Vocabulary · 36 words
TOEIC Vocabulary: Dining out (36 Words with Examples)
Restaurant conversations, catering orders, reviews and invitations to business dinners are common in Parts 2, 3 and 7.
Free extract from the Noto Tracks TOEIC course
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| reservation | noun | a booking for a table | I made a reservation for eight at seven o'clock. |
| cater | verb | to provide food for an event | Bella Cucina will cater the retirement party. |
| beverage | noun | a drink | Beverages are not included in the set menu. |
| appetizer | noun | a small dish before the main course | We ordered two appetizers to share. |
| main course | noun phrase | the largest dish of a meal | The main course is grilled salmon or pasta. |
| patron | noun | a customer of a restaurant or store | Patrons may park free of charge after 6 p.m. |
| cuisine | noun | a style of cooking | The hotel restaurant serves Korean cuisine. |
| complimentary | adjective | free of charge | Diners receive a complimentary dessert on their birthday. |
| gratuity | noun | a tip for service | A gratuity of 18% is added for groups of six or more. |
| specialty | noun | a dish a restaurant is known for | The chef's specialty is roast duck. |
| dietary restrictions | noun phrase | foods a person cannot or will not eat | Please tell us about any dietary restrictions. |
| banquet | noun | a large formal dinner | The awards banquet will be held in the ballroom. |
| party | noun | a group of people (at a restaurant) | Your party's table is ready, Mr. Chen. |
| takeout | noun / adjective | food bought to eat elsewhere | Let's order takeout for the late meeting. |
| vegetarian | adjective / noun | without meat; a person who eats no meat | There are three vegetarian options on the menu. |
| dine | verb | to eat a meal, especially dinner | The sales team will dine with the visiting clients at a hotel restaurant tonight. |
| diner | noun | a person eating in a restaurant | The restaurant can seat up to eighty diners on its outdoor terrace. |
| chef | noun | a professional cook in charge of a kitchen | The head chef changes the menu every season to use fresh local produce. |
| waiter | noun | a man who serves food in a restaurant | Our waiter recommended the grilled fish and brought the wine list. |
| waitress | noun | a woman who serves food in a restaurant | The waitress apologized for the delay and offered us free coffee. |
| dessert | noun | sweet food eaten at the end of a meal | Would anyone like to see the dessert menu before we ask for the bill? |
| buffet | noun | a meal where guests serve themselves from a table | A breakfast buffet will be served in the hotel lobby from 7 to 10 a.m. |
| ingredient | noun | one of the foods used to make a dish | Please inform your server if you are allergic to any ingredient in our dishes. |
| flavor | noun | the particular taste of a food or drink | The soup has a rich flavor thanks to the fresh herbs from our garden. |
| culinary | adjective | related to cooking | Mr. Dubois studied at a culinary school in Lyon before opening his bistro. |
| entrée | noun | the main dish of a meal | Each entrée comes with a side salad and a choice of bread. |
| luncheon | noun | a formal lunch, often for a group | The awards luncheon for retiring employees will be held in the Grand Room. |
| refreshment | noun | light food and drinks | Refreshments will be provided during the afternoon break of the workshop. |
| seafood | noun | fish and shellfish eaten as food | The harbor restaurant is famous for its seafood platter and friendly service. |
| pastry | noun | a small sweet baked food | Coffee and pastries are served at the start of every Monday staff meeting. |
| bakery | noun | a shop that makes and sells bread and cakes | We ordered the cake for Ms. Kim's farewell party from the bakery next door. |
| tablecloth | noun | a cloth that covers a table | The banquet staff replaced every tablecloth before the evening guests arrived. |
| tasty | adjective | having a pleasant flavor | The cafeteria now offers tasty vegetarian options at very reasonable prices. |
| cafeteria | noun | a self-service restaurant, often in a workplace | The employee cafeteria on the second floor is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| grill | verb | to cook food over direct heat | The kitchen staff grill all the vegetables to order for each table. |
| tray | noun | a flat board for carrying food or dishes | Please return your tray to the counter near the exit after eating. |
Collocations: book (or reserve) a table · place a catering order · accommodate dietary needs · split the bill · leave a tip.
Read: "Coffee and tea will be provided at no cost to attendees."
Answer: "Complimentary beverages will be available." — coffee and tea = beverages; at no cost = complimentary.
Extra words from the TOEIC Service List (TSL 1.2) by Browne, Culligan & Phillips, newgeneralservicelist.com. Meanings and example sentences by Noto. This word list is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Other vocabulary topics
- Corporate development36
- Entertainment36
- Finance and budgeting38
- General business: contracts, negotiations, marketing, sales, warranties, conferences40
- Health36
- Housing and corporate property37
- Manufacturing36
- Offices36
- Personnel38
- Purchasing: ordering, shipping, invoices37
- Technical areas37
- Travel37
- Confusable words
- Word families
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