Functional language for guests and hosts in restaurants

Functional language for guests and hosts in restaurants

Listen to your teacher saying some typical restaurant language when you take a guest out for dinner. Without looking at the list below, decide if each line is said by a guest or a host and raise the correct one of the two cards you were given.  

Label each section below with G for guest or H for host.

• (No, no, I insist). You are my guest today.
• Are you ready for dessert?
• Help yourself.
• It’s on me.

 

• Are you allergic to anything?
• Do you like spicy food?
• Is there anything you can’t eat?
• Is there anything you don’t eat?
• Is there anything you don’t like?

 

• Do people generally order together or different things each?
• Do you know where the powder room (= WC = little boy’s room = restroom = bathroom = gents/ ladies) room is?
• Do you recommend this? Have you tried it before?

 

• How about trying…?
• It goes well with…
• We usually eat it…
• We usually share dishes, if that is okay.

     

• How’s your steak?
• Is this kind of food popular in your country?

 

• I had a big lunch, so…
• If you don’t mind, I’d prefer…
• I’m afraid I don’t drink.
• That’s very kind, but I couldn’t eat another thing.

 

• I’ll definitely come back here again.
• I’ll recommend this place to my colleagues.
• Thank you very much for your hospitality. I’ll do the same for you some time.

 

• I think I’d like to try…
• It all sounds/ looks so nice. I really can’t decide.
• I’ll have whatever you’re having.
• I’ll let you order (for both of us).
• This/ That sounds nice.

 

• Is anything on the menu vegetarian?
• Is this dish vegetarian, do you know?
• This looks interesting. Do you know what it is?
• What does this one taste like?

 

• Shall I order another bottle?
• Shall I order some more…?
• Shall we get a starter?

 

• That was delicious.
• You are too kind!
• You must email me a recipe for this so I can try and cook it at home.

 

• What would you like to drink?
• Would you like another drink?
• Would you like to see the dessert menu?
• Would you like to try…?

     

• What was this one called again?
• What would you recommend for vegetarians?
• What’s in it?
• Would you recommend the fish?

 

• Please let me pay.

 

• This looks like a nice place. Do you come here often?

 

• You can use chopsticks very well.
• Can you eat sushi?

 

Which section above is actually things you probably shouldn’t say?

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Brainstorming stage

Without looking above, try to remember or think of at least one sentence for each of these categories. Most categories have many more than one option.

Host

Offering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asking for information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recommending/ Suggesting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just making conversation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Probably not a good thing to say

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest

Asking for information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Requesting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Refusing/ Turning down an offer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Complimenting/ Thanking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just making conversation

 

 

 

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Suggested answers

Sentences in each section are arranged alphabetically.

Host

Offering

• (No, no, I insist). You are my guest today.
• Are you ready for dessert?
• Help yourself.
• It’s on me.
• Shall I order another bottle?
• Shall I order some more…?
• Shall we get a starter?
• What would you like to drink?
• Would you like another drink?
• Would you like to see the dessert menu?
• Would you like to try…?

 

Asking for information

• Are you allergic to anything?
• Do you like spicy food?
• Is there anything you can’t eat?
• Is there anything you don’t eat?
• Is there anything you don’t like?

 

Recommending/ Suggesting

• How about trying…?
• It goes well with…
• We usually eat it…
• We usually share dishes, if that is okay.

 

Just making conversation

• How’s your steak?
• Is this kind of food popular in your country?

 

Probably not a good thing to say

• You can use chopsticks very well.
• Can you eat sushi?

 

Guest

Asking for information

• Do people generally order together or different things each?
• Do you know where the bathroom/ restroom/ powder room is?
• Have you tried this before?
• Is anything on the menu vegetarian?
• Is this dish vegetarian, do you know?
• This looks interesting. Do you know what it is?
• What does this one taste like?
• What was this one called again?
• What would you recommend for vegetarians?
• What’s in it?
• Would you recommend the fish?

 

Requesting

• I think I’d like to try…
• It all sounds/ looks so nice. I really can’t decide.
• I’ll have whatever you’re having.
• I’ll let you order (for both of us).
• This/ That sounds nice.

 

Refusing/ Turning down an offer

• I had a big lunch, so…
• If you don’t mind, I’d prefer…
• I’m afraid I don’t drink.
• That’s very kind, but I couldn’t eat another thing.

 

Complimenting/ Thanking

• I’ll definitely come back here again.
• I’ll recommend this place to my colleagues.
• Thank you very much for your hospitality. I’ll do the same for you some time.
• That was delicious.
• You are too kind!
• You must email me a recipe for this so I can try and cook it at home.

 

Offering

• Please let me pay.

 

Just making conversation

• This looks like a nice place. Do you come here often?

 

Test each other in pairs or small groups:

• Read out a phrase and see if your partner can identify if they are guest or host, then identify the function
• Say the name of one function above and help your partner make suitable phrases

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Cards for students to hold up

Host	Guest
Host	Guest
Host	Guest
Host	Guest
Host	Guest
Host	Guest
Host	Guest