At the Restaurant in Spanish (pt. 1) – Lesson 19

Spanish for the restaurant: part 1

After two intense verb lessons, let’s take it a bit easier with some vocabulary. But not too easy: today’s topic is the restaurant, in Spanish el restaurante. This topic has 3 parts, and this is part 1.

The restaurant is such a big topic that this lesson has about 30 words and phrases. That’s a lot! So here’s my advice: pick the ones you think you’ll actually use and study those. Really serious about learning Spanish? Then go for all of them (respect!).

And today, focus on pronunciation. Remembering words is one thing, but saying them so people understand you is a different ball game. Repeat every phrase out loud!

Making a reservation

You know quiero from lesson 11! Then the restaurant will probably ask you a few questions:

Spanish speakers often talk fast and blend words together, so ¿a qué hora? can sound more like “akeora”. Don’t panic if it sounds different from what you learned: that’s normal! We’ll learn how to tell the time in a later lesson.

Notice cuántas ends in -as, because personas is feminine and plural. And now you can use the numbers you learned!

For the name, you can just say your name, or a nombre de Wes (under the name Wes).

At the restaurant

No reservation? Just walk in and say una mesa para dos, por favor. And see tengo? That’s tener from lesson 14.

Depending on the country, the menu is el menú or la carta. In Spain, el menú often means the fixed-price lunch menu (menú del día), and la carta is the full menu.

Ordering drinks

We’ll learn lots of food and drinks in a separate lesson, but here are the drinks people order most:

Remember el agua from lesson 6? It’s a feminine word, but it uses el. That’s why it’s el agua fría, with -a.

Careful: red wine is vino tinto, not “vino rojo”. And a glass of wine is una copa (a wine glass), not un vaso.

Refrescos and zumo are used in Spain. In much of Latin America you’ll hear gaseosas and jugo.

How to order: me gustaría and para mí

Me gustaría (I would like) is a polite way to order. Para mí (for me) is short and very common. Just add whatever you want!

Allergies

If you have an allergy, look up the Spanish word for it before you go, and say it before you order: for example soy alérgico a la leche (I’m allergic to milk). And see: it’s soy, from ser.

Recap: the restaurant (part 1)

Spanish	English
Quiero hacer una reserva.	I want to make a reservation.
¿A qué hora?	At what time?
¿Para cuántas personas?	For how many people?
Para dos personas.	For two people.
Para esta noche.	For tonight.
■■■■■■■■	■■■■■■■■
■■■■■■■■	■■■■■■■■
■■■■■■■■	■■■■■■■■

+ 11 more words & phrases

Get all 16 words & phrases on one printable page, with examples and my tips. Free, straight to your inbox.

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Practice: at the restaurant

What would you say? Say it out loud, then click to check.

1. You call a restaurant. “I want to make a reservation.”

Quiero hacer una reserva.

2. They ask “¿Para cuántas personas?” Answer: for four people.

Para cuatro personas.

3. You walk in without a reservation. “A table for two, please.”

Una mesa para dos, por favor.

4. You arrive and say: “I have a reservation.”

Tengo una reserva.

5. Order a glass of red wine, politely.

Me gustaría una copa de vino tinto.

6. “For me, a beer.”

Para mí, una cerveza.

7. Ask for sparkling water.

Agua con gas, por favor.

8. A woman says she’s allergic to milk.

Soy alérgica a la leche.

Quiz: at the restaurant

10 questions. Ready to order?

Frequently asked questions

How do I ask for the bill in Spanish?

We’ll cover that in the next parts of the restaurant topic. Quick preview: la cuenta, por favor = the bill, please.

Is “quiero” rude when ordering?

Not really, especially with por favor. But me gustaría or para mí sound a bit softer and more polite, so they’re great to use at a restaurant.

Before you go to the next lesson

That’s part 1 of the restaurant done! Sorry if it was a lot: the restaurant is just a big topic. Pick the phrases you’ll use most and practice them. Grab the free reference sheet below, with all the words on one PDF. And look at that: you’ve already finished 19 lessons! ¡Adiós!