Speaking: Functional Language A2 - Lesson 3
Function: Ordering Food & Drinks
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to perform the complete function of ordering a meal at a restaurant, from asking for a table to paying the bill.
Conversation Scenario: At a Restaurant
Using polite, standard phrases at a restaurant makes the experience smooth and easy. Let's look at a full conversation.
Waiter: Hello, welcome to our restaurant.
You: Hi. A table for two, please.1
Waiter: Of course, right this way. Here are your menus.
(A few minutes later...)
Waiter: Are you ready to order?6
You: Yes, I think so. What do you recommend?2
Waiter: The beef lok lak is very popular today. It's delicious.
You: Okay, I'll have the beef lok lak, please.3 And an iced tea.
Waiter: Excellent choice. And for your friend?
Friend: I'd like the fried noodles with pork, please.
(After eating...)
You: Excuse me, could we have the bill, please?4
Waiter: Certainly. Here you are.
Your Functional Toolkit: Ordering
Function: Customer Phrases
- A table for [number], please. (Phrase) | សុំតុមួយសម្រាប់...នាក់ | How to ask for a table when you arrive. ↩
- Could we see the menu, please? (Question) | សុំមើលមេនុយបានទេ? | How to ask for the menu.
- What do you recommend? (Question) | តើអ្នកណែនាំអ្វីដែរ? | A great question to ask if you don't know what to order. ↩
- I'll have... / I'd like... (Phrase) | ខ្ញុំយក... / ខ្ញុំចង់បាន... | The two best and most polite ways to order your food. ↩
- Could we have the bill, please? (Question) | សូមគិតលុយ | The polite way to ask to pay at the end of your meal. ↩
Function: Waiter Phrases (to understand)
- Are you ready to order? (Question) | តើអ្នកត្រៀមខ្លួនកុម្ម៉ង់ហើយឬនៅ? | The waiter asks this when they are ready to take your order. ↩
- And for you? (Question) | ចុះលោក/អ្នកវិញ? | The waiter asks this to the other people at your table.
- Anything else? / Is that all? (Question) | មានអ្វីផ្សេងទៀតទេ? | The waiter asks this to check if you have finished ordering.
Polite Question Intonation
When ordering, your intonation should be friendly and polite. Most of your phrases will be questions or requests.
- For Yes/No style questions, use a rising tone: "Could we see the menu, please? ↗"
- For Wh- questions, use a falling tone: "What do you recommend? ↘"
- For your order, use a clear, falling tone: "I'll have the lok lak, please. ↘"
Sounding More Polite: From "I want" to "I'd like"
How you ask for food is very important. There are different levels of politeness.
- "I want..." -> This is very direct and can sound rude or demanding, like a child. It's better to avoid this in a restaurant.
- "I'll have..." -> This is good. It's polite, clear, and shows you have decided. (I'll = I will).
- "I'd like..." -> This is excellent. It is very soft, polite, and friendly. (I'd = I would).
Using "I'll have" or "I'd like" will make you sound like a more fluent and polite speaker.
Practice Ordering
Activity 1: Put the Conversation in Order
These sentences are from a restaurant conversation. Put them in the correct logical order (1-4).
- ( ) Okay. And for your drink?
- ( ) Excuse me, I'd like the bill, please.
- ( ) Are you ready to order?
- ( ) Yes, I'll have the chicken with rice, please.
(Correct order: 3, 4, 1, 2)
Activity 2: Restaurant Role-Play
Work with a partner. One person is the customer, one is the waiter. The customer should look at a real menu (or an imaginary one) and perform a full conversation: ask for a recommendation, order a main course and a drink, and then ask for the bill.
Your Functional Mission
This week in Siem Reap, your mission is to perform the function of ordering.
The next time you are at a café or restaurant, practice ordering in English. You don't have to speak to the waiter in English if you are shy. Just look at the menu, choose your item, and say the polite sentence to yourself: "I'd like the fried noodles, please." This practice will build your confidence!