Initial Reservation Call
The customer calls the restaurant to make a dinner reservation for a specific date and time, providing the party size.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
reservation
A booking or arrangement made in advance for a service, like a table at a restaurant. Use it when you want to secure a spot ahead of time.
dinner
The main evening meal. In restaurant contexts, it refers to the evening dining service, often starting around 6 or 7 PM.
date
A specific day in the calendar, like February 10th. When making plans, always specify the date to avoid confusion.
party
In this context, it means the number of people in your group, not a celebration. Say 'party of four' for four people dining together.
availability
The state of having open spots or times free. Restaurants check availability to confirm if they can take your booking.
table
A piece of furniture with a flat top for eating, but in reservations, it means a seating area for your group at the restaurant.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
I'd like to make a dinner reservation, please.
This is a polite way to start a call for booking. Use 'I'd like to' for formal requests; it's useful for any service reservation to sound courteous.
For what date and time would you like the reservation?
A question to gather details. 'Would you like' is polite for inquiries; practice this pattern for asking preferences in customer service.
It's for this Saturday, February 10th, at 7:00 PM.
Specifies the day, date, and time clearly. Use 'this Saturday' for upcoming days; include full details to prevent misunderstandings in bookings.
How many people will be in your party?
Asks for group size. 'Will be' indicates future; this is a standard question in reservations—respond with 'A party of [number]' for clarity.
There will be four of us.
States the number of people. 'There will be' is future tense; 'of us' includes the speaker—useful for personal group bookings.
We do have availability at that time.
Confirms a spot is open. 'Do have' emphasizes yes; say this to reassure customers—practice for positive responses in service roles.
Could I get a name for the reservation?
Requests the booker's name politely. 'Could I' is a soft way to ask; essential for identifying reservations at check-in.
A table for four under the name John Smith.
Summarizes the booking. 'Under the name' means reserved in that person's name; repeat details to confirm—great for avoiding errors.