Ordering food and drink
Order food and drink politely in a café with Can I have…? and I’d like…
In this lesson you will
- Order politely with Can I have…? / I’d like…
- Answer questions from staff
- Ask for the bill
Learn
Polite ordering: Can I have a latte, please? · I’d like a sandwich, please. (I’d like = I would like — more polite than I want.)
The staff may ask: What can I get you? · Anything else? · Eat in or take away? (US: For here or to go?) · What size — small, medium or large?
Answer: That’s all, thanks. · To take away, please. · A large one, please.
Offers: Would you like milk? — Yes, please. / No, thank you. Use Would you like…? to offer, and I’d like… to ask.
Examples
- Can I have a cappuccino and a croissant, please?
- I’d like a glass of orange juice.
- Would you like anything else? — No, that’s all, thanks.
- Eat in or take away? — Eat in, please.
- Could I have a receipt, please?
Vocabulary
order
ask for food or drink in a café or restaurant
take away
food or drink you take with you (UK); to go (US)
I’d like
I would like — a polite way to ask for something
a glass of
a drink in a glass
“a glass of water”
slice
a thin flat piece
“a slice of cake”
still / sparkling
water without / with bubbles
In real life
Ordering at the counter.
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Barista: Hi! What can I get you?
Customer: Can I have a flat white, please?
Barista: Sure. What size?
Customer: Small, please. And I’d like a slice of carrot cake.
Barista: Eat in or take away?
Customer: Eat in.
Barista: Anything else?
Customer: No, that’s all, thanks. How much is that?
Barista: That’s six pounds twenty.
Practice
The most polite way to order:
Listening: Two orders
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Barista: Next, please!
Woman: Hi. Could I have two teas and a hot chocolate?
Barista: Any food?
Woman: Yes, two chocolate muffins, please. To take away.
Barista: That’s eleven euros.
Man: And I’d like a sparkling water, please — a small bottle.
1.How many teas does the woman order?
2.The woman wants to eat in.
3.What does the man order?
Speaking
Order breakfast for you and a friend in a café. Answer the barista’s questions (size, eat in/take away, anything else) and ask how much it is.
Writing
Write the dialogue for ordering your favourite café drink and snack (6–10 lines).
Lesson quiz
___ you like some cake? (offer)
Review
Key points
- Can I have…? / Could I have…? / I’d like…
- Would you like…? — Yes, please / No, thank you.
- Eat in or take away? Anything else? That’s all, thanks.
What you learned
- ✓ I can order in a café.
- ✓ I can answer the staff’s questions.
- ✓ I can accept and refuse offers.
Grammar reference: Would like and want