Ordering food and dining out
Pedir comida y comer fuera
- Ask food from the menu.
- Reserve a table in a restaurant.
- "Haber" + participio (el pretérito perfecto)
In this lesson, you'll learn essential Spanish phrases and the pretérito perfecto tense to confidently order food and reserve tables, including words like "el camarero" (waiter), "el menú" (menu), and expressions such as "He pedido" (I have ordered).
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (9) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Classify the words into two groups depending on whether they refer to places within a restaurant or to people, objects, and actions related to the service.
Lugares en un restaurante
Personas, objetos y acciones en un restaurante
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
La bebida
The drink
2
El bar
The pub
3
Tomar
To take
4
Dejar una propina
To leave a tip
5
El restaurante
The restaurant
Ejercicio 5: Conversation exercise
Instrucción:
- Order what you want from the menu. (Order what you want from the menu.)
- Play a dialogue in the restaurant. (Play a dialogue in the restaurant.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
¿Me puede traer la carta, por favor? Can I have the menu please? |
|
¿Quieres pedir? Do you want to order? |
|
Quiero una ensalada de primero. I want to have a salad as a starter. |
|
Quiero profiteroles de postre. I want profiteroles for dessert. |
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¿Puedo reservar una mesa para cuatro personas a las 8 en punto? Can I reserve a table for four people at 8 o’clock? |
|
Quiero una pizza como plato principal. I want a pizza as my main dish. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Yo ya ___ ___ el plato del día en este restaurante.
(I have already ___ ___ the dish of the day in this restaurant.)2. Tú ___ ___ una bebida muy refrescante después de trabajar.
(You ___ ___ a very refreshing drink after working.)3. Él ___ ___ en Madrid desde hace tres años.
(He ___ ___ in Madrid for three years.)4. Nosotros ___ ___ con el camarero para reservar una mesa para esta noche.
(We ___ ___ to the waiter to reserve a table for tonight.)Exercise 8: A dinner at the restaurant
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Reservar - Reserve
Pretérito perfecto
- Yo he reservado
- Tú has reservado
- Él/ella ha reservado
- Nosotros/as hemos reservado
- Vosotros/as habéis reservado
- Ellos/as han reservado
Pedir - Order
Pretérito perfecto
- Yo he pedido
- Tú has pedido
- Él/ella ha pedido
- Nosotros/as hemos pedido
- Vosotros/as habéis pedido
- Ellos/as han pedido
Beber - Drink
Pretérito perfecto
- Yo he bebido
- Tú has bebido
- Él/ella ha bebido
- Nosotros/as hemos bebido
- Vosotros/as habéis bebido
- Ellos/as han bebido
Comer - Eat
Pretérito perfecto
- Yo he comido
- Tú has comido
- Él/ella ha comido
- Nosotros/as hemos comido
- Vosotros/as habéis comido
- Ellos/as han comido
Hablar - Speak
Pretérito perfecto
- Yo he hablado
- Tú has hablado
- Él/ella ha hablado
- Nosotros/as hemos hablado
- Vosotros/as habéis hablado
- Ellos/as han hablado
Disfrutar - Enjoy
Pretérito perfecto
- Yo he disfrutado
- Tú has disfrutado
- Él/ella ha disfrutado
- Nosotros/as hemos disfrutado
- Vosotros/as habéis disfrutado
- Ellos/as han disfrutado
Dejar - Leave
Pretérito perfecto
- Yo he dejado
- Tú has dejado
- Él/ella ha dejado
- Nosotros/as hemos dejado
- Vosotros/as habéis dejado
- Ellos/as han dejado
Exercise 9: "Haber" + participio (el pretérito perfecto)
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: "Haber" + participio (el pretérito perfecto)
Show translation Show answershemos tomado, he tomado, han comido, ha comido, habéis tomado, han bebido, hemos bebido, has tomado
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A1.39.2 Gramática
"Haber" + participio (el pretérito perfecto)
"Haber" + participio (el pretérito perfecto)
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Vivir to live Share Copied!
Pretérito perfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) he vivido | I have lived |
| (tú) has vivido | You have lived |
| (él/ella) ha vivido | he/she has lived |
| (nosotros/nosotras) hemos vivido | we have lived |
| (vosotros/vosotras) habéis vivido | you have lived |
| (ellos/ellas) han vivido | They have lived |
Pedir to ask Share Copied!
Pretérito perfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) he pedido | I have asked |
| (tú) has pedido | You have asked |
| (él/ella) ha pedido | he/she has asked |
| (nosotros/nosotras) hemos pedido | We have asked |
| (vosotros/vosotras) habéis pedido | You have asked |
| (ellos/ellas) han pedido | they have asked |
Beber to drink Share Copied!
Pretérito perfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) he bebido | I have drunk |
| (tú) has bebido | You have drunk |
| (él/ella) ha bebido | He/she has drunk |
| (nosotros/nosotras) hemos bebido | we have drunk |
| (vosotros/vosotras) habéis bebido | You have drunk |
| (ellos/ellas) han bebido | they have drunk |
Comer to eat Share Copied!
Pretérito perfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) he comido | I have eaten |
| (tú) has comido | You have eaten |
| (él/ella) ha comido | He/she has eaten |
| (nosotros/nosotras) hemos comido | we have eaten |
| (vosotros/vosotras) habéis comido | You have eaten |
| (ellos/ellas) han comido | They have eaten |
Hablar to speak Share Copied!
Pretérito perfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) he hablado | I have spoken |
| (tú) has hablado | You have spoken |
| (él/ella) ha hablado | He/she has spoken |
| (nosotros/nosotras) hemos hablado | we have spoken |
| (vosotros/vosotras) habéis hablado | You have spoken |
| (ellos/ellas) han hablado | they have spoken |
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Ordering Food and Dining Out in Spanish
This lesson focuses on essential vocabulary and phrases for ordering food and interacting in a restaurant setting in Spanish. It covers practical expressions to reserve a table, order meals, inquire about the menu, and comment on the dining experience using the pretérito perfecto (present perfect) tense.
Key Vocabulary
- Places in a restaurant: el restaurante, el bar, la pizzería, la cocina
- People and items related to service: el camarero (waiter), el menú, el postre (dessert), dejar una propina (to leave a tip)
Important Phrases
Examples of useful sentences include:
- ¿Tiene una mesa libre para dos personas esta noche? (Do you have a free table for two people tonight?)
- Quisiera pedir el plato del día y una bebida, por favor. (I would like to order the dish of the day and a drink, please.)
- ¿Ha probado usted el postre que recomienda el chef? (Have you tried the dessert recommended by the chef?)
- Hemos reservado una mesa a nombre de García a las ocho. (We have reserved a table under the name García at eight o'clock.)
- ¿Me puede traer el menú, por favor? (Can you bring me the menu, please?)
- ¿Ha sido buena la comida hoy en el restaurante? (Has the food been good today at the restaurant?)
Grammar Highlight: Using "Haber" + Past Participle (Present Perfect)
This lesson emphasizes the use of the pretérito perfecto to talk about recent experiences at a restaurant — for example, dishes you have ordered or tried. This tense combines the verb "haber" with the past participle of the main verb.
Examples:
- He pedido el plato del día y me ha gustado mucho. (I have ordered the dish of the day and liked it a lot.)
- ¿Has reservado mesa para las ocho esta noche? (Have you reserved a table for eight tonight?)
- El camarero ha traído las bebidas y el menú a la mesa. (The waiter has brought the drinks and menu to the table.)
- Siempre dejo una propina cuando el servicio es bueno. (I always leave a tip when the service is good.)
Communicative Functions
This lesson prepares you to:
- Make a reservation by phone or in person.
- Order food and drinks politely.
- Ask questions about menu items and recommendations.
- Talk about past dining experiences using the present perfect tense.
- Confirm orders and communicate with waitstaff confidently.
Note on Language Differences
Spanish often uses the pretérito perfecto to describe recent past actions connected to the present, such as "He probado la paella" (I have tried the paella). In English, the present perfect tense is also used but less frequently in some contexts. Also, Spanish requests and polite expressions frequently involve formal verb forms (usted) and specific phrases like "por favor" (please) placed after the request.
Useful Phrases and Their English Equivalents:
- ¿Me puede traer el menú, por favor? — Can you bring me the menu, please?
- Quisiera pedir... — I would like to order...
- ¿Tiene una mesa libre? — Do you have a free table?
- Hemos reservado una mesa — We have reserved a table
- ¿Ha probado usted...? — Have you tried...?
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