At the Café
Order food and drinks politely in English.
Polite phrases. Order food. Ask for the bill.
Look & say · Step 1
5 minGet ready
What do you usually order in a café?
Describe your favourite café in 3 words.
How many polite words do you know in English? Make a list.
Words to learn · Step 2
8 minNew words today
coffee
Hot brown drink
"A black coffee, please."
tea
Hot drink from leaves
"Tea with milk."
milk
White drink from cows
"Coffee with milk."
cake
Sweet baked dessert
"A slice of cake."
croissant
French buttery pastry
"A croissant, please."
sandwich
Bread + filling
"A cheese sandwich."
salad
Cold vegetables
"A green salad."
biscuit / cookie
Small sweet snack
"A chocolate cookie."
bill / check
Paper with the price
"The bill, please."
card
Pay without cash
"Pay by card."
cash
Pay with money / notes
"Pay in cash."
waiter / waitress
Person who serves you
"The waiter is friendly."
Activate · Personalise · Recycle
Use these words now
Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.
cash
"For me, cash is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
sandwich
"For me, sandwich is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
waiter / waitress
"For me, waiter / waitress is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.
Sounds & saying · Step 3
5 min'I'd' /aɪd/ — one short sound
'I'd' is one short syllable, like 'eyed'. Don't say 'I would like' — link it: 'I'd-like-a-coffee-please.'
- • I'd like
- • I'd like a coffee
- • I'd like a tea, please
- • I'd like the salad, please
Language focus · Step 4
10 minPolite requests: 'I'd like…' / 'Could I have…?'
Quick rule
Polite requests: 'I'd like…' / 'Could I have…?'
Don't say 'I want' — it sounds rude.
- Use 'I'd like…' or 'Could I have…?'.
- Always add 'please' and 'thank you'.
Pattern
I'd like a coffee, please.
Could I have a tea, please?
Can I get the bill, please?
I'll have the salad, please.
Anything else? — No, thank you. That's all.
Question 1.Most polite way to order:
Question 2.___ I have the bill, please?
Question 3.Waiter: 'Anything else?' — You:
Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.
Quick check 1.'I'd like' is short for:
Quick check 2.Polite ending to a request:
Reading · Step 5
7 minLunch at the café
It's 1pm and Anna is hungry. 😋 She goes into a small café near her office. ☕ She orders a cheese sandwich 🥪 and a cup of tea with milk. The waiter is friendly and brings the food quickly. Anna eats, drinks her tea, and asks for the bill. 🧾 She pays by card and says 'Thank you, see you soon!' before leaving.
Question 1.What time is it?
Question 2.What does she order?
Question 3.How does she pay?
Q1.Anna has tea with milk.
Q2.The waiter is unfriendly.
Listening · Step 6
10 minOrdering at the café
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Waiter
Good afternoon. What would you like?
Anna
Hi! I'd like a coffee, please.
Waiter
Black or with milk?
Anna
With milk, please. And a croissant.
Waiter
Anything else?
Anna
No, that's all, thank you.
Waiter
That's £4.50, please.
Anna
Can I pay by card?
Waiter
Of course.
Question 1.What does Anna order to drink?
Question 2.What does she order to eat?
Question 3.How does she pay?
Practice · Step 7
8 minChoose the word
Question 1.I'd ___ a coffee, please.
Question 2.Could I ___ the bill, please?
Question 3.Anything ___? — No, that's all.
Q1.Polite short form: 'I would like' → '___ like'
Q2.Paper with the price: ___
Survival English · Step 8
4 minSpeaking — order in a café
Task
Roleplay: You go into a café. Order one drink, one food, and ask for the bill.
Strategy
Always start with 'Hi' or 'Hello' and end with 'Thank you'. Use 'I'd like' or 'Could I have'.
Example
Hi! I'd like a tea with milk and a slice of cake, please. … Could I have the bill, please?
Writing · Step 9
5 minWrite a little
Your task
Write a 6-line café dialogue between a customer and a waiter.
Show model answer
Waiter: Good morning. What would you like? Customer: I'd like a tea, please. Waiter: With milk? Customer: Yes, please. And a croissant. Waiter: Anything else? Customer: No, that's all, thank you.
Speaking · Step 10
12 minTalk together
Pairs: one is waiter, one is customer. Order, ask the price, pay, swap roles.
Useful phrases
- • I'd like ___, please.
- • Could I have ___, please?
- • How much is it?
- • Can I pay by card / in cash?
- • Could I have the bill, please?
- WaiterWhat would you like?
- You_______________
- WaiterAnything else?
- You_______________
- WaiterThat's £3.50.
- You_______________
Homework · Step 11
Take-homePractice at home
Write your own café dialogue (8 lines).
Practise ordering aloud — record yourself and listen back.
Learn 5 new café menu items in English.
Recap · Step 12
3 minWhat you learned
- ☕ You can order food and drinks politely.
- 💬 You use 'I'd like…' and 'Could I have…?' (not 'I want').
- 🧾 You can ask for the bill and choose how to pay.
- 🙏 You always add 'please' and 'thank you'.