English - Cafe & Restaurant

Lesson 103 of 139

A friendly cafe counter scene to learn ordering and payment phrases in English.

Goal: Ordering, bills, and asking questions at a cafe

Free English lessons with audio, guided practice, and speaking support.

Welcome! Ready for a friendly, useful lesson for real cafe moments. This short lesson focuses on phrases you can use when ordering, asking about the menu, and paying.

Level A2: Lesson 103 introduces polite, practical cafe and restaurant phrases you will hear and use at counters and tables. You will practice eight real-life chunks — from asking “What's in the ___?” to requesting the check and pointing out billing problems. This CEFR-aligned lesson is focused, friendly, and designed to get you speaking in simple, confident steps.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Level A2: Recognize and use eight common cafe/restaurant phrases in real situations.
  • Ask about menu items and ask for more time before ordering.
  • Finish orders politely, ask for the check, and handle simple billing problems.
Close-up of a server listening to a customer — perfect for practicing cafe questions and short phrases.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

That's all for now, thanks.

finish ordering

Meaning: Finish ordering

When to use: Use this polite phrase when you are done telling the server your choices.

Tip: Some learners say only "That's all"—adding "for now" or "thanks" sounds more natural and polite.

That's all for now, thanks.
That's all for now, thanks.
That's all for now, thanks.
That's all for now, thanks.

I think there's a mistake on the bill.

point out a billing problem

Meaning: Point out a billing problem

When to use: Use this phrase to politely tell staff there is an error on your bill.

Tip: Avoid sounding too blunt. Starting with "I think" makes it polite and less confrontational.

I think there's a mistake on the bill.
I think there's a mistake on the bill.
I think there's a mistake on the bill — this item wasn't ours.
I think there's a mistake on the bill — this item wasn't ours.

We need a few more minutes.

Ask for more time before ordering

Meaning: Ask for more time before ordering

When to use: Say this when you and your group are not ready to order and need the server to come back.

We need a few more minutes.
We need a few more minutes.
We need a few more minutes, please.
We need a few more minutes, please.

Could we get the check, please?

Ask for the bill at the end of a meal

Meaning: Ask for the bill at the end of a meal

When to use: Use this polite request when you are ready to pay.

Could we get the check, please?
Could we get the check, please?
Could we get the check, please?
Could we get the check, please?

What's in the ___?

Ask about the ingredients or contents of a menu item

Meaning: Ask about the ingredients or contents of a menu item

When to use: Use this frame to ask what is inside a specific dish or drink. Replace the blank with the item.

What's in the quiche?
What's in the quiche?
What's in the salad?
What's in the salad?

For here or to go?

Ask whether an order is for eating in or taking away

Meaning: Ask whether an order is for eating in or taking away

When to use: This short question is common at counters to check if the customer will eat there or take food away.

Tip: Learners sometimes answer with unclear words like "eat"—a natural reply is simply "For here, please" or "To go, please."

For here or to go?
For here or to go?
For here or to go?
For here or to go?

Where do I pay?

Ask where payment should be made

Meaning: Ask where payment should be made

When to use: Use this when it's unclear whether to pay at the table or at the counter.

Where do I pay?
Where do I pay?
Excuse me — where do I pay?
Excuse me — where do I pay?

Can we take this to go?

Ask if a food order can be taken away

Meaning: Ask if a food order can be taken away

When to use: Use this when you want to take food home or ask to pack leftovers.

Can we take this to go?
Can we take this to go?
Can we take the rest to go?
Can we take the rest to go?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and a server decide and pay at a cafe table.

Two people at a cafe table discussing menu items and asking for the check — a real-life listening practice scene.

What menu item does Anna ask about?

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

We need a few more minutes.

We need a few more minutes.

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

No problem. Anything you want to ask now?

No problem. Anything you want to ask now?

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

What's in the quiche?

What's in the quiche?

Portrait of David in a English lesson dialogue

David

It's eggs, spinach, and cheese. For here or to go?

It's eggs, spinach, and cheese. For here or to go?

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

For here, please. That's all for now, thanks.

For here, please. That's all for now, thanks.

Portrait of Anna in a English lesson dialogue

Anna

Could we get the check, please? I think there's a mistake on the bill.

Could we get the check, please? I think there's a mistake on the bill.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means you are finished ordering?

Which phrase would you use to ask for the bill?

If you want to take your food home, which question fits best?

Which phrase is best to politely report an error on your receipt?

After finishing their meal, Maria calls the server: "Could we get the check, please?"

After finishing their meal, Maria calls the server: "_____"

At the counter, after choosing, Jamal says, "That's all for now, thanks."

At the counter, after choosing, Jamal says, "_____"

When Lisa sees an extra charge on her receipt she says, "I think there's a mistake on the bill."

When Lisa sees an extra charge on her receipt she says, "_____"

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

That's all for now, thanks.

finish ordering

Say this phrase out loud:

I think there's a mistake on the bill.

point out a billing problem

Say this phrase out loud:

We need a few more minutes.

ask for more time before ordering

Say this phrase out loud:

Could we get the check, please?

ask for the bill at the end of a meal

Say this phrase out loud:

What's in the ___?

ask about the ingredients or contents of a menu item

Say this phrase out loud:

For here or to go?

ask whether an order is for eating in or taking away

Say this phrase out loud:

Where do I pay?

ask where payment should be made

Say this phrase out loud:

Can we take this to go?

ask if a food order can be taken away