Restaurants

Question

Hi there... I am just now trying to remember the Spanish I learned in school. I have the hardest time in Resturants. I can never remember what the correct term for "Can I please have.... whatever dish"

I used Tregeme but was told that was rude. Can you please help out.

And I KNOW I spelled that word wrong but hopefully you know what I am talking about. Thanks.

Answer 1

RogerHH said:

LLanita said:

'Me gustaria...' I'd like, or 'queiro' I want would be perfectly acceptable phrases. Remember that 50% of the language is visual smile when you say these phrases, wave your hands around as you describe what you'd like and you're bound to be thought more than polite.

If 80% of communication is non-verbal why do languages have to be so complicated.

Most people don't find their own language complicated; only other people's languages.

Answer 2

All this talk of percentages. The problem with most posters on this site is that half of them are useless at mathematics. The other 70% are no better.

Answer 3

LLanita said:

'Me gustaria...' I'd like, or 'queiro' I want would be perfectly acceptable phrases. Remember that 50% of the language is visual smile when you say these phrases, wave your hands around as you describe what you'd like and you're bound to be thought more than polite.

If 80% of communication is non-verbal why do languages have to be so complicated.

Answer 4

'Me gustaria...' I'd like, or 'queiro' I want would be perfectly acceptable phrases. Remember that 50% of the language is visual smile when you say these phrases, wave your hands around as you describe what you'd like and you're bound to be thought more than polite.

Answer 5

Skylar said:

Really? I did that, and my Cuba boyfriend told me that was VERY rude. Because basically it was BRING me what ever... and even if you put please in front of it, it still sounds rude.

It's not so much rude as abrupt. It's the same in English, though. "Please bring me a glass of water" sounds a little curt, because it's a command, whereas "May I have a glass of water'" is much softer. I think this is what your Cuban friend was trying to tell you.

Another way to order food from a menu or at a counter is to say "Me quedo con xxx." This is close to "I'll have/take/go with the xxx." It's used when you have decided on something.

Answer 6

I usually say "quiero un ... y una ..."

This may be a little off topic, but since we're talking about phrases used in restaurants--

Here in Colombia we adress the waitress as "niña" and the waiter as "joven." I suppose we could also use the "señor/señora/señorita" as well. How about in other areas'

Answer 7

I was taught that a polite way to say "I'll have..." or "I'd like..." (slightly nicer than "I want...") in restaurants would be "Quisiera el/la ... por favor." What do y'all native speakers think of that'

Answer 8

I don't think it's rude as long as you get the "por favor" in there. Another possibility would be to omit the verb altogether e.g. "un vaso de agua, por favor" or "una hamburguesa, por favor" etc.

Answer 9

You are both great, thank you so much!

Answer 10

What's that translated? Me Pone?

lazarus1907 said:

Try "¿Me pone...'"

Gus said:

You can say por favor traiga me.....ets.....etcplease, bring me ...this and that....

It should be one word: tráigame. Otherwise, -and this is more polite-, "¿Me trae...'"

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Answer 11

Really? I did that, and my Cuba boyfriend told me that was VERY rude. Because basically it was BRING me what ever... and even if you put please in front of it, it still sounds rude.

Thanks so much

Answer 12

Try "¿Me pone...'"

Gus said:

You can say por favor traiga me.....ets.....etc please, bring me ...this and that....

It should be one word: tráigame. Otherwise, -and this is more polite-, "¿Me trae...'"

Answer 13

You can say por favor traiga me.....ets.....etc
please, bring me ...this and that....