Restaurant English: Taking Orders and Customer Service

Vocabulary and essential phrases for restaurant staff, including cashiers and servers, covering greetings, payments, upselling, and customer care.

separately

sepratli

Arroz con leche

Rice pudding; item featured in Taco Bell combo option 2

For here or to go?

Phrase used to ask if the customer will eat in the restaurant (¿Para comer aquí?) or take the food away (o para llevar?)

Combo

A meal package; referred to in the phrase "Is that going to be a combo?" (¿Será en paquete/combo?)

Anything else for you today?

A standard closing question to see if the order is complete (¿Algo más para usted hoy?)

Can I start you off with something to drink?

A server phrase used to begin a meal service (¿Gustan ir pidiendo algo de tomar?)

Allergies

Medical conditions the server checks for by asking "Do you have any allergies?" (¿Tienen alguna alergia?)

Upselling

A sales technique such as asking "Would you like to make that a large?" (¿Gusta hacerlo grande?)

Large

One of the three sizes mentioned along with small and medium

Receipt

The document provided along with change: "Here’s your change and receipt."

Declined

When a card is not accepted: "Your card’s been declined…" (Su tarjeta fue declinada)

Side

An accompaniment to a main dish, such as fries or salad: "That comes with a side of [fries/salad]"

How would you like that cooked?

Phrase used to determine the level of doneness for meat (¿En qué término le gustaría la carne?)

Frase de rescate

A rescue phrase used when the employee needs the customer to repeat something: "Could you repeat that a bit slower, please?" (¿Podría repetirlo un poco más despacio, por favor?)

Check-in de mesa

A follow-up by the server: "How is everything tasting so far?" (¿Qué tal está todo hasta ahora?)

Refill

Another serving of a drink: "Can I get you a refill?" (¿Le sirvo otra rellenada de su bebida?)

Together or on separate checks?

A question to determine how the bill will be paid (¿Juntos o cuentas separadas?)

I’ll check on that with the kitchen right away

A problem-solving phrase used to investigate an issue (Voy a revisar eso con la cocina de inmediato)

I’ll be right back with that

A server's phrase indicating they will return shortly with a requested item (Regreso de inmediato con eso)