Asking for the Menu

menu

A list of food and drinks you can order at a restaurant.

• Can you bring me the menu, please?
• I looked at the menu and decided on a salad.
• The dessert menu has many choices.

waiter

A person who serves food and drinks at a restaurant.

• The waiter took our order.
• Excuse me, waiter! Can we get some water?
• The waiter was very nice and helpful.

❌ Saying 'Give me menu' instead of 'Can I have a menu, please?'

✅ Always use 'Can I have...' or 'Could I have...' and add 'please' to be polite.

'Give me...' can sound like a command, which is not polite. Adding a phrase like 'Can I have' and 'please' makes your request friendly and respectful.

❌ Using 'the' menu instead of 'a' menu when asking for it the first time.

✅ Use 'a menu' when asking for one for the first time. Use 'the menu' if you are referring to a specific one, like a dessert menu.

'A' is for a general thing, like 'a' menu. 'The' is for a specific thing, like 'the' menu you just looked at.

apologies

A formal way to say 'sorry'.

• My apologies for the delay.
• She gave her apologies for not attending the meeting.
• The waiter offered his apologies for the mistake.

certainly

Without a doubt; surely. A polite way to say 'yes' or 'of course'.

• Can you help me? Certainly.
• Certainly, I'll bring the drinks now.
• The manager said he would certainly look into the problem.

❌ Using 'I'm sorry' instead of 'My apologies' in a more formal setting.

✅ While 'I'm sorry' is always correct, using 'My apologies' is slightly more formal and is common in the service industry.

Both phrases are polite, but 'My apologies' sounds more professional and is often used by staff members when they make a mistake.

❌ Asking for 'the menu' when you need multiple menus for a group.

✅ If you're with a group, you can say 'Could we get some menus?' or 'Can you bring us the menus?'

Using 'menus' (plural) is more specific when you're asking for more than one. This helps the waiter know exactly what you need.

provide

To give or supply something.

• The hotel can provide a shuttle service to the airport.
• Could you provide me with a list of ingredients?
• The restaurant aims to provide excellent service.

patience

The ability to stay calm and not get angry when things take a long time.

• The waiter thanked the customer for their patience.
• I appreciate your patience while I find your reservation.
• He needs to have a little more patience.

❌ Using 'give' or 'bring' instead of 'provide.'

✅ 'Provide' is a more formal and professional verb. Use it when you want to sound very polite and formal.

In advanced English, you have more choices for verbs. 'Provide' is a great choice in a formal restaurant setting because it sounds more sophisticated and less demanding than 'give' or 'bring.'

❌ Not using a full polite phrase before a request.

✅ Use phrases like 'Could you please...' or 'If it's not too much trouble...' to frame your requests politely.

These long-form polite phrases are a hallmark of advanced English fluency. They show a high level of respect and social awareness, which is important in many professional and formal settings.