Do you enjoy eating out at restaurants? They're great places to try new foods and to get to know the local culture more. Not only this, but you could even meet some new people while you're there.
Here we will introduce you to essential phrases that you can use while at a restaurant. Use them to talk to waitstaff, order food, and ask any questions you may have. Have a look and get ready for the next time you eat out!
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Arriving at the Restaurant
When entering a restaurant in Germany you normally don't have to wait to be seated. You simply go in and look for an open table. The phrases below are useful when you arrive at a restaurant.
German
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English
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Wie viele Personen sind in ihrer Gruppe?
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How many are in your party?
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How many are you?
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Haben Sie eine Reservierung?
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Do you have a reservation?
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Ich habe eine Reservierung für zwei Personen um 18:00 Uhr.
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I made a reservation for two at 6:00.
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Ich habe einen Tisch für drei Personen für 19:00 Uhr reserviert.
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I booked a table for three for 7:00.
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Können Sie mir Ihren Namen sagen?
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Can I get your name?
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Ihr Tisch ist noch nicht ganz fertig.
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Your table isn't quite ready.
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Wie lange ist die Wartezeit?
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How long is the wait?
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Die Wartezeit beträgt etwa 20 Minuten.
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It'll be about a 20 minute wait.
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Wenn Sie möchten, können Sie an der Bar Platz nehmen, bis Ihr Tisch fertig ist.
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If you want you can have a seat at the bar until your table is ready.
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Please follow me.
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This question is most likely the first one you'll hear when entering a restaurant.
Wie viele sind Sie? (How many are you?) is another way to ask the same thing. In response, you simply have to tell them how many people are with you. For example:
Wir sind zu fünft (There's five of us).
Reserving a table is always a good idea if you are planning to go to a restaurant with a large group. This question is simply asking if you have a reservation. Another way to ask this is
Haben Sie einen Tisch reserviert? (Did you book a table?). In response, you just have to say whether you have a reservation or not. For example:
Ja, ich habe eine Reservierung für 3 Personen um 7:00 Uhr (Yes, I made a reservation for 3 at 7:00).
If no tables are available at the moment, you simply have to wait until one opens up. Once a table is ready, waitstaff will signal you with this sentence, or they may say one of the following:
Sie können mit mir kommen (You can come with me) or
Bitte kommen Sie hier entlang (Please come this way). In response, you could simply say something like:
Großartig, vielen Dank! (Great, thank you!).
Server
After you have been assigned a table and sat down it's time to order food and drinks. Below, you'll find the most common things waiting staff will say to you.
German
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English
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Hallo, ich bin Lisa und werde heute Ihre Kellnerin sein.
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Hi, I'm Lisa and I'll be your server for today.
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Darf ich Ihnen schon einmal etwas zu trinken bringen?
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Can I start you off with drinks?
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Brauchen Sie noch ein paar Minuten, um sich zu entscheiden?
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Do you need a couple more minutes to decide?
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Was möchten Sie als Vorspeise?
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What would you like for a starter?
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Kann ich Ihnen eine Vorspeise anbieten?
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Can I get you any appetizers?
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Was wollen Sie als Hauptgang?
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What do you want for the main course?
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Die Tagesgerichte sind Hummerauflauf und Muschelsuppe.
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Tonight's specials are a lobster bake and clam chowder.
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Wie möchten Sie Ihr Steak gegart haben?
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How would you like your steak cooked?
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Möchten Sie einen Salat dazu?
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Would you like a salad with that?
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Was für ein Dressing möchten Sie zu Ihrem Salat haben?
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What kind of dressing would you like with your salad?
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Möchten Sie dazu Pommes Frites?
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Would you like fries with that?
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Möchten Sie heute ein Dessert?
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Would you like any dessert today?
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Anything else?
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Ich werde das für Sie bestellen.
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I'll get that order in for you.
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Drinks are usually the first thing that you will order when at a restaurant. Alternatively, they might ask:
Was kann ich Ihnen zu trinken bringen? (What can I get you to drink?) or
Was möchten Sie trinken? (What would you like to drink?). In response, you just have to say what you'd like to drink, like this:
Könnte ich bitte eine Cola bekommen? (Could I get a Coke, please?).
Waitstaff will ask this question or either
Sind Sie bereit zu bestellen? (Are you ready to order?) or
Kann ich Ihre Bestellung aufnehmen? (Can I take your order?) to find out if you are ready to order. There are many ways you could respond. Here are two example responses:
Nein, ich denke, wir sind so weit (No, I think we're ready) and
Könnten wir noch ein paar Minuten haben? (Could we get a few more minutes?).
Order food and drinks
The following phrases will help you when you are ordering food. Many of them are examples of how to respond to the questions in the table above.
German
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English
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Was ist Ihr Tagesgericht?
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What is today's special?
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Wir sind noch nicht so weit.
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We're not ready yet.
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Können wir noch ein paar Minuten haben?
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Can we have a few more minutes?
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Gibt es dazu einen Beilagensalat?
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Does this come with a side salad?
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Ist da Fleisch mit dabei?
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Does this have any meat in it?
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What do you recommend?
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Is this a vegetarian option?
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Is this gluten free?
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Enthält das Milchprodukte?
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Does this have dairy in it?
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Ich nehme eine Schüssel Kartoffelsuppe.
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I'll have a bowl of potato soup.
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Ich hätte gerne einen griechischen Salat.
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I'd like a Greek salad.
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Kann ich ein Glas Weißwein bekommen?
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Can I get a glass of white wine?
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Könnten Sie uns eine Flasche Rotwein bringen?
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Could you bring us a bottle of red wine?
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If you are ready to order something, then you can use the sentence pattern
Ich nehme + GERICHT/GETRÄNK (I'll have + FOOD/DRINK) to say what you'd like. In response, your waiter or waitress might comment on your order. They could say something like
Das ist eine sehr gute Wahl (That is a very good choice).
By using the sentence pattern
Ich hätte gerne + GERICHT/GETRÄNK (I'd like + FOOD/DRINK) you can tell waitstaff what you'd like to eat or drink. There are lots of ways your waiter or waitress could respond. They might say something like
Natürlich, ich bringe es Ihnen sofort (Sure, I will bring that right out for you).
The sentence pattern
Kann ich + GERICHT/GETRÄNK + bekommen? (Can I get + FOOD/DRINK?) is a common way to order food or drinks. In response, a waiter or waitress may ask a follow-up question like
Bevorzugen Sie lieblichen oder trockenen Wein? (Do you prefer sweet or dry wine?).
Use the sentence pattern
Könnten Sie + GEGENSTAND + bringen? (Could you bring + ITEM?) to ask for something that you need. Maybe you need an extra spoon or more water. Your waiter or waitress would probably respond with
Ich bin gleich wieder da (I will be right back with that).
Paying for Your Meal
After you've enjoyed your meal and maybe had some dessert and coffee, it's time to pay for your meal. The following phrases will help you do this.
German
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English
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Könnte ich bitte die Rechnung haben?
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Could I get the check, please?
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I'd like to pay.
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Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?
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Can I pay with card?
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How was everything?
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Darf es sonst noch etwas sein?
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Can I get you anything else?
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That's it for today.
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Ja, könnte ich ein Stück Apfelkuchen bekommen?
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Yes, could I get a slice of apple pie?
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Thanks for coming!
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Ich wünsche Ihnen einen schönen Abend.
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Have a nice night.
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When you finish eating your meal, your waiter or waitress will often ask this question. They simply want to know whether you enjoyed everything or not. You can politely answer this question by saying something like
Es war köstlich, vielen Dank (It was delicious, thank you).
Your waiter or waitress might say this sentence to you as a polite way to say goodbye. Depending on the time of day, they might also say
Einen schönen Tag noch (Have a nice day). In response, you could simply say
Ihnen auch! (You as well!).
Relax while Listening to the Phrases
Keep calm and learn German! Listen to the phrases again with relaxing background music. This will help you improve your listening skills and remember the phrases. Choose your favorite style, then kick back and relax!
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Practice & Record a Dialogue
Take the next step and use what you’ve learned! Check out this topic’s dialogue unit and practice the phrases in a variety of exercises. Test your knowledge and get ready for real life conversations!
Könnte ich eine Speisekarte haben?enCould I have a menu?
Ja hier ist sie. Möchten Sie schon etwas trinken?enYes, here it is. Would you like something to drink?
Ich hätte gerne ein Wasser, bitte.enI would like a water, please.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important German phrases that I should know when eating out at a restaurant or café? Darf ich Ihnen schon einmal etwas zu trinken bringen? Can I start you off with drinks? Brauchen Sie noch ein paar Minuten, um sich zu entscheiden? Do you need a couple more minutes to decide? Können wir noch ein paar Minuten haben? Can we have a few more minutes? Ich nehme eine Schüssel Kartoffelsuppe. I'll have a bowl of potato soup. Ich hätte gerne einen griechischen Salat. Kann ich ein Glas Weißwein bekommen? Can I get a glass of white wine? Könnte ich bitte die Rechnung haben? Could I get the check, please? Darf es sonst noch etwas sein? Can I get you anything else?
Should I leave a tip for the server after I have finished my meal?In Germany it is very common and polite to leave your server a tip before you leave the restaurant. This is done right when you pay for your meal. The tip usually equals about 5-10 percent of what your meal cost.
How do I order food or drinks at a restaurant or café?Here are different ways to order food and drinks in German:
Ich nehme + GERICHT/GETRÄNK. (I'll have + FOOD/DRINK.)- Ich nehme eine Schüssel Kartoffelsuppe. (I'll have a bowl of potato soup.)
- Ich nehme das Tagesgericht. (I'll have today's special.)
- Ich nehme ein Glas Rotwein. (I'll have a glass of red wine.)
Ich hätte gerne + GERICHT/GETRÄNK. (I'd like + FOOD/DRINK.)- Ich hätte gerne einen griechischen Salat. (I'd like a Greek salad.)
- Ich hätte gerne einen Cheeseburger. (I'd like a cheeseburger.)
- Ich hätte gerne ein Bier. (I'd like a beer.)
Kann ich + GERICHT/GETRÄNK + bekommen? (Can I get + FOOD/DRINK?)- Kann ich ein Glas Weißwein bekommen? (Can I get a glass of white wine?)
- Kann ich das Hühnchen-Sandwich bekommen? (Can I get the chicken sandwich?)
- Kann ich eine Tasse Tomatensuppe bekommen? (Can I get a cup of tomato soup with that?)