At the Restaurant (فِي الْمَطْعَم) | Arabic Conversation Series: Lesson 3

Conversation Series: Lesson 3

At the Restaurant (فِي الْمَطْعَم)

Hungry for more Arabic? In Lesson 2, we found our way to the restaurant. Now, let's learn how to look at the menu, order a meal, and ask for the bill with confidence and politeness.

الحِوار (The Dialogue)

النَّادِل (The Waiter): أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا! تَفَضَّل القَائِمَة.

(Welcome! Please, here is the menu.)

الزُّبُون (The Customer): شُكْرًا لَك. مَاذَا تَنْصَحُنِي أَنْ آكُل؟

(Thank you. What do you recommend I eat?)

النَّادِل: لَدَيْنَا دَجَاجٌ مَشْوِيٌّ لَذِيذٌ جِدًّا اليَوْم.

(We have very delicious grilled chicken today.)

الزُّبُون: حَسَنًا، أُرِيدُ دَجَاجًا مَشْوِيًّا وَسَلَطَة، لَوْ سَمَحْت.

(Alright, I want grilled chicken and a salad, please.)

النَّادِل: وَمَاذَا تُحِبُّ أَنْ تَشْرَب؟

(And what would you like to drink?)

الزُّبُون: عَصِيرَ بُرْتُقَال، مِنْ فَضْلِك.

(Orange juice, please.)

الزُّبُون (بَعْدَ الأَكْل): الْفَاتُورَة، لَوْ سَمَحْت.

(The bill, please [after eating].)

Dining Vocabulary (مُفْرَدَاتُ الطَّعَام)

English	Arabic	Transliteration
The Menu	القَائِمَة	Al-Qa'ima
The Bill	الْفَاتُورَة	Al-Fatura
I want	أُرِيدُ	Uridu
Delicious	لَذِيذ	Ladheedh
Please	مِنْ فَضْلِك	Min fadlik

✨ Cultural Note: Politeness

In the Arab world, dining is a social event. Using phrases like لَوْ سَمَحْت (Law samaht) and مِنْ فَضْلِك (Min fadlik) is highly appreciated. Also, if you want to say "Enjoy your meal" to someone, say بِالْهَنَاءِ وَالشِّفَاء (Bil-hana' wa-shifa')!

Next Time: Shopping and Bargaining in the Market! (Lesson 4)