SPEAKING
Speaking Test Model Answers
2. Restaurants
Restaurants and food are topics that appear in IELTS speaking time and time again. In speaking part 1 you may be asked about your routine eating habits, while in part 2 you may be asked about an experience at a restaurant.
1. Do you like to eat at restaurants?
Yes, I do, I eat out quite regularly. I have a busy schedule, so I don’t have much energy or time to cook homemade food and it’s more convenient to grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant.
2. What is your favourite restaurant?
My favourite restaurant is an Italian place that serves mouthwatering pasta dishes. The ambiance is warm and cosy, and the service is always impeccable.
3. Why do people like to go to restaurants?
I think people like restaurants for two main reasons. Firstly, they can enjoy a special culinary experience they can’t easily get at home and secondly, they don’t need to go shopping, cook or wash up.
4. What types of food are popular in your country?
When people cook at home they tend to cook traditional local recipes. But when people dine out, they usually choose European cuisines, like Italian or French, especially if they want fine dining.
5. Do you often have dinner with your family or friends?
Absolutely, going for dinner is a great way to spend quality time with friends and family. I get together with friends for dinner every week or two. As for my family, we don’t meet up so often as we live far away from each other, but meals together are important when we get together for special occasions and holidays.
6. Do you ever eat fast food?
I don’t eat fast food that often. I know fast food contains a lot of unhealthy ingredients, artificial flavourings and preservatives. If I’m in a rush I usually prefer to buy a salad or a wrap from a supermarket.
7. What kind of new food would you like to try?
That’s a good question. It would be interesting to try something from a new Georgian restaurant in my area as I‘ve seen several pictures of their specialties on Instagram recently and they look amazing.
8. Are there any good restaurants in your town?
Well, there aren’t too many fine dining options but there are several good mid-range options if you want to dine out without spending a fortune.
PART 1
Listen:
Model Answer:
The restaurant I enjoyed going to was called "Chez Henri," which is a popular French restaurant located in the town centre. I dined out there one evening with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday.
The restaurant had a wide selection of traditional French dishes you could order a la carte, but it also offered a set menu which was really good value for money. I ordered the set menu with onion soup as the starter and coq au vin as the main course. Coq au vin was one of their specialties and it’s a dish made with chicken stewed in red wine. I remember that the chicken was lovely and tender. I also had an appetiser and my friends and I also had a salad as a side dish as we were obviously hungry! Because we were celebrating we also ordered a few bottles of the house wine to share.
What made the restaurant stand out was not only the delicious food but also the ambience and the impeccable service. The interior was nicely decorated, and there were white tablecloths and expensive looking cutlery on the tables. The waitress who served us was super friendly and attentive, and made the experience really enjoyable. As it was my birthday, I decided that the dinner was on me, but my friends left our waitress a pretty big tip at the end, so she was very happy.
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
Listen:
PART 3
1. Do you think people eat too much fast food these days?
Yes, I do think that people eat too much fast food these days. Fast food contains a lot of unhealthy ingredients, artificial flavourings and preservatives so it can be really detrimental to your health if you eat it regularly. The truth is, you can’t meet your dietary needs with fast food. Even though it tastes great, there just aren’t enough vitamins and nutrients in it.
2. How can a restaurant attract more customers?
The best way a restaurant can draw in more customers is by providing mouthwatering food, excellent customer service, and an attractive ambiance. If it does all this, news of the restaurant’s quality will almost certainly spread through online reviews, and more importantly via word of mouth. What’s more, they can promote themselves through social media, and advertise their special features, perhaps things like locally sourced ingredients, popular specialties, or reasonably priced set menus.
3. Are expensive restaurants always better than cheap restaurants?
Well there are some advantages to fine dining. Usually, you can be confident that expensive restaurants are hygienic, and the service is usually impeccable. Also, if you want to wine and dine your partner on a special occasion, expensive restaurants are usually a bit more special. But it is also possible to find excellent, cheaper dining options that offer really delicious food and excellent value for money. Many of my favourite restaurants are not expensive, and the staff are still courteous, the food is great, and besides that, the portions are big, so if you’ve worked up an appetite, they’re ideal.
4. Why do some people prefer to eat at home rather than eat at a restaurant?
Some people prefer to eat at home as they have more control over what goes into their food. They can make sure that there are no unhealthy ingredients, artificial flavourings or preservatives in their dishes. Also, people who have special dietary needs, such as athletes or people with illnesses, might prefer to eat at home to ensure they get the food they need. Finally, some people are just fussy, and it’s easier for them to prepare their own food so they can eat exactly what they like.
5. Do you think people will cook at home less in the future?
It's hard to say for certain, but there does seem to be a trend towards cooking less and dining out or getting food deliveries more often. Perhaps it’s because people have very busy lives and don’t have as much time to go shopping and to cook as in the past. So if this trend continues, people in the future probably will eat out more and cook less themselves.
6. Should governments check the quality of food in restaurants?
Yes, I believe that governments should play a role in inspecting and regulating the hospitality industry. They can make sure that restaurant kitchens are hygienic so that customers are safe and won’t get sick. It’s also important that if a restaurant claims to be able to meet special dietary requirements, such as producing halal, vegan or gluten-free food, it really does this. Government agencies are the only organisations who have the authority to really verify this.
Listen:
VOCABULARY
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.
