Topic specific advanced vocabulary for restaurants and food that will help you in all 4 parts of IELTS
The IELTS reading and listening tests really check your range of vocabulary. Many of the questions test if you can find synonyms in the reading text or listening audio.
Furthermore, if you want to reach the high bands in IELTS speaking and writing you'll need to use topic specific vocabulary. This means you need vocabulary that is directly connected to the topic you are discussing. In fact, a big part of improving from the B1 to C1 level or from bands 5 to 7 in IELTS, is learning a wider range of vocabulary which allows you to read, listen, speak and write about different topics more effectively.
Restaurants and food is a particularly common topic in IELTS speaking. You might be asked questions in parts 1, 2 or 3, for example:
Speaking Part 1:
Do you like to eat at restaurants?
Do you ever eat fast food?
What kind of new food would you like to try?
Speaking Part 2:
Describe a restaurant you enjoyed going to.
You should say:
where the restaurant was
who you went with
what type of food you ate in this restaurant
and explain why you thought the restaurant was good
Speaking Part 3:
Do you think people eat too much fast food these days?
Do you think people will cook at home less in the future?
Should governments check the quality of food in restaurants?
For more examples of speaking questions about restaurants and food go here.
So, to help you improve your vocabulary around restaurants and food, here are 20 advanced words and phrases for the topic.
To listen to an audio recording and for practice exercises go here.
To practise the vocabulary with flashcards on Quizlet go here.
20 Advanced words & phrases for restaurants and food:
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.
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