Welcome to our Daily English Listening Practice with this week’s series:

Role Play: At a Restaurant

If this is your first time here: Check out Restaurant Role Play Part 1 for the beginning of the Restaurant Role Play and English Dialogue

Grab the American and British Transcripts here.

American Restaurant: at the top
British Restaurant: scroll down

American Restaurants

USA – Sitting at the Bar

[wonderplugin_audio id=”63″]

This American English clip is between a restaurant hostess and a customer.

—Transcript—

Hostess: Hey guys, welcome to Chili’s

Customer: Hi there, uh, do you have service at the bar?

Hostess: Yeah, we have a full menu at the bar and the bartender will take your order whenever you’re ready.

Hostess: Okay I’ve got your menus here so let’s just head over to the bar.

Customer: Okay, thank you.

Culture Notes:
If you’re just out for a casual meal with our partner or a friend and the restaurant is a little busy, most restaurants offer service at the bar or in the bar area. It’s usually a little more basic and can sometimes be a little louder depending on the clientele, but it’s a great place to sit, especially if the restaurant is full. Some bar areas require all people in the party to be 21 and over even if they aren’t being served alcohol.

USA – Not Here for Dinner, Just Drinks

[wonderplugin_audio id=”64″]

This American English clip is between a restaurant hostess and a customer.

—Transcript—

Hostess: Hi guys, table for 3?

Customer: Uh, we’re not here to eat actually, uhm, is it okay if we just grab a round of drinks at the bar?

Hostess: Sure, would you like to sit at a table in the bar area or would you like to sit at the bar?

Customer: Uhm, can we sit in the bar area?

Hostess: Yeah, of course, I’ll grab your menus, and I’ll meet you over there.

Culture Notes:
Bar areas at restaurants can be popular for happy hour or for a couple of drinks before dinner. If you aren’t interested in sitting down at a big table in the restaurant area, this could be an option for you and your party.

USA – Non Smoking

[wonderplugin_audio id=”65″]

This American English clip is between a restaurant hostess and a customer.

—Transcript—

Hostess: Foley? Part of 4?

Customer: Yep, that’s us.

Hostess: Okay, would you guys like to sit inside or outside?

Customer: Uhm, is there smoking outside?

Hostess: Actually, there’s no smoking in the entire restaurant.

Customer: Okay, no problem.

Culture Notes:
“Smoking or Non-Smoking?” isn’t asked very often anymore. Since a lot of cities have banned smoking in restaurants, it’s up to you to ask if there is a smoking area available. Most smokers are very respectful of other people’s personal space, and some won’t smoke without asking: “Do you mind if I smoke?” to another table that’s closeby. It’s not unusual for other customers to complain or move if someone starts smoking near them without asking.

USA – Smoking

[wonderplugin_audio id=”66″]

This American English clip is between a restaurant hostess and a customer.

—Transcript—

Hostess: Hi guys, would you like to sit inside or outside?

Customer: Uhm, is there smoking outside?

Hostess: Actually yeah, there’s a smoking area out in the outside terrace and in the back of the bar area.

Customer: Okay, thanks.

Culture Notes:
Since most people won’t ask “Smoking or non-smoking?” It’s up to you to ask about the smoking area. If you hate cigarette smoke, you can also ask where people can smoke and ask to be sat far away from there. “Is there a smoking area? Could we sit away from there please? I don’t like the smoke / the smell of cigarettes.”

USA – Some Drinks

[wonderplugin_audio id=”67″]

This American English clip is between a restaurant server and two customers.

—Transcript—

Server: Hi guys, my name’s Kat and I’ll be your server for this evening. Can I get you guys started with some drinks?

Customer 1: Can I get two cokes with ice? And just water for me.

Customer 2: Actually, we do have one more person joining us. Uhm, but I know that she’s just gonna want a lemonade, and I’ll have a water please.

Culture Notes:
These first questions can come very quickly from your server. They’ve probably said it to almost 100 people today, and if you’ve never heard the question before, it can sound very strange! “What can I get you started with?” “Can I get you started with some drinks?”

Any drinks on the menu will be said with “a” or “an”. Drinks are very general and can be ordered at any restaurant. “I’ll take a coke.” “I’d like a sprite.” “My daughter wants a lemonade.” When you order food items later “the” is used. “She wants the steak. I want the spaghetti.” This is because these are specific items only available at this restaurant.

British Restaurants

Grab the American and British Transcripts here.

UK – Sitting at the Bar

[wonderplugin_audio id=”68″]

This British English clip is between a restaurant server and a customer.

—Transcript—

Server: Hi there guys, is it just the three of you?

Customer: uhm, yeah actually, but uh we were thinking about eating at the bar? Do you offer a full menu at the bar?

Server: No, unfortunately we don’t, we only offer table service, so you’re free to wait at the bar until a table becomes available?

Customer: Okay, then we’ll do that.

Culture Notes:
This would be a good idea in a pub, where they might have chairs next to the bar, but many restaurants in the UK don’t offer service at the bar. Bars are usually for pouring wine, beer and for making cocktails only. You might be able to wait on the terrace or in an outside area with your drinks, but if it’s raining or it’s cold you might have to find somewhere else to eat.

UK – No Smoking

[wonderplugin_audio id=”69″]

This British English clip is between a restaurant server and a customer.

—Transcript—

Server: Hi there guys, is it just the four of you?

Customer: Yeah, that’s it.

Server: Would you like to eat inside or outside on the patio?

Customer: Oh, uhm, outside on the patio would be nice. Can I smoke out there?

Server: Unfortunately not I’m afraid.

Culture Notes:
The Smoking Ban was introduced in the UK in 2006, and as a result restaurants all over the country had to change their policies. Some restaurants banned smoking completely, even outside.

UK – Smoking

[wonderplugin_audio id=”70″]

This British English clip is between a restaurant server and a customer.

—Transcript—

Server: Hi guys, just so you know, we’ve only got a table outside at the moment. Would that be alright?

Customer: Yeah, actually, that would be great. Uhm, is there smoking allowed out there?

Server: Uh, yes there is, you can smoke out there.

Culture Notes:
Due to the Smoking Ban, the only places customers can smoke are outside on a patio, terrace or a designated smoking area.

UK – Some Drinks

[wonderplugin_audio id=”71″]

This British English clip is between a restaurant server and a customer.

—Transcript—

Server: Hi there, can I get you some drinks to get you started?

Customer: Do you guys have iced tea?

Server: Yes, we do.

Customer: Sure, then I’ll have one. Uhm, my friends will be back in a sec, but I know they’ll just want water.

Culture Notes:
If you ask for ‘tea’ in the UK, your waiter will probably bring you hot Breakfast Tea – not ideal for a sunny day (although British people drink tea whatever the weather). That’s why Kat asked for ‘Iced Tea’ to make sure. Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Pepsi etc. are usually called ‘Fizzy drinks’ or ‘Soft drinks’.

How are you feeling about all of these Restaurant dialogues? Did anything sound confusing? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks,

Kat and Mark