Back to Situations

Asking for Specials/Most Popular Dishes

A customer specifically asks the waiter about the restaurant's specials of the day or their most popular dishes.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
Sarah (Female)
Excuse me, could you tell me about your specials today?
2
John (Male)
Certainly! Our special today is the Pan-Seared Salmon with Lemon-Dill Sauce. It comes with a side of asparagus.
3
Sarah (Female)
Oh, that sounds delicious! And what about your most popular dishes? What do people usually order?
4
John (Male)
Our Classic Beef Burger and the Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken are always big hits. The Steak Frites is also a customer favorite.
5
Sarah (Female)
Hmm, tough choice. Is the salmon usually popular too, or is it more of a seasonal thing?
6
John (Male)
The salmon special changes daily, but it's always very well-received. If you like fish, you won't be disappointed.
7
Sarah (Female)
Okay, that helps. Thank you for the recommendations!
8
John (Male)
You're welcome! Let me know when you're ready to order.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

specials

Refers to the daily featured dishes in a restaurant that are often unique or limited-time offers. Use this word when asking about what's new or recommended that day.

delicious

Means very tasty or enjoyable to eat. It's a common compliment for food and helps express positive interest in a polite way.

popular

Means well-liked by many people. In restaurants, use it to ask about dishes that customers often choose, like 'most popular dishes'.

hits

Informal word for something very successful or popular, often used for food items that sell a lot. It's like saying 'big success' in a casual context.

favorite

Something preferred or liked the most. Use it to describe top customer choices, such as 'customer favorite', to show reliability.

tough choice

Means a difficult decision because options are all good. Common in situations like ordering food when everything sounds appealing.

recommendations

Suggestions or advice on what to choose. In dining, it's polite to thank someone for their 'recommendations' after getting menu tips.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Excuse me, could you tell me about your specials today?

This is a polite way to interrupt and ask for information. 'Could you' makes it a request, and 'specials' refers to daily featured items. Use it in restaurants to start a conversation with staff.

Oh, that sounds delicious!

An exclamation showing enthusiasm for food. 'Sounds' is used for opinions based on description. It's useful to express interest and keep the conversation positive when hearing suggestions.

What do people usually order?

A question asking for common choices. 'Usually' indicates habits or frequency. This pattern helps get practical advice on popular items without being too direct.

Our Classic Beef Burger and the Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken are always big hits.

This lists recommendations using 'and' to connect items. 'Always big hits' means consistently popular. Use this structure to suggest multiple options in service roles or to describe favorites.

Hmm, tough choice.

'Hmm' shows thinking, and 'tough choice' expresses difficulty in deciding. It's a natural filler sentence in casual talks, especially when options are appealing, to buy time or continue discussion.

If you like fish, you won't be disappointed.

A reassuring statement using conditional 'if' for advice. 'Won't be disappointed' means it will meet expectations. Useful for giving confident recommendations based on preferences.

Thank you for the recommendations!

A polite expression of gratitude. 'For the recommendations' specifies thanks for advice. Always use this to end helpful interactions nicely and show good manners.