Restaurants Advanced Topic Vocabulary
VOCABULARY
Audio File
Topic Vocabulary & Exercises
Topic Vocabulary:
ambience (adjective):
Definition: The mood or atmosphere of a place.
Example: This restaurant has great food and a wonderful ambience.
appetiser (noun [c]):
Definition: A small dish or snack served before the main course of a meal to stimulate the appetite.
Example: Before the main course, they served delicious appetisers like spring rolls and chicken wings.
artificial flavourings (phrase):
Definition: Man-made taste added to food to enhance its flavour.
Example: This ice cream has artificial flavourings that give it a sweeter taste.
be on me (idiom):
Definition: A phrase used to express that the speaker will pay for something, typically a meal or drinks.
Example: Don't worry about the bill; dinner is on me tonight.
courteous (adjective):
Definition: Polite, showing good manners and respectful behaviour towards others.
Example: The waiter was courteous and always smiled while taking our orders.
cuisine (noun [u]):
Definition: A type of cooking or style of food.
Example: French cuisine is known for its rich sauces and fresh ingredients.
culinary (adjective):
Definition: Related to cooking and eating.
Example: She has a wealth of culinary experiences from travelling the world.
cutlery (noun [u]):
Definition: Knives, forks, and spoons used for eating.
Example: Set the table with the cutlery and plates.
dietary (adjective):
Definition: Related to what a person or animal can eat.
Example: She has dietary restrictions due to her lactose intolerance.
dine out (phrasal verb):
Definition: Eat a meal at a restaurant or other eating establishment, rather than at home.
Example: They decided to dine out at a new restaurant to celebrate their anniversary.
fine dining (uncountable noun):
Definition: A style of restaurant service that emphasises high-quality and a sophisticated atmosphere.
Example: For our wedding anniversary, my partner and I enjoyed a delicious meal at a fine dining restaurant.
grab a bite to eat (idiom):
Definition: To quickly get something to eat, often a light or casual meal.
Example: I'm feeling hungry; let's grab a bite to eat at the nearby cafe.
hospitality industry (noun phrase):
Definition: Businesses that provide services such as hotel accommodation, food and drink, and tourism.
Example: The hospitality industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
hygienic (adjective):
Definition: Clean, promoting good health and preventing the spread of diseases.
Example: The restaurant's kitchen wasn't hygienic, and some customers got food poisoning.
impeccable (adjective):
Definition: Without any mistakes or faults; perfect.
Example: Sarah's presentation was impeccable, she didn't make any mistakes while speaking.
mouthwatering (adjective):
Definition: Appearing delicious and causing a strong desire to eat or drink.
Example: The smell of fresh baked cookies was mouthwatering.
preservative (noun [c]):
Definition: A substance added to food to stop it from going off.
Example: He avoids food with preservatives because they are unhealthy.
set menu (noun phrase):
Definition: A fixed selection of dishes offered by a restaurant for a fixed price, usually with two or three courses.
Example: The set menu included three courses and wasn't expensive at all.
source (verb):
Definition: To find the materials needed to make something.
Example: She sources only the freshest ingredients for her dishes.
specialty (noun [c]):
Definition: A dish that a restaurant is particularly known for and that is a standout offering on its menu.
Example: The restaurant's specialty dish is its seafood paella, made with fresh, locally caught fish.
Exercise 1: Fill the gaps with the appropriate word(s) from the list below
1. The restaurant has been awarded two ____________ for its exceptional cuisine and service.
2. This restaurant is ____________, so it’s not cheap but it’s not extremely expensive either.
3. The staff were really ____________ and made sure their customer’s food and drinks were served quickly.
4. The ____________ French dish of beef bourguignon is a staple in French cuisine.
5. I love eating at this Italian restaurant because the food is ____________; it tastes like it's straight from Italy.
6. The restaurant's menu features a ____________ of Asian and Latin American flavours.
7. The nice decorations and music gave the restaurant a wonderful ____________.
8. The restaurant is known for its use of ____________ ingredients which are grown in the farms surrounding the town.
9. It’s not surprising that customers often leave tips for the waiting staff as the service is always ___________.
a. ambience
b. attentive
c. authentic
d. classic
e. fusion
f. impeccable
g. locally sourced
h. Michelin stars
i. mid-range
Exercise 2: Match sentence halves
Match the sentence halves 1 - 9 with the appropriate answers a - i.
1. You can choose from our a-la-carte menu or
2. The restaurant was famous for
3. The office workers went to the sandwich shop
4. These days young people prefer to dine out
5. The restaurant's popularity grew through
6. He was confused when he saw
7. The restaurant had a separate menu
8. After she moved abroad she
9. During the pandemic many people
a. for people with dietary restrictions.
b. word of mouth recommendations.
c. go for one of our set menus.
d. in the hospitality industry lost their jobs
e. to grab a bite to eat
f. struggled with the local cuisine
g. so much cutlery on the table.
h. rather than cook at home
i. its mouthwatering seafood dishes.
Exercise 3: Gap-fill exercise
Choose the appropriate word or phrase to fill each gap.
Preparing food at home is often a healthier option. Cooking at home allows you to 1___________ ingredients yourself, which means that you can be sure about their quality. While in a restaurant the 2___________ may use cheap and unhealthy ingredients, or use 3___________ to try to make dishes more tasty, at home the cook can select fresh ingredients, and avoid using too much sugar, salt, or highly 4___________ foods. In this way, preparing food at home ensures that the meal is healthier and more 5___________. Furthermore, at home a person can guarantee that their food is prepared in a 6__________ way. When eating out, it’s not easy to confirm the standards of cleanliness in the restaurant kitchen. This means that although restaurant food may be extremely tasty, there’s a higher chance of getting 7__________.
nutritious
source
artificial flavourings
food poisoning
cooks
processed
hygienic
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Read and listen to speaking test model answers using this vocabulary
Vocabulary Answer Key:
Exercise 1: 1h, 2i, 3b, 4d, 5c, 6e, 7a, 8g, 9f
Exercise 2: 1c, 2i, 3e, 4h, 5b, 6g, 7a, 8f, 9d
Exercise 3: 1. source, 2. cooks, 3. artificial flavourings, 4. processed, 5. nutritious, 6. hygienic, 7. food poisoning