Initial Recommendation Request
A customer, unsure what to order, asks the waiter for a general recommendation from the menu.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
recommend
To suggest something as a good choice, often used when giving advice on food or products in a restaurant.
popular
Something that many people like or choose, like a dish that sells well.
dishes
Prepared food items or meals served in a restaurant, plural of 'dish'.
grilled
Cooked on a grill over heat, often for meats or fish to give a smoky flavor.
stir-fry
A quick cooking method where ingredients are fried in a wok with constant stirring, common in Asian cuisine.
lighter
Less heavy or rich in calories, used to describe food that's easier to digest.
savory
Having a salty or spicy flavor, not sweet, often for hearty meals.
filling
Food that makes you feel full and satisfied, good for when you're hungry.
flavorful
Full of strong, pleasant taste, describing delicious and tasty food.
crowd-pleaser
Something that most people enjoy, like a popular dish everyone likes.
convinced
Persuaded to believe or choose something after hearing reasons.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Excuse me, I'm finding it hard to choose. What do you recommend today?
This polite way to ask for help starts with 'Excuse me' to get attention, and uses present continuous 'finding it hard' to express current difficulty. Useful for beginners in restaurants when unsure about ordering.
Certainly! Our most popular dishes are the grilled salmon and the beef stir-fry.
'Certainly' means 'of course' for polite agreement. This sentence lists recommendations using 'are' for plural subjects. Great for waiters suggesting top choices to customers.
Oh, that sounds good. Are they very different?
'Sounds good' is a casual way to show interest. The question uses 'are they' for plural items and 'very different' to compare. Helpful for asking about options to make a decision.
Yes, quite different. The salmon is a lighter option, served with seasonal vegetables.
'Quite different' means significantly different, a common intensifier. This describes food using 'is a...option' structure. Useful for explaining menu items in detail.
Hmm, I'm leaning towards something a bit more filling.
'Leaning towards' means preferring slightly, and 'a bit more' softens the comparison. This expresses a gentle preference for satisfying food, ideal when narrowing down choices.
Many say it's incredibly flavorful and satisfying. It's definitely a crowd-pleaser.
'Incredibly' intensifies adjectives like 'flavorful' (tasty) and 'satisfying' (filling). 'Crowd-pleaser' praises popularity. Good for giving positive feedback based on customer opinions.
Alright, you've convinced me. I'll go with the beef stir-fry, please.
'You've convinced me' means persuaded successfully. 'I'll go with' is a casual way to decide on something. Essential for confirming an order politely in a restaurant.
Excellent choice! Coming right up.
'Excellent choice' compliments the decision. 'Coming right up' means the food will arrive soon. A friendly waiter response to end the interaction positively.