James: Good evening, welcome to Riverside Restaurant.
Emily: Good evening, thank you.

James: Do you have a reservation, or would you like a table for one?
Emily: I’d like a table for one, please.

James: Of course, this way, please… Here is your table and here is the menu.
Emily: Thank you very much.

James: Can I get you anything to drink to start?
Emily: Yes, could I have a glass of still water, please?

James: Certainly, would you like some ice and lemon with your water?
Emily: Just a little ice, no lemon, please.

James: No problem, I’ll bring that right away.
Emily: Thanks, I’d also like to look at the drinks menu, please.

James: Here you are, this is our drinks menu with soft drinks, wine, and beer.
Emily: Great, I think I’ll also have a small glass of white wine later.

James: That’s fine, I’ll come back for your wine order.
Emily: Thank you, could you explain the specials on the menu today?

James: Yes, of course, today’s specials are grilled salmon with vegetables and a chicken curry with rice.
Emily: The grilled salmon sounds nice, what sauce does it come with?

James: It comes with a light lemon butter sauce and a side salad.
Emily: That sounds delicious.

James: Before you order, may I ask if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions?
Emily: Yes, I’m allergic to nuts and I don’t eat very spicy food.

James: Thank you for letting me know, I’ll make sure your dishes are nut-free and not too spicy.
Emily: I appreciate that.

James: Are you ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes?
Emily: I’m ready, thank you.

James: What would you like to start with?
Emily: For a starter, I’d like the tomato soup, please.

James: Very good, and for your main course?
Emily: I’ll have the grilled salmon special, please.

James: How would you like your salmon cooked, well done or medium?
Emily: Medium, please.

James: Would you like any extra side dishes, maybe some fries or steamed vegetables?
Emily: Steamed vegetables would be great, thank you.

James: Perfect, and about the wine, would you still like that small glass of white wine?
Emily: Yes, I’d like a small glass of dry white wine, please.

James: Certainly, I recommend our house white, it’s very light and fresh.
Emily: That sounds good, I’ll have the house white.

James: Great, so that’s tomato soup, grilled salmon medium, steamed vegetables, and a small glass of house white.
Emily: Yes, that’s correct.

James: I’ll place your order now, your soup will be out in a few minutes.
Emily: Thank you very much.

James: Here is your tomato soup and your glass of white wine, enjoy.
Emily: Thank you, it looks very good.

James: Is everything okay with your soup and wine?
Emily: Yes, everything is perfect, thank you.

James: I’m glad to hear that, your main course will be ready shortly.
Emily: Great, I’m looking forward to it.

James: Here is your grilled salmon with steamed vegetables, and there are no nuts in this dish.
Emily: Wonderful, thanks for checking.

James: How is everything, is the salmon cooked to your liking?
Emily: Yes, it’s very good, medium is perfect.

James: Would you like to see the dessert menu after you finish your main course?
Emily: Yes, please, I’d like to have a look later.

James: Of course, take your time and let me know when you’re ready.
Emily: Thank you, I will.

James: Would you like dessert now, or would you prefer to go straight to the bill?
Emily: I think I’ll go straight to the bill, please.

James: No problem, I’ll bring your bill in just a moment.
Emily: Thank you for your service, you’ve been very kind.

James: You’re very welcome, it was a pleasure serving you today.
Emily: Have a nice evening.

James: Thank you, you too, have a lovely night.
Emily: Goodbye.

Vocabulario de bienvenida y servicio
Expresiones como Good evening, welcome to Riverside Restaurant, Here is your table and here is the menu, Can I get you anything to drink to start? son fórmulas de cortesía muy típicas.
La palabra waiter no aparece directamente, pero su función es clara por expresiones como I’ll bring that right away, I’ll place your order, Here is your…, etc.

Bebidas y tipos de agua
Aparecen términos muy frecuentes en restaurantes: still water, drinks menu, soft drinks, wine, beer, a glass of dry white wine.
Still water = agua sin gas.
Soft drinks = refrescos sin alcohol (cola, naranja, etc.).
Dry white wine = vino blanco seco, no dulce.

Partes de la comida
Vocabulario muy útil: starter, main course, dessert menu, side dishes, steamed vegetables, fries, soup, grilled salmon, chicken curry with rice.
Starter = entrante.
Main course = plato principal.
Side dish = guarnición/acompañamiento.

Descripciones de platos
Expresiones como today’s specials are…, grilled salmon with vegetables, light lemon butter sauce, side salad son muy típicas.
Specials = platos del día / sugerencias del chef.
Light indica que la salsa no es pesada, ni muy espesa ni muy grasienta.

Alergias y preferencias
Vocabulario clave: allergies, dietary restrictions, spicy food, nut-free, no nuts in this dish.
Es muy útil saber decir I’m allergic to… y comprender cuando el camarero asegura There are no nuts in this dish.

Para ofrecer y preguntar al cliente
Can I get you anything to drink to start?
Would you like some ice and lemon with your water?
Are you ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes?
Would you like any extra side dishes?
Aquí se ve el uso de Can I…?, Would you like…? para sonar amable y profesional.

Para pedir de forma educada
I’d like a table for one, please.
Could I have a glass of still water, please?
I’d like the tomato soup, please.
I’ll have the grilled salmon special, please.
I’d like / I would like y Could I have…? son fórmulas muy recomendables para hispanohablantes: suenan naturales y educadas.

Para comentar la comida
That sounds delicious.
It looks very good.
Everything is perfect, thank you.
The salmon is cooked to your liking? – Yes, it’s very good, medium is perfect.
Son expresiones muy frecuentes para dar feedback al camarero.

Para verificar alergias y seguridad
May I ask if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions?
I’ll make sure your dishes are nut-free and not too spicy.
There are no nuts in this dish.
La estructura make sure es muy típica: me aseguraré de que….

Para cerrar la comida y el servicio
Would you like to see the dessert menu…?
Would you prefer to go straight to the bill?
I’ll bring your bill in just a moment.
Thank you for your service, you’ve been very kind. – You’re very welcome, it was a pleasure serving you.
Aquí se ve el ritual de final de comida y despedida, lleno de fórmulas cortas y amables.

Uso de would like, I’ll have y Could I have
I’d like a table for one, please.
I’d like the grilled salmon special.
I’ll have the house white.
Could I have a glass of still water, please?
Would like y Could I have son formas de cortesía; I’ll have se usa muchísimo para elegir platos en el momento (“Tendré…” / “Voy a tomar…”).

Presente simple para descripciones y menú
This is our drinks menu with soft drinks, wine, and beer.
Today’s specials are grilled salmon…
It comes with a light lemon butter sauce.
Se usa present simple para describir el contenido del menú y las características de los platos.

Preguntas con would y may (registro cortés)
Would you like some ice and lemon…?
Would you like any extra side dishes?
May I ask if you have any allergies…?
Would y may suben el nivel de cortesía; son muy típicos en restaurantes algo formales.

Futuro inmediato con I’ll (ofrecimiento y promesa)
I’ll bring that right away.
I’ll place your order now.
I’ll bring your bill in just a moment.
Este I’ll indica acción inmediata que el camarero se compromete a realizar: es casi un gesto de servicio al cliente.

Estructura de la comida
Es muy normal hablar de starter, main course, dessert como tres partes separadas.
En muchos países angloparlantes se da esa estructura por hecha; en español, no siempre verbalizamos tanto “primer plato, segundo, postre” al pedir.

Agua y hielo
El camarero pregunta: Would you like some ice and lemon with your water?
En muchos lugares, especialmente donde se habla inglés, es muy habitual servir agua con hielo y a veces con limón. Puede que en España u otros países hispanohablantes se pregunte menos por defecto.

Comprobar alergias
La pregunta May I ask if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions? es cada vez más común en restaurantes.
Culturalmente, está muy normalizado hablar abiertamente de alergias y restricciones (veganos, intolerancias, etc.). Conviene estar preparado para oír esa pregunta y responder con claridad.

Nivel de picante
La cliente dice: I don’t eat very spicy food.
En contextos internacionales, el tema del picante es importante porque los estándares cambian bastante de un país a otro. Es muy útil aprender a decir si quieres algo mild (suave), medium o spicy.

Trato y cortesía
Hay muchas fórmulas fijas: Good evening, Thank you very much, You’re very welcome, Have a lovely night.
Aunque en español podríamos ser más directos, en inglés es muy habitual encadenar varias expresiones de cortesía pequeñitas en la interacción.

Aprende una frase modelo para pedir mesa y empezar
Por ejemplo:
Good evening, I’d like a table for two, please.
Con eso ya empiezas con buen tono y suenas natural.

Ten claras tres estructuras básicas para pedir
a) I’d like… --> I’d like the tomato soup, please.
b) I’ll have… --> I’ll have the grilled salmon, please.
c) Could I have…? --> Could I have a glass of still water, please?
Si automatizas estos tres patrones, podrás pedir casi cualquier cosa.

Para hablar de alergias y preferencias
Frases útiles:
I’m allergic to nuts / shellfish / dairy.
I don’t eat very spicy food.
Is there any [nuts/gluten/milk] in this dish?
Estas frases son clave para tu seguridad y comodidad.

Para comprobar que entiendes lo que te ofrecen
Si el camarero menciona algo que no entiendes:
Sorry, what is that?
Could you explain that dish, please?
Is it spicy?
Son preguntas cortas, sencillas y muy efectivas.

Para valorar la comida y el servicio
Puedes usar:
It’s very good, thank you.
Everything is perfect.
It’s delicious.
No hace falta un gran vocabulario: con 3 o 4 adjetivos claros suenas más que suficiente.

Para pedir la cuenta de forma educada
Además de the bill, please, puedes usar:
Could I have the bill, please?
Could we go straight to the bill, please?
Son expresiones suaves y naturales; evita traducciones literales como “the account, please”.

No busques la perfección, busca fluidez y cortesía
Aunque cometas errores, si usas please, thank you, sorry y you’re welcome en los momentos clave, tu interacción en el restaurante será clara, educada y muy aceptable para cualquier camarero angloparlante.