2.1. Choosing, Making a Reservation and Being seated at the restaurant
Source: eslfast.com
Choosing a good restaurant
| A: Devi, have you thought about where would you like to go to dinner on Friday for your birthday? | OR: – Devi, do you have any preference for where you would like to go for dinner for your birthday? – Devi, do you have a favorite place that you would like to go to for your birthday dinner? |
| B: I am not sure. I don’t know that many restaurants around here. | OR: – I am kind of at a loss right now to think of some place special. – I don’t really know where I want to go. I am having trouble thinking of a particular restaurant. |
| A: You know, we could look online at the local Internet sites. | OR: – There is a great restaurant directory here in the weekend section of the newspaper. – I’ve got a great guidebook here of local restaurants. |
| B: Good. Let’s take a look! | OR: – OK, we could look at that. – That would be a good place to look. |
| A: What kind of food would you like for your birthday? | OR: – What is your favorite type of restaurant food? – Do you have a particular type of food that you would like? |
| B: I enjoy Thai or Japanese the best. | OR: – I like a lot of things, but Thai or Japanese would be good. |
| A: This one, Shogun, looks good. | OR: – Shogun looks pretty good! – That Japanese restaurant, Shogun, got good reviews. |
| B: Oh yes, I’ve heard of that one. Everyone I’ve spoken with says that it is great! | OR: – Oh yeah! I saw a review of that restaurant on television. The reviewer loved it! – Oh, I remember that restaurant. I went there years ago. I really enjoyed it! |
| A: Would you like to go there then? | OR: – Would that be a good choice for your birthday dinner then? |
| B: I think that that would be a really good choice! Let’s call and make a reservation. | OR: – That would work out great! Why don’t we call and get a reservation? – I would enjoy going there. Let’s call ahead to make sure that we can get a table for that night. |
Making a reservation
| A: Shogun Restaurant. | OR: – Shogun Restaurant of Pasadena. – This is Shogun Restaurant. |
| B: Hi, I would like to make a dinner reservation. | OR: – Hi, could you help me? I need to make a dinner reservation. |
| A: Of course, what evening will you be joining us on? | OR: – Can you tell me what night you will be coming? – I can help you if you can just tell me what evening you like the reservation for. |
| B: We will need the reservation for Tuesday night. | OR: – Tuesday night is when we need the reservation for. – We will be coming to your restaurant on Tuesday night. |
| A: What time would you like the reservation for? | OR: – What time will you be dining with us? – What time do you think that you would like to have dinner? |
| B: We would prefer 7:00 or 7:30. | OR: – 7:00 would be best, or maybe 7:30. – Our first choice would be 7:00, or perhaps 7:30. |
| A: How many people will you need the reservation for? | OR: – How many guests will be in your party? – How many diners will be in your group? |
| B: There will be 4 of us. | OR: – We need a reservation for four. |
| A: Fine, I can seat you at 7:00 on Tuesday, if you would kindly give me your name. | OR: – Please just give me your name, and at 7:00 on Tuesday we will have a table for you! – I have a table for four available at 7:00, if you would just give me your name. |
| B: Thank you. The last name is Foster. | OR: – Great! Our last name is Foster. |
| A: See you at 7:00 this Tuesday, Mr. Foster. | OR: – Thank you, Mr. Foster, see you this Tuesday at 7:00. – Mr. Foster, we will be expecting you this Tuesday at 7:00. |
| B: Thank you so much. I appreciate your help. | OR: – We will be there! Thanks for the help! – I look forward to having dinner at your restaurant. Thank you for your help. |
Being seated at the restaurant
| A: Good evening, sir, and welcome to Chez Attitude. | OR: – Welcome to our restaurant, Chez Attitude! – Thank you for joining us this evening at Chez Attitude. |
| B: We have a dinner reservation for four at 7:00 under the name of Foster. | OR: – I am Mr. Foster, and we have a 7:00 dinner reservation tonight for four people. |
| A: Yes, Mr. Foster, if you would please be seated over in the waiting area, our hostess will be with you in a moment. | OR: – Yes, Mr. Foster, our hostess will be with you in just a moment. – Welcome, Mr. Foster, if you would have a seat in the lounge area, our hostess will be ready to seat you in just a moment. |
| B: Thank you. Would it be OK if we have a cocktail while we are waiting? | OR: – We are going to have a drink while we are waiting. Please let the hostess know that she can find us there. – We would like to begin with a cocktail while we are waiting. Would you tell the hostess to please come and let us know when our table is ready? |
| A: Of course, I will tell her. | OR: – I will let her know where you are. – She will come and let you know when your table is prepared. |
| B: I would really prefer an outside table. Would that be possible? | OR: – Those patio tables are new, aren’t they? Would it be possible to be seated out there? – The patio tables look really nice. Could we be seated there, please? |
| A: Sure, if you would like one of those tables, I could seat you right away. | OR: – I could seat you right away at an outside table if you would like. – An outside table is available right now if you would like to be seated immediately. |
| B: Sure, that would be great! Thank you! | OR: – We would love to sit outside. Thanks for your help! – Thanks! We’ll sit out there then. We will just order our drinks out there. |
| A: Here are your menus and the wine menu, and would you like to order your drinks now? | OR: – Can I start you off with some cocktails while you are looking over the menu? – Here is your table, and now may I take your drink order while you are considering what to have for dinner? |
| B: Yes, I would like a vodka gimlet, please. | OR: – Yes, could you please bring us a pitcher of margaritas and four glasses while we are figuring out our dinner order? – Yes, why don’t you bring us a bottle of the house Chablis with four glasses to start with? |
| A: Sure, no problem, sir. | OR: – I’ll get on that right away! – I’ll put your drink order in and be right back to get your dinner order. |
| B: Thank you very much. | OR: – We’ll be ready to order by the time you get back! – We appreciate your help. |