🇬🇷 GreekA1–A2

Greek Restaurant and Café Phrases

Use this page to handle a full restaurant or café interaction in Greek, from arriving to paying the bill. The phrases focus on polite, modern wording that works well with staff in Greece. You’ll learn how to ask for a table, order food and drinks, explain what you can’t eat, ask for help, and leave politely.

Useful in real conversations

Essential Greek phrases

Arriving and getting a table

Ask for a table, mention a reservation, and handle waiting or seating preferences.

Καλησπέρα. Έχετε τραπέζι για δύο;
Romanization: Kalispera. Ehete trapezi gia dyo?
Good evening. Do you have a table for two?
Έχω κράτηση στο όνομα [name].
Romanization: Echo kratisi sto onoma [name].
I have a reservation under [name].
Πόση ώρα θα περιμένουμε;
Romanization: Posi ora tha perimenoume?
How long will we have to wait?
Μπορούμε να καθίσουμε μέσα/έξω;
Romanization: Boroume na kathisoume mesa/exo?
Can we sit inside/outside?

Ordering food and drinks

Order politely, ask for the menu, and make simple requests at the table.

Μπορώ να δω το μενού, παρακαλώ;
Romanization: Boro na do to menou, parakalo?
Can I see the menu, please?
Τι μας προτείνετε;
Romanization: Ti mas proteinete?
What do you recommend?
Θα ήθελα αυτό, παρακαλώ.
Romanization: Tha ithela afto, parakalo.
I'd like this, please.
Θα θέλαμε δύο καφέδες και ένα μπουκάλι νερό.
Romanization: Tha thelame dyo kafedes kai ena mpoukali nero.
We'd like two coffees and a bottle of water.
Χωρίς πάγο, παρακαλώ.
Romanization: Horis pago, parakalo.
No ice, please.

Dietary needs and problems

Explain allergies, ingredients you avoid, and when something is wrong with the order.

Είμαι αλλεργικός/ή στο [food].
Romanization: Eimai allergikos/i sto [food].
I'm allergic to [food].
Δεν τρώω κρέας.
Romanization: Den troo kreas.
I don't eat meat.
Αυτό έχει γαλακτοκομικά;
Romanization: Afto ehei galaktokomika?
Does this have dairy?
Μπορείτε να το φτιάξετε χωρίς [ingredient];
Romanization: Borite na to ftiaxete horis [ingredient]?
Can you make it without [ingredient]?
Αυτό δεν είναι αυτό που παρήγγειλα.
Romanization: Afto den ine afto pou pariggeila.
This isn't what I ordered.

Paying and leaving

Ask for the bill, pay by card, and close the interaction politely.

Θέλουμε τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ.
Romanization: Theloume ton logariasmo, parakalo.
We'd like the bill, please.
Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα;
Romanization: Boro na pliroso me karta?
Can I pay by card?
Μπορούμε να πληρώσουμε, παρακαλώ;
Romanization: Boroume na plirosoume, parakalo?
Can we pay, please?
Κρατήστε τα ρέστα.
Romanization: Kratiste ta resta.
Keep the change.
Ευχαριστούμε πολύ. Καλή σας βραδιά.
Romanization: Efharistoume poli. Kali sas vradia.
Thank you very much. Have a good evening.

Example conversations

Arriving and getting seated

A restaurant host greets you and shows you to a table.

You
Καλησπέρα. Έχετε τραπέζι για δύο;
Kalispera. Ehete trapezi gia dyo?
Good evening. Do you have a table for two?
Other person
Ναι, βεβαίως. Από εδώ, παρακαλώ.
Ne, veveos. Apo edo, parakalo.
Yes, certainly. This way, please.
You
Μπορούμε να καθίσουμε έξω;
Boroume na kathisoume exo?
Can we sit outside?
Other person
Βεβαίως. Καθίστε εδώ, παρακαλώ.
Veveos. Kathiste edo, parakalo.
Of course. Please sit here.
You
Μπορώ να δω το μενού, παρακαλώ;
Boro na do to menou, parakalo?
Can I see the menu, please?
Other person
Βεβαίως. Όταν είστε έτοιμοι, μου λέτε.
Veveos. Otan iste etimoi, mou lete.
Of course. When you're ready, let me know.

Dietary needs and paying

You need to check an ingredient, ask for a modification, and then pay.

You
Αυτό το πιάτο έχει γαλακτοκομικά;
Afto to piato ehei galaktokomika?
Does this dish have dairy?
Other person
Ναι, έχει λίγο τυρί.
Ne, ehei ligo tyri.
Yes, it has a little cheese.
You
Είμαι αλλεργικός/ή στο [food]. Μπορείτε να το φτιάξετε χωρίς [ingredient];
Eimai allergikos/i sto [food]. Borite na to ftiaxete horis [ingredient]?
I'm allergic to [food]. Can you make it without [ingredient]?
Other person
Βεβαίως, θα το πούμε στην κουζίνα.
Veveos, tha to poume stin kouzina.
Of course, we'll tell the kitchen.
You
Μπορούμε να πληρώσουμε, παρακαλώ;
Boroume na plirosoume, parakalo?
Can we pay, please?
Other person
Φυσικά. Θέλετε τον λογαριασμό;
Fisika. Thelete ton logariasmo?
Of course. Would you like the bill?
You
Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα;
Boro na pliroso me karta?
Can I pay by card?
Other person
Ναι, φυσικά. Ευχαριστούμε πολύ.
Ne, fisika. Efharistoume poli.
Yes, of course. Thank you very much.

A few things to know

polite by default

Use the polite plural with staff in Greece: έχετε, θέλετε, μπορείτε, θα θέλαμε. It is the safest and most natural default with unfamiliar people in restaurants and cafés.

grammar

Use στο and χωρίς for ingredients

When you mention an ingredient or food item, Greek often uses στο / χωρίς + noun, such as στο φιστίκι or χωρίς κρεμμύδι. Replace the placeholder with the exact food you need to mention.

culture

Ask for the bill explicitly

In many Greek restaurants and cafés, staff may not bring the bill until you ask. Θέλουμε τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ is a normal and expected way to do that.

Keep building your everyday vocabulary

Greek Introductions: Essential PhrasesLearn how to greet someone, introduce yourself, exchange basic personal information, and close a first conversation naturally in modern Greek.How to Ask for Directions in GreekLearn the Greek phrases you need to ask where a place is, understand simple directions, clarify what you heard, and thank the person helping you.Greek Hotel and Accommodation PhrasesGreek hotel phrases for check-in, room questions, repair requests, and checkout in Greece.Essential Greek Shopping PhrasesPractical Greek for shopping in Greece: asking for help, finding an item, checking price, size, and colour, trying things on, paying, and handling a simple exchange or return.Greek Public Transport PhrasesGreek for getting around by bus, train, or metro in Greece: finding the right service, buying a ticket, checking times and stops, and asking for help if something goes wrong.

Put the phrases in context