Casa ESL · A2 Elementary · Unit 7 of 20 · Step 1
Eating Out & Ordering
Name
Date
Vocabulary
menu
nounA list of food and drinks available to order.
"Could I see the menu, please?"
order
verbTo ask for food or a drink from staff.
"Are you ready to order?"
starter
nounA small dish eaten before the main course.
"I would like the soup as a starter."
main course
nounThe largest and most important part of a meal.
"For my main course, I'll have the steak."
dessert
nounA sweet food eaten at the end of a meal.
"We would like two chocolate desserts, please."
bill
nounA document showing what you need to pay at a restaurant.
"Could we have the bill, please?"
recommend
verbTo suggest something as a good option.
"Can you recommend a good dish?"
vegetarian
adjectiveContaining no meat or fish.
"Is there a vegetarian option on the menu?"
Grammar Focus
Would like — polite requests and offers
Use would like + noun or would like + to + verb for polite requests. It is more formal than 'want'. In questions: Would you like + noun/to + verb? Short answer: Yes, please / No, thank you.
I would like a glass of water, please.
Would you like to see the dessert menu?
She would like the salmon as her main course.
We would like to pay separately, if that's all right.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete the conversation with the correct form of 'would like'.
1. Waiter: you to hear the specials?
2. Guest: Yes, please. I the grilled chicken.
3. Waiter: And you a drink with that?
4. Guest: I a sparkling water, thank you.
5. Guest: We the bill when you're ready.
Exercise 2
Match each restaurant phrase to the correct situation.
Reading
A Dinner Out
Last Friday, my partner and I went to a small Italian restaurant near the waterfront. The waiter gave us the menu and asked if we would like something to drink. I ordered sparkling water and my partner chose a glass of white wine. For starters, we both had the tomato bruschetta. I had the pasta with truffle sauce for my main course, and my partner ordered the grilled sea bass. We would have liked to try the desserts but we were too full. We asked for the bill and left a good tip because the service was excellent.
1. What did the writer order for a starter?
2. Why didn't they have dessert?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Write a short description (4–6 sentences) of a meal out you enjoyed. Use 'would like' at least twice.
Example: Last month I went to a Japanese restaurant with a group of friends. I would like to go back because the food was incredible. I ordered the sashimi as a starter and a teriyaki bowl for my main course. I would also like to try their ramen next time. We stayed for three hours and talked the whole evening.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. Would / like · 2. would like · 3. would / like · 4. would like · 5. would like
Exercise 2
1. Could I see the menu? → You have just sat down and haven't ordered yet. · 2. Is there a table for two? → You arrive without a reservation. · 3. What do you recommend? → You are not sure what to choose. · 4. Could we have the bill? → You have finished your meal and want to pay. · 5. Is this dish spicy? → You want to know about the ingredients.
Reading Comprehension
1. The writer had the tomato bruschetta. · 2. They were too full.