Restaurant vocabulary shows up in TOEIC listening parts set in cafes and dining rooms, and in readings about catering and reviews. Learn the meaning, see it in a sentence, then test yourself.
The words
appetizer noun A small dish eaten before the main course.Each guest may choose one appetizer before the main course.
dessert noun Sweet food eaten at the end of a meal.We ordered cheesecake for dessert.
beverage noun Any kind of drink.The ticket price includes one hot beverage.
ingredient noun One of the foods used to make a dish.Fresh basil is the key ingredient in this sauce.
cuisine noun A style of cooking from a place or culture.The restaurant serves southern Italian cuisine.
caterer noun A company that supplies food for an event.The caterer will arrive two hours before the reception.
reserve verb To arrange for something to be kept for you.Please reserve a table for six at seven o'clock.
bake verb To cook food in an oven.They bake fresh bread every morning before opening.
serve verb To bring food or drink to someone.Waiters serve lunch from eleven to three.
order verb To ask for food or drink in a restaurant.Most regulars order the set lunch without looking at the menu.
delicious adjective Very good to taste.The grilled fish was delicious.
spicy adjective Containing strong, hot flavors.The curry is too spicy for me.
Memory trick
reserve is what you do before you arrive; order is what you do once you sit down. TOEIC likes to put both in the same restaurant conversation.
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A small dish eaten before the main course Each guest may choose one appetizer before the main course.
Sweet food eaten at the end of a meal We ordered cheesecake for dessert.
Any kind of drink The ticket price includes one hot beverage.
One of the foods used to make a dish Fresh basil is the key ingredient in this sauce.
A style of cooking from a place or culture The restaurant serves southern Italian cuisine.
A company that supplies food for an event The caterer will arrive two hours before the reception.
To arrange for something to be kept for you Please reserve a table for six at seven o'clock.
To cook food in an oven They bake fresh bread every morning before opening.
To bring food or drink to someone Waiters serve lunch from eleven to three.
To ask for food or drink in a restaurant Most regulars order the set lunch without looking at the menu.
Very good to taste The grilled fish was delicious.
Containing strong, hot flavors The curry is too spicy for me.
Test yourself
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