Conversational Quotes

Question

I am currently attempting to increase my level of conversational Spanish, and so have been visiting a few Mexican Restaurants to speak to the staff there. I am still in the early stages, so I'm just trying to memorize simple phrases and sentences that I might be asked or I might personally use.

I found plenty of excellent quotes to study, but I would appreciate it if a native Spanish speaker confirmed that these are correct. It would be very frustrating to become fluent in faulty Spanish.

¿Puedo ver el menú, por favor? - Can I see the menu please?

¿Qué desea comer? - What would you like to eat?

¿Qué desea tomar? - What would you like to drink?

¿Qué desea ordenar? - Would you like to order?

¿Si? ¿Qué quiere? - Yes? What do you want?

Un momento, por favor. - One moment, please.

Como plato principal quiero… - For the main course, I would like...

De primero, quiero… / De botana quiero… - To start, I would like...

Para beber, quiero… - To drink, I would like...

Necesitamos más tiempo para decidir. - We need a little more time to decide.

Estamos listos para pedir. - We are ready to order.

¿Qué más trae el plato? - What else is in the dish?

Quiero… - I'll have...

¡Buen provecho! - Enjoy your meal!

¿Cómo está todo? - How's everything?

¿Todo está bien? - Is everything okay?

¿Quiere algo más de tomar? - Would you like more to drink?

¿Quiere algo de postre? - Would you like some dessert?

Por favor tráigame la cuenta. - Please bring the bill.

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Any help that can be given is appreciated. Muchas gracias.

I hope you get some native answers as these are really good! - bandit51jd, Nov 13, 2014

Hi, I bumped this for you to read through- I hope it is useful, Saludos - pacofinkler, Nov 13, 2014

Answer 1

I did the same thing. One suggestion. Try making two or three variations on each statement or question. Also pay really close attention to what you say in these situations in English. I think you will find that a lot of spoken language consists of sentence fragments.

For example:

¿Qué desea tomar? ¿Algo de tomar/beber?

Necesitamos más tiempo para decidir. No estamos listo. Dénos un rato más. Necesitamos poco más tiempo.

Por favor tráigame la cuenta. La cuenta, por favor.

Often full sentences sound stilted and unnatural. Also try to form a couple of answers to each so that you can anticipate the responses.

One last thing. In the US we order appetizers, main courses and dessert. Here, in Baja, you never hear someone ask for a main dish or course.

Quiero chiles rellenos. ¿Podemos tener totopos y salsa primero?

Sometimes, to be a little more courteous, we say for "quiero" ,"quisiera" o "me gustaría " or even "deseo." But lthe last one not too much. - Daniela2041, Nov 13, 2014

Thanks Dameila. Me gustaría is very common. I agree that deseo isn't used much in this context. - gringojrf, Nov 13, 2014

I see you like "deseo" or for asking: "Desea," For your good answere I gave you a vote--careful with "something to drink" I would use "algo DE tomar/beber." - Daniela2041, Nov 13, 2014

Thanks Daniela! Question: What is the difference between Tomar and Beber? - 00ffada9, Nov 13, 2014

Here in Baja beber is seldom used. We do use bebida, but the verb not so often. I think it is regional. - gringojrf, Nov 13, 2014

So true. A person who drinks too much alcohol is called a "tomador" which I don't find in the dictionary it could be espangles. - Daniela2041, Nov 13, 2014

Answer 2

This raises a question on my part. Years ago a friend of mine lived in Spain (Franco was in power then - yes, that long go!) and he told me that in a restaurant to get the attention of a waitress / waiter one said ¡Oiga!. Is this considered polite and common practice? I think I used it in Mexico when I was there but never really knew if I was being abrupt or not.

Any thoughts out there? Particularly you who live and interact in Mexico.

In Mexico that would be rude. Joven or Disculpe are better options here. - gringojrf, Nov 13, 2014

Thanks, amigo! - Jubilado, Nov 13, 2014

No jubilado,not used in Mexico at all! Joven! as Gringo says is the most usual. - pacofinkler, Nov 13, 2014

Thanks also, Paco! I rather thought that was the case as there wasn't a reaction from the waiter when I said it. - Jubilado, Nov 13, 2014

Technically it's the imperative form of "oir" (the usted form) It literally mean "listen" or "Hey" The familiar form is "oye" Which I and all my friends use all the time. It's even in the books as proper between amigos. - Daniela2041, Nov 13, 2014

How about Spain, Annie? - Daniela2041, Nov 13, 2014

Daniela, yes I knew that is was the "polite" form for "listen," which is why I wondered why it would be considered rude. - Jubilado, Nov 14, 2014

that would be considered rude - Rey_Mysterio, Nov 14, 2014

in a restaurant that is - Rey_Mysterio, Nov 14, 2014

Already got that answer, Rey, the new question is "Why is it rude?" - Jubilado, Nov 14, 2014

Ninguna idea. - Daniela2041, Nov 14, 2014

In the US when we didn't hear or understand something we say What? In Mexico you do not say ¿Qué? but rather ¿Mande? It is just the way it is. Que and Oiga are abrubt words and are concidered to be rude. - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2014