EnglishPod 107 - Upper Intermediate - Complaining at a Restaurant
EnglishPod 107 - Upper Intermediate - Complaining at a Restaurant
Conversation
A: Excuse me, waiter? Waiter!
B: Yes, sir? What can I do for you?
A: I've been sitting here for the past twenty minutes and no one has offered me a glass of water, brought any bread to the table and our appetizers haven't been served yet! You know, in this kind of establishment, I'd expect much better service.
B: I am sorry, sir. I'll check on your order right away.
C: Relax honey, the place is busy tonight, but I've heard the food is amazing. Anyway...
B: Here you are, sir. The foie gras for the lady, and a mushroom soup for you.
A: Waiter, I ordered a cream of mushroom soup with asparagus. This soup is obviously too runny, and it's over-seasoned. It's completely inedible!
B: Okay, I do apologize for that. Can I bring you another soup, or would you like to order something else?
A: Take this foie gras back as well, it's rubbery and completely overcooked. And look at the portion size! How can you charge twenty-five dollars for a sliver of duck liver?
B: Right away... sir.
C: Honey come on! The foie gras was fine, why are you making such a big deal? Are you trying to get our meal comped again?
A: What do you mean? We are paying for this. If I'm shelling out my hard earned bucks, I expect value for money!
B: Here you are, sir. I hope it is alright now. The chef has prepared it specially for you.
A: Yes, fine.
C: Honey, are you alright?
Key Vocabulary
Appetizer (common noun, plural): Little dish people have before meal
Establishment (common noun, singular): Place of business like a restaurant or hotel
Service (common noun, singular): Work done by someone to serve customers
Order (common noun, singular): The list containing your choices of dishes
Foie gras (common noun, non-variable): A food made from the livers of geese
Runny (Adjective): More liquid than expected
Over-seasoned (Adjective): Too salty
Inedible (Adjective): Can not be eaten
Rubbery (Adjective): Difficult to chew
Overcooked (Adjective): Be cooked overtime
Portion size (common noun, singular): The amount of food that is served to a person
Sliver (common noun, singular): A small, thin piece
Make a big deal (phrase): Get very upset about something small
Comp (verb): Be given to customers for free
Shell out (phrase): To spend money
Hard earned (phrase): Money you work hard for
Supplementary Vocabulary
A bad aftertaste (phrase): A bad second taste
Bitter (Adjective): A strong, unpleasant taste that is opposite of sweet
Rank (Adjective): A strong, unpleasant smell
Rancid (Adjective): A rotten taste or smell
Unappealing (Adjective): Not appealing; not attractive or tasty