When you need this
A special dinner: an anniversary, a birthday, a business meal in a nice restaurant in New York or Dubai. The food comes in courses, there's a wine list, and the staff speak more slowly and more formally. Your English can be simple here, but a little more careful: "Could we...?" and "Would it be possible...?" fit the room better than "Can I get...?"
Staff at these places expect questions. Asking what a dish is, or what wine goes with it, is part of the evening, not a sign that you don't belong.
Phrases
gives the time of your booking
asks what clothes are expected
many small courses chosen by the chef
one part of the meal: starter, main, dessert
a small dish before the main course; "starter" is British
in the US, the main dish; in France and the UK it's the starter
asks the server to explain
the menu of wines
asks for a wine or drink that fits a dish
the restaurant's standard wine
tells staff it's a special night
the formal compliment at the end
Say it out loud
Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.
Practice · 3 min
Say the line that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.
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Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.