Practical English for Hospitality and Leisure

Restaurant Menu Selections

Discover a delightful array of dishes from our carefully curated menu:

Starters

• Soup of the Day
• Chicken Liver Pâté
• A Selection of Cheeses

Main Courses

• Fillet Steak
• Sea Bass
• Mushroom Risotto

Desserts

• Ice Cream
• Chocolate Cheesecake
• Seasonal Fruit Compote

A Winter Wonderland Story

It was nearly Christmas. Katie woke up and found that the world was white and magical. "Snow!" she shouted. She ran outside and danced on the snow. Her brother, Eddie, came out too.

Restaurant Reservation Dialogue

Here's a typical phone conversation for booking a table at a restaurant:

Restaurant: Welcome to Yatakiru. How may I help you today?

You: I would like to make a reservation.

Restaurant: What day do you want to come in?

You: Tomorrow at 9 PM.

Restaurant: How many people would it be?

You: Two people.

Restaurant: We have a free table at 9:15 PM. Will that be okay?

You: Yes.

Restaurant: May I have your name, please?

You: Manuel. That’s M.A.N.U.E.L.

Restaurant: You have a reservation for tomorrow at 9:15 PM for 2. Is there anything else I can do for you?

You: No, that will be all.

Restaurant: Thank you for calling.

You: Goodbye.

Hotel Room Booking Conversation

Listen to a common dialogue for reserving a hotel room:

Receptionist: How can I help you?

Customer: I’d like to know if you have a room available for the second week in August.

Receptionist: Just a moment, sir. Let me check reservations. Yes, we do.

Customer: How much is the daily rate for a double room?

Receptionist: That would be €75, with breakfast included, sir.

Customer: Okay. I’d like to book a room, from the eleventh to the eighteenth.

Receptionist: Let me fill the reservation form. May I have your full name, sir?

Customer: Antonio Toledo Martinez.

Receptionist: Is there anything else I can do for you?

Customer: No, that will be all.

Receptionist: Thank you for calling.

Customer: Goodbye.

La Torre Golf Resort & Spa: A Family Stay Review

Last summer, my family and I spent a few days at the La Torre Golf Resort & Spa. It was a truly memorable experience.

• Accommodation: The chalets are perfectly equipped, offering comfort and convenience.
• Key Management: The process for collecting and returning keys was very well organized.
• Staff: The security personnel were exceptionally friendly and helpful.
• Room Features: Our room was spacious and featured many thoughtful details, such as the bathtub with doors that open directly to the room, creating an open and luxurious feel.

We tremendously recommend this resort for its tranquility, excellent services, and the refreshing clean air. It's an ideal destination for a relaxing getaway.

Essential Hospitality Vocabulary

Expand your English vocabulary with these useful terms, especially relevant for dining and hotel experiences:

A la carte

A menu or specific dish ordered separately, not as part of a set meal.

Apron

A protective garment worn over the front of clothes.

Awful

Extremely bad or unpleasant.

Specialty

A dish or product for which a restaurant or region is famous.

Barstool

A tall stool, typically used at a bar or high counter.

Bill

A statement of money owed for goods or services; the check.

Beverage

A drink, especially one other than water.

Booze

Alcoholic drink (informal).

Corkscrew

A tool for drawing corks from bottles.

Breaded

Coated with breadcrumbs and usually fried.

Check on

To make sure that someone or something is safe or in a satisfactory condition.

Clear (the table)

To remove dirty dishes and cutlery from a table after a meal.

Set the table

To arrange plates, cutlery, and glasses on a table before a meal.

Complaint

A statement that something is unsatisfactory or unacceptable.

Complain

To express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.

Coffee round

A service where coffee is offered to customers, often in a sequence.

Dry (food)

Without sauce or moisture.

Shots

Small servings of strong alcoholic drinks.

Entrée / Main course

The principal dish of a meal.

Fast food

Food that can be prepared and served quickly.

Fry

To cook food in hot fat or oil.

Tip

A sum of money given to someone as a reward for their services.

Host

A person who receives or entertains guests.

Rush hour

A time of day when traffic is heaviest.

Highchair

A tall chair for a baby or young child to sit in while eating.

Tray

A flat, shallow container with a raised rim, used for carrying items.

Last call

The final opportunity to order drinks before a bar closes.

Melt

To become liquid by heating.

Mild (flavor)

Not strong or intense in flavor; not spicy.

Pack up

To put things into containers, often for taking away (e.g., leftovers).

Pour

To flow or cause to flow in a steady stream.

Raw

Not cooked.

Well done (meat)

Cooked thoroughly, with no pink inside.

Punch in

To record one's arrival at work, typically using a time clock.

Punch out

To record one's departure from work.

Recipe

A set of instructions for preparing a particular dish.

Napkin

A piece of cloth or paper used at meals for wiping the mouth and hands.

Fork

An eating utensil with two or more prongs.

Self-serve

A system where customers serve themselves.

Stir

To move a spoon or other implement around in a liquid or mixture to mix it.

Straw

A thin tube for sucking drink from a container.

Waiting list

A list of people waiting for something that is not immediately available.

Wine list

A menu of wines available in a restaurant.