Calling to Order or Inquire About a Pickup Order
A customer calls a restaurant directly to place a takeout order, inquire about a previous pickup order, or confirm its readiness for pickup.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
pickup
In this context, 'pickup' means collecting your food order from the restaurant yourself, instead of having it delivered. It's commonly used in takeout services.
order
An 'order' is a request to buy food or items from a menu. In restaurants, you place an order to get what you want to eat.
ready
'Ready' means prepared and available for use or collection. Here, it refers to the food being finished cooking and set for pickup.
spell out
To 'spell out' something means to say or write the letters of a word one by one. It's useful when confirming names over the phone to avoid mistakes.
last name
Your 'last name' is your family name or surname, like Johnson in the dialogue. It's important for identifying orders accurately.
kitchen
The 'kitchen' is the area in a restaurant where food is prepared and cooked. When something 'comes out of the kitchen,' it means it's freshly made.
on the way
'On the way' means traveling or heading towards a place. Use this phrase to tell someone you're approaching your destination.
counter
A 'counter' is a long table or surface in a store or restaurant where customers pick up items or pay. In this case, it's the pickup counter for orders.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hi, I placed an order for pickup about 20 minutes ago under the name Sarah. I was wondering if it's ready yet?
This sentence introduces the purpose of the call politely. 'I was wondering if' is a soft way to ask a question, making it polite. Use this when inquiring about order status to sound courteous.
Let me check for you, Sarah. Can you spell out your last name for me, please?
This is a helpful response from service staff. 'Let me check' offers assistance, and 'spell out' ensures clarity. It's useful for customer service roles or when confirming details over the phone.
Sure, it's Johnson. J-O-H-N-S-O-N.
This shows how to spell a name clearly. Use this pattern when giving personal information to avoid confusion, especially in English where names can be tricky to pronounce.
Your order just came out of the kitchen. It should be ready for pickup in about 5 minutes.
This updates the customer on progress. 'It should be' expresses expectation. Useful for giving time estimates in service situations to manage expectations.
I'm actually just a couple of minutes away. I'll be there soon.
'A couple of minutes' means a short time, like two. 'Actually' adds emphasis. Say this when you're close to arriving, to reassure the other person.
We'll have it ready for you at the pickup counter. Just look for the 'online orders' sign.
This gives clear instructions. 'We'll have it ready' promises preparation. Use this to guide customers on where to go, helping them navigate the location easily.
Okay, thanks so much! You're welcome! See you soon.
These are polite closing phrases. 'Thanks so much' shows strong gratitude, and 'See you soon' is a friendly goodbye. Essential for ending conversations positively in service interactions.