1. Paying the bill
_ We'll split the bill, shall we? (each person will pay for him/herself)
_ Lunch is on me today. (informal: I am paying for you)
_ Will you join us (come with us) for dinner at the City Plaza hotel? We'd like you to be our guest. (formal; we will pay)
_ Let me get this. (informal: pay the bill this time)
_ I was wined and dined every night by our New York office. (invited out to restaurant)
2. Describing service
_ A new Italian restaurant called Bella Roma has just opened in the High Street, and we went there the other night to try it. I couldn't help comparing it to the Casa Italia, where we ate last week. In the Bella Roma, the service was impeccable (1) (adj- hoàn hão, ko chê vào đâu) and quick.
_ At the Casa Italia it's always a bit sluggish (2) (adj- chậm chạp). In the new place the waiters are courteous (3) and friendly without being overbearing (4) (adj- hống hách, độc đoán).
_ In the other place they tend to be sullen (5) (adj- rầu rĩ, ảm đạm, buồn thảm) and the service is rather brusque (6) (ad- lỗ mảng, cộc cằn) which I find very off-putting (7) (adj- khó chịu, quấy rầy). But at Bella Roma they'll go out of their way (8) to give you what you want.
(1) perfect, canot be faulted
(2) rather slow
(3) polite
(4) too confident / too inclined to tell people what to do
(5) bad-tempered / unwilling to smile
(6) quick and rude
(7) makes you feel you do not want to go there again
(8) do everything possible
3. Food preferences
_ I have a sweet tooth and can never say no to cakes or biscuits. (love sweet things)
_ I won't have dessert, thanks. You're lucky being so slim; but I'm afraid I have to count the calories / I have to be a bit calorie-conscious these days. (be careful how many calories I eat)
_ I like to end the meal with something savoury (adj- thơm ngon, có hương vị) like cheese. (salty in flavour or with herbs)
_ Ben's a bit of a fussy eater. (person who has very particular demands when eating)
_ No, thanks, I won't have wine. I'm teetotal (adj- chống uống rượi). (never drink alcohol)
_ Before I book the restaurant, do you have any particular dietary requirements? (formal: special needs or things someone cannot eat)
_ I won't have any more wine thanks. I don't want to overdo it. (eat or drink too much)
4. Entertaining at home
A. Why not come home and eat with us? You'll have to take pot luck. (eat what we're eating, nothing special)
B. Thank you. Shall I bring a bottle? (usually means a bottle of wine)
A. Should I wear a suit on Friday?
B. No, no, it isn't a dinner party (rather formal dinner with guests), it's just an informal get-together. (informal group of people meeting for a meal/drink/etc)
A. Does anyone want seconds? (a second helping/serving of a dish)
B. Oh, yes please. It was delicious.
A. Can I pour (v- rót) you some juice? Say when. (tellme when I have served enough)
B. When! (that's enough, thanks)
A. Help yourself to some nibbles. (things like nuts, crisps, etc., before a meal)
A. We leave at six. We can grab a bite to eat on the way. (have a quick meal)\
B. Or we could get a takeaway when we get there. (ready-cooked meal bought to take home)
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