Eating and drinking on holiday
Essen und Trinken – Eating and drinking
Question
How would you ask these useful questions in German?
- How can I help you?
- Do you have a table free?
- For how many people?
- What would you like to eat and drink?
- May I bring you dessert?
- Could we pay please?
Wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?– How can I help you?
Haben Sie einen Tisch frei?– Do you have a table free?
Für wie viele Personen?– For how many people?
Was möchten Sie essen und trinken?– What would you like to eat and drink?
Darf ich Ihnen einen Nachtisch bringen?– May I bring you dessert?
Können wir bitte zahlen?– Could we pay please?
Question
Help Robert take part in a conversation with a Kellnerin (a waitress) at a restaurant. Robert does not know the waitress, so remember to use Sie to address her.
Kellnerin: Guten Abend wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?
Robert: Ask if they have any free tables.
Kellnerin: Ja, wie viele Personen sind Sie?
Robert: Say there are four of you.
Kellnerin: Ja wohl. Hier sind die Speisekarten. Was möchten Sie essen?
Robert: Say you would all like sausage, chips and salad.
Kellnerin: Kein Problem. Und zu trinken?
Robert: Order an orange juice.
Kellnerin: Sonst noch etwas?
Robert: Where are the toilets?
Kellnerin: Guten Abend wie kann ich Ihnen helfen?– Good evening. How can I help you?
Robert: Haben Sie einen Tisch frei?– Do you have a table available?
Kellnerin: Ja, wie viele Personen sind Sie?– Yes, how many people are there?
Robert: (Wir sind) vier Personen.– There are four people (literally: we are four people)
Kellnerin: Ja wohl. Hier sind die Speisekarten. Was möchten Sie essen?– Absolutely. Here are the menus. What would you like to eat?
Robert: Wir möchten Bratwurst, Pommes frites und Salat bitte.– We'd like sausage, chips and salad please.
Kellnerin: Kein Problem. Und zu trinken?– No problem. And to drink?
Robert: Ich möchte einen Orangensaft.– I'd like an orange juice.
Kellnerin: Sonst noch etwas?– Anything else?
Robert: Wo sind die Toiletten?– Where are the toilets?
Did you know?
Although not typically recognised as a location for fine dining, Germany has the largest number of A rating system for the finest quality food and drink. restaurants after France.
The most popular meat in Germany, Austria and Switzerland is pork – Schweinefleisch – although beef – Rindfleisch, chicken – Hähnchen or Hühnerfleisch, turkey – Putenfleisch and goose – Gans are also firm favourites on German menus.
German-speaking countries are also famous for their bakeries – Bäckereien and amongst the hundreds of types of bread – Brot, you will also find many delicious cakes and tarts – Kuchen und Torten. Many regions have their own specific delicacies, such as the large Schneebälle (literally: snowballs) with dozens of different fillings found in the picturesque Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
