Order food, ask for the bill, and handle dietary needs in German with ease. These phrases cover everything from getting a table to leaving a tip at restaurants across German-speaking countries.
12 phrases
Ordering food is one of the most frequent, lowest-stakes conversations you will have while traveling, which makes it a great place to practice speaking German out loud. These phrases cover the full arc of a meal: getting seated, ordering, handling dietary restrictions, and paying. Dietary phrases are worth memorizing precisely rather than approximating, since a vague description of an allergy can lead to a genuine mistake in the kitchen. If a server responds with something you do not follow, asking them to repeat more slowly is always a safe, polite fallback, and it is one of the phrases included in the travel essentials list. Practice ordering a full meal out loud before you travel, not just individual phrases in isolation, since a real order is a short back-and-forth, not a single line.
Einen Tisch für zwei, bitte.
A table for two, please.
Was empfehlen Sie?
What do you recommend?
Ich möchte gerne bestellen…
I would like to order…
Die Rechnung, bitte.
The bill, please.
Ich bin allergisch gegen Meeresfrüchte.
I am allergic to seafood.
Ist die Bedienung inbegriffen?
Is the service charge included?
Glutenfrei, bitte.
Gluten-free, please.
Es hat sehr gut geschmeckt.
It was delicious.
Können Sie mir bitte Wasser bringen?
Can you bring me water, please?
Ich esse kein Fleisch.
I do not eat meat.
Haben Sie vegetarische Optionen?
Do you have vegetarian options?
Zum Mitnehmen, bitte.
To go, please.
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