English on the Move
Problems at a restaurant
The reservation
Maître d’: Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?
Michael: Yes, under the name Johnson. It was a table for four at 7.30.
Maître d’: I’m terribly sorry, sir, but I can’t find your reservation in our system.
Michael: That’s strange. I booked online about a week ago.
Maître d’: Perhaps you entered the wrong date, sir.
Michael: I thought I’d checked. But do you have a
table anyway?
Maître d’: We are fully booked tonight. But as luck would have it, we’ve just had a cancellation. So, we should be able to fit you and your party in, but it won’t be until eight o’clock.
Michael: That’s fine. Thank you for fitting us in. Maître d’: Perhaps you’d like to have a drink at the bar while you are waiting.
Ordering
Server: Are you ready for me to take your orders? Zara: May I ask you a quick question first, please? I’m gluten-intolerant. Is there anything I can eat on this menu? I’m particularly worried about cross-contamination. Server: I understand. I’m sure we can find something suitable. I’ll check with the chef. Michael: And could you please ask the chef about the seafood risotto? I’m allergic to clams. Does the risotto include those?
Server: I don’t think so, sir, but I’ll check.
Waiting for the main course
Jules: Those starters were great. Where did you find this place, Mike?
Michael: On a restaurant review website. It said that the food was good but that the service was not always the best.
Jules: So far, it’s lived up to its reputation. The starters were delicious, but it’s taking a very long time for the main course to come.
May: Perhaps the kitchen is struggling with our different dietary demands.
Zara: Any good kitchen should be able to manage that.
Michael: True. We went to a local restaurant last week, and every dish on the menu had symbols showing whether it was glutenor dairy-free, vegetarian or vegan.
Jules: Well, whatever the reason, we’ve been waiting half an hour now.
Michael: I’ll find out what’s happening… Excuse me. Could you check on our orders, please? It’s been quite a while.
Server: I’m sorry you’ve been kept waiting. Your food will be here shortly.
The main course
Server: The pork loin for you, sir, and the cod for you, madam. This is the gluten-free chicken dish. And here’s the seafood risotto. Michael: Thank you. It looks delicious.
May: This cod is cooked perfectly.
Jules: And the sauce on the pork is delicious. Michael: Oh, no! This risotto has clams in it!
Zara: No! After you specifically asked about it. Michael: I’ll call the server over… I’m afraid this dish contains clams. I’ll have to send it back. Server: I do apologize, sir. There must have been a misunderstanding. I’ll tell the chef immediately. I’ll bring some more bread while you are waiting.
***
Maître d’: Here’s your risotto without clams, sir. As there were some delays in serving you and a mix-up about your order, I would like to offer you a dessert, on the house.