Dialogs: Restaurants
A collection of dialogs that occur at restaurants.
A woman enters a restaurant for breakfast and asks the waiter about breakfast set options.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers |  |
| Standard | Unread | 17081 |
A man stops into a restaurant for lunch and discusses seating (smoking versus non-smoking) and menu options with the waitress.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 9218 |
Pro
A man makes an order for additional items midway through his meal. Later, he asks for the bill and inquires whether credit cards are accepted.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 4415 |
Pro
A man arrives at an izakaya (Japanese bar) where he has made reservations. He starts the evening off by ordering a round of drinks.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 3279 |
Pro
A man at an izakaya (Japanese bar) orders additional items midway through his meal, and he and the waitress discuss options for food and drinks.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2252 |
Pro
A man at an izakaya (Japanese bar) discovers at the end of his meal that the establishment does not accept credit cards, and he and the waitress discuss solutions to the problem of how to pay.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1957 |
Pro
A woman inquires whether a restaurant has English menus available.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2136 |
Pro
A man alerts the waitress that a different item from the one he ordered has been served to him, and the waitress offers solutions.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1733 |
Pro
A man complains that his order arrived at his table cold. He and the mortified waitress discuss solutions.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1555 |
Pro
A woman complains that her food is very slow to arrive and asks the waiter how much longer it will be. She and the waiter work out an amiable solution.
Notes: This article illustrates the kind of exchange you might see at a restaurant, featuring very polite language on the part of the waitstaff and more relaxed language on the part of the customer.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1443 |
Pro
A woman calls a restaurant to make reservations over the phone.
Notes: Offers an excellent view into how the vital information of a restaurant reservation is exchanged over the phone.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1517 |
Pro
A woman makes a reservation via phone for a large group.
Notes: A great example of the minor negotiations that must occur when figuring out the where, when, and how of accommodating an especially large group.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1254 |
Pro
A woman calls to change her reservations.
Notes: This dialog should be a good review of the vocabulary and grammar we've seen in earlier restaurant dialogs.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1121 |
Pro
A woman calls a restaurant to cancel a reservation.
Notes: This article is short and sweet, featuring straightforward vocabulary and grammar.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1106 |
Pro
A man asks the waitress which items on the menu don't include peanuts.
Notes: This dialog utilizes straightforward vocabulary and grammar and should be understandable for most.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1158 |
Pro
A serious foodie quizzes the waiter on which items from the menu are fresh and locally sourced.
Notes: This dialog illustrates a few interesting patterns, including the customer's introduction of a few plain-form verbs into her otherwise all-polite speech. See the final annotation for discussion.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1030 |
Pro
A very selective diner asks the waiter about the vegetables and oils used in the restaurant.
Notes: This dialog is a great example of the mix of polite and casual Japanese you might see on the part of a customer, and the usual deferential Japanese on the part of the waitstaff.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 951 |
Pro
A man asks if it is possible to prepare a dish without garlic.
Notes: This is another shorter dialog that should feel straightforward for most.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1013 |
Pro
A regular customer calls her favorite ramen and potsticker shop to order delivery.
Notes: This is a great example of how to transmit information such as your order, address, phone number, and so on, over the phone.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1027 |
Pro
A customer asks for a box to take home her leftovers and receives a negative answer couched in the politest possible terms.
Notes: Though service in Japan is great, sometimes the restaurant has to say no. This is a great example of the kind of language you'll hear when that happens.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1054 |
Pro
A customer makes a to-go order at a restaurant.
Notes: A straightforward dialog that features an important vocabulary word related to counting portions of food.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 931 |
Pro
A customer orders a burger to go.
Notes: This is a realistic portrayal of the kind of fast-paced interaction you might see at a fast-food restaurant.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1277 |
Pro
A customer inquires about the availability of non-smoking seating.
Notes: This short dialog has a few interesting annotations that you should be sure to check out.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 885 |
Pro
A customer asks where the non-smoking seating is.
Notes: This short-and-sweet dialog should be straightforward for most.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1120 |
Pro
A man calls a restaurant to inquire about their hours of operation and days off.
Notes: This is a realistic portrayal of a common phone call.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 878 |
Pro
A guest calls from the train station to ask for directions to a restaurant.
Notes: This short and relatively easy article is a great example of giving directions over the phone.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 824 |
Pro
A patron phones a restaurant to ask whether there are dress codes or other special considerations to know about.
Notes: This shorter dialog demonstrates, among other things, a common humble phrase...for refusing service.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 849 |