Speaking - A problem with your order at a restaurant

Vocabulary

• Missing (adjective): Not included or not on the table.
• Example: Excuse me, my fries are missing.
• Cold (adjective): At a low temperature, not hot anymore.
• Example: I am sorry, but this soup is cold.
• Wrong (adjective): Not correct.
• Example: I think this is the wrong order. I asked for chicken.
• Bill (noun): A piece of paper that shows how much money you must pay for your meal.
• Example: Can I have the bill, please?
• Overcharged (verb/adjective): Charged too much money for something.
• Example: I think we were overcharged. We didn't order two desserts.

Useful Expressions

• Excuse me, but there is a problem with...
• I'm sorry, but this isn't what I ordered.
• I ordered the [food], but I got [food].
• Could you please change this?
• Could you check the bill again, please?

Key Questions

• What do you say if your food is cold when the waiter brings it?
• Sample Answer: I usually call the waiter and say, "Excuse me, there is a problem with my food. It is cold. Could you please change this?"
• Imagine your side dish (like a salad or fries) is not on the table. How do you ask the waiter for it?
• Sample Answer: I look for the waiter and say, "Excuse me, I ordered a salad, but it is missing. Can you bring it to me, please?"

Activity

Imagine you are at a restaurant. You ordered a hot pizza and a cola. However, the waiter just brought you a cold burger and a glass of water. Also, when you look at the bill on the table, it is for a very expensive steak!

Record yourself speaking for 1 to 2 minutes. Talk directly to the waiter. Explain the problems with your food and the bill, and ask them to fix it. Remember to use the vocabulary and expressions we studied today to be polite and clear.