Ordering at a Café｜Essential English Phrases for Ordering
Izumi English Morning
How to Ask for Restaurant Recommendations｜English Travel Phrases
Izumi
When traveling or visiting an unfamiliar city, you may want to know about “local restaurants that people actually go to” or “hidden gems with a nice atmosphere” that are not listed in guidebooks.
If I can ask about restaurant recommendations in English, my dining experiences while traveling will become even more enjoyable.
In this lesson, I will introduce useful expressions for asking about recommended restaurants in English, highlight grammatical points, and explain additional phrases to keep the conversation going after receiving an answer.
Contents
Dialogue
Excuse me, do you know any good restaurants around here?
Yes, there’s a great Italian place just a few blocks away.
That sounds nice. What kind of food do they serve?
Mostly pasta and pizza. Their lasagna is amazing.
Great! Do I need a reservation?
Not usually, but it can get busy on weekends.
Grammar and Expression Points
1. Asking about Places and Information
To ask about restaurant locations, I can use:
- Do you know any good restaurants around here?”
The phrase “any good restaurants” suggests “somewhere nice” rather than a specific place, making it easier for the other person to answer.
The phrase “around here” means “in this area” and is useful when I want to ask in a general way.
2. Expanding the Topic with “What kind of ～?”
To ask about the type of food a restaurant serves, I can use:
- What kind of food do they serve?
The phrase “What kind of ～?” means “what type of ～?” and is very helpful for continuing the conversation.
The part “do they serve” forms a present tense question meaning “What do they provide?” In this context, serve means “to provide” or “to offer,” and it is frequently used in conversations about restaurants and cafés.
- They serve Japanese food.
- This café serves breakfast all day.
3. Asking If a Reservation Is Necessary
To confirm whether a reservation is required, I can ask:
- Do I need a reservation?
In English, reservation is the common word, though in British English “booking” is also frequently used.
The structure “Do I need ～?” is widely applicable in travel situations, for example:
- Do I need a ticket?
- Do I need to bring my passport?
This makes it a useful phrase whenever I want to confirm in advance what is required.
4. Expressing Possibility with “It can get + adjective”
The phrase: “It can get busy on weekends.” This structure “It can get + adjective” indicates that something may become a certain state.
It implies that the condition does not always occur, but it can happen depending on the situation.
Other examples include:
- It can get cold at night.
- It can get noisy in the evening.
Knowing this pattern allows me to better understand advice given in conversation, as it conveys a softer, more natural nuance.
Summary
- Do you know any good restaurants around here?
→ A polite way to ask about recommended places nearby. - What kind of food do they serve?
→ A useful phrase for asking about the type of food offered. - Do I need a reservation?
→ A practical question to confirm in advance, also applicable in other travel situations. - It can get busy on weekends.
→ A natural way to describe the possibility of crowds or busyness.
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