffet
/ˈbʌfət/
A meal where many dishes are set out on a long table and guests help themselves.
Example: The hotel does a huge breakfast buffet every morning.
cutlery
/ˈkʌtləri/
The knives, forks and spoons you use to eat a meal.
Example: Could you put the cutlery on the table, please?
service charge
An amount a restaurant adds to your bill to pay for the staff looking after you.
Example: They added a ten percent service charge to our bill.
bistro
/ˈbɪstroʊ/
A small, informal French-style restaurant serving simple food and wine.
Example: We found a lovely little bistro near the canal.
booth
/buθ/
A seat in a restaurant with high padded backs on both sides of a table.
Example: Let's grab a booth at the back — it's quieter.
gourmet
/ˈɡʊrˌmeɪ/
Of a very high standard of cooking, and usually priced to match.
Example: The hotel does a gourmet burger with truffle chips.
fine dining
a style of eating at expensive restaurants known for excellent cooking and formal service.
Example: They celebrated their anniversary with fine dining.
street food
meals or snacks cooked and sold from stalls or small vehicles in public places.
Example: The market was full of tasty street food.
pop-up restaurant
a restaurant that opens temporarily in an unusual location, often only for a short period.
Example: They opened a pop-up restaurant on the beach for the summer.
eatery
/ˈitəri/
an informal word for a restaurant or place that sells food.
Example: There's a great little eatery around the corner.