🇩🇪 GermanA1–A2

German Restaurant and Café Phrases

This page uses the polite form you would normally use with restaurant or café staff in Germany. It helps you handle the full interaction: asking for a table, ordering naturally, checking ingredients or allergies, dealing with a mistake, paying, and leaving politely. You’ll also see the short replies you may hear from staff so you can understand and answer quickly.

Useful in real conversations

Essential German phrases

Arriving and getting a table

Phrases for asking whether a table is available, saying you have a reservation, and asking about seating.

Haben Sie einen Tisch frei?
Do you have a table available?
Einen Tisch für zwei, bitte.
A table for two, please.
Wir haben reserviert.
We have a reservation.
Können wir draußen sitzen?
Can we sit outside?
Wie lange ist die Wartezeit?
How long is the wait?

Ordering and making requests

Useful phrases for asking for the menu, ordering food, and making simple changes.

Ich hätte gern die Speisekarte, bitte.
I'd like the menu, please.
Ich hätte gern [dish], bitte.
I'd like [dish], please.
Was empfehlen Sie?
What do you recommend?
Ohne Zwiebeln, bitte.
No onions, please.
Können Sie das bitte ohne Käse machen?
Can you make that without cheese, please?

Dietary needs and problems

Phrases for allergies, ingredients, and fixing a mistake with the order.

Ich bin allergisch gegen Nüsse.
I am allergic to nuts.
Ist da Milch drin?
Is there milk in that?
Ist das vegetarisch?
Is that vegetarian?
Ist das vegan?
Is that vegan?
Ich esse kein Fleisch.
I don't eat meat.
Können Sie mir bitte helfen?
Can you help me, please?

Paying and leaving politely

Phrases for the bill, paying by card or separately, and ending the meal politely.

Die Rechnung, bitte.
The bill, please.
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Can I pay by card?
Kann ich getrennt bezahlen?
Can I pay separately?
Zusammen, bitte.
Together, please.
Auf Wiedersehen.
Goodbye.

Example conversations

Getting seated and starting to order

You arrive at a restaurant with one other person and want to get a table and start ordering.

You
Guten Tag, haben Sie einen Tisch frei?
Good day, do you have a table available?
Other person
Ja, gern. Für wie viele Personen?
Yes, of course. For how many people?
You
Für zwei, bitte. Wir haben reserviert.
For two, please. We have a reservation.
Other person
Wie ist der Name?
What name is it under?
You
Meyer. Können wir draußen sitzen?
Meyer. Can we sit outside?
Other person
Ja, natürlich. Folgen Sie mir bitte.
Yes, of course. Please follow me.
You
Was empfehlen Sie?
What do you recommend?
Other person
Der Apfelkuchen ist heute besonders gut.
The apple cake is especially good today.

Fixing a mistake and paying the bill

Your dish is wrong, you need to mention an allergy, and then you ask to pay separately.

You
Können Sie mir bitte helfen? Das habe ich nicht bestellt.
Can you help me, please? I didn't order this.
Other person
Oh, tut mir leid. Was hatten Sie bestellt?
Oh, sorry. What did you order?
You
Ich bin allergisch gegen Nüsse. Ich hätte gern den Salat, bitte, ohne Käse.
I am allergic to nuts. I'd like the salad, please, without cheese.
Other person
Natürlich. Ich bringe Ihnen gleich einen neuen.
Of course. I'll bring you a new one right away.
You
Die Rechnung, bitte.
The bill, please.
Other person
Gern. Zahlen Sie zusammen oder getrennt?
Sure. Will you pay together or separately?
You
Kann ich getrennt bezahlen?
Can I pay separately?
Other person
Ja, natürlich. Auf Wiedersehen.
Yes, of course. Goodbye.

A few things to know

polite by default

Use Sie-form questions with staff you do not know. Neutral short replies like Zusammen, bitte. are common at the table, but the safest default for a learner is polite wording throughout.

grammar

Softening requests with Ich hätte gern

"Ich hätte gern die Speisekarte, bitte." uses the conditional form hätte gern, which is the standard polite way to order or ask for something in a restaurant. It sounds natural with staff; "ich will" would sound too blunt in this setting.

grammar

Using ohne with ingredients

In phrases like "Ohne Zwiebeln, bitte." and "Können Sie das bitte ohne Käse machen?", ohne is followed directly by the ingredient name, with no article. This is the normal pattern for exclusions and allergy-friendly requests.

usage

Splitting the bill

If the server asks "Zusammen oder getrennt?", you can answer with just "Zusammen, bitte." or "Getrennt, bitte." German restaurant staff often use this short exchange instead of a longer sentence, so knowing both words helps you respond quickly.

Keep building your everyday vocabulary

German Introductions: Essential PhrasesGerman phrases for greeting someone, introducing yourself, asking basic questions, and ending a first conversation politely.How to Ask for Directions in GermanEveryday German for politely asking where a place is, understanding simple route directions, checking what you heard, and thanking the person who helped you.German Hotel and Accommodation PhrasesEssential German for hotel check-in, room questions, problem reports, and checkout in Germany.Essential German Shopping PhrasesEveryday shopping phrases in German for finding items, asking about price, size, and colour, trying things on, paying, and handling a simple exchange or return.German Public Transport PhrasesGerman phrases for getting around on buses and trains in Germany: finding the right service, buying a ticket, checking times and stops, making a transfer, and dealing with delays or confusion.

Put the phrases in context