Which Catalan phrases matter most here?

“Ha reservat taula?” (Have you booked a table); “Té una taula lliure?” (Do you have a free table); “Quantes persones són?” (How many people). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Catalonia. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Catalan phrases for ordering food in a restaurant in Catalonia

Without a booking, ask “Té una taula lliure?” and answer “Una taula per a dos, si us plau” when the waiter asks “Quantes persones són?”. Once you have the menu, ask “Què em recomana?” and order with “Prendré el pollastre, si us plau”. Waiters often use vostè, so it’s safe to do the same.

Try it · about two minutes

You arrive at a restaurant without a booking, get a table and ask the waiter what they recommend.

Sound on: the waiter speaks Catalan. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Waiter
Ha reservat taula?
Have you booked a table?
You
Té una taula lliure?
Do you have a free table?
Waiter
Quantes persones són?
How many people?
You
Una taula per a dos, si us plau.
A table for two, please.
Waiter
Segueixi'm, si us plau.
Follow me, please.
You
Podríem seure vora la finestra?
Could we sit by the window?
Waiter
Aquí té la carta.
Here is the menu.
You
Què em recomana?
What do you recommend?
Waiter
Avui tenim pollastre amb samfaina, que està molt bo.
Today we have chicken with samfaina, and it’s very good.
You
Prendré el pollastre, si us plau.
I’ll have the chicken, please.
Waiter
Vol alguna cosa per beure?
Would you like something to drink?
You
Aigua, si us plau.
Water, please.

Which Catalan phrases do you need?

Ha reservat taula?
Have you booked a table?
Té una taula lliure?
Do you have a free table?
Quantes persones són?
How many people?
Una taula per a dos, si us plau.
A table for two, please.
Podríem seure vora la finestra?
Could we sit by the window?
Què em recomana?
What do you recommend?
Ja sap què prendrà?
Do you know what you’ll have?
Prendré el pollastre, si us plau.
I’ll have the chicken, please.
Podem demanar, si us plau?
Can we order, please?
Vol alguna cosa per beure?
Would you like something to drink?

What is worth knowing in Catalonia?

How it goes at a restaurant

1
Say how many you are. Staff show you to a table, or tell you to sit where you like.
A table for two, please.
2
Read the carta and ask the waiter for a recommendation.
What do you recommend?
3
Waiters often leave you time. When you’re ready, catch their eye.
Can we order, please?

Vostè with a waiter

Safe in a restaurant

Què em recomana?

What do you recommend?

Casual, tu

Què em recomanes?

What do you recommend? (casual)

Waiters often use vostè with customers they don’t know, so it’s safe to do the same. In a casual place they may use tu, and you can too.

Primers, segons, postres

Catalan menus are often split into primers (first courses), segons (mains) and postres (desserts). The waiter will ask you what you’ll have, course by course.

Ja sap què prendrà?

Do you know what you’ll have?

Questions about this situation

Which Catalan phrases matter most here?: “Ha reservat taula?” (Have you booked a table); “Té una taula lliure?” (Do you have a free table); “Quantes persones són?” (How many people). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Catalonia. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Catalan

All situations in Catalan

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.