You call ahead to make a reservation so a table is ready. At the table you read the menu and give your order to the waiter.
Choosing your food
reservation /ˌrɛz.ɚˈveɪ.ʃən/ — a table reservation
menu /ˈmɛn.juː/ — the menu
order /ˈɔːr.dɚ/ — take my order
Try it: Choose the word: (menu / bill / reservation) Answer: menu — This is a menu.
The end of the meal
A sweet dish at the end is a dessert. When you finish, you pay the bill, the paper that shows how much you owe.
dessert /dɪˈzɜːrt/ — a sweet dessert
bill /bɪl/ — pay the bill
Try it: Choose the word: (bill / menu / dessert) Answer: bill — This is a bill.
Courses and extras
A small dish before the main course is an appetizer. Steak is a thick piece of beef. Ask if a dish contains something when you cannot eat it. When the service is good, you leave a tip — extra money for the waiter.
appetizer — I'll have an appetizer first.
steak — How would you like your steak?
contain — Does this dish contain nuts?
tip — leave a good tip
Try it: The service was excellent, so Diego leaves a good ___ for the waiter. (tip / bill / menu) Answer: tip — Extra money for good service is a tip. The bill is what you must pay and the menu lists the dishes, so neither one is a thank-you for the waiter.