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German phrases for ordering the lunch menu of the day in Germany

At lunchtime many German restaurants offer a Mittagstisch or Tagesgericht, usually one main dish at a set price. Ask “Was ist das Tagesgericht?”, then choose with “Ich nehme das Hähnchen”. Drinks are ordered separately: “Wasser, bitte”. When you’re done, say “Die Rechnung, bitte”.

Try it · about two minutes

At a local restaurant at lunchtime you ask for the dish of the day, and finish with a coffee.

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

How does the conversation usually go?

  1. Server

    Hier ist die Speisekarte.

    Here is the menu.

    You

    Was ist das Tagesgericht?

    What is the dish of the day?

  2. Server

    Heute gibt es Hähnchen mit Reis oder eine Gemüsepfanne. Eine kleine Suppe vorweg ist dabei.

    Today there’s chicken with rice or a vegetable pan. A small soup to start comes with it.

    You

    Ich nehme das Hähnchen.

    I’ll have the chicken.

  3. Server

    Möchten Sie etwas trinken?

    Would you like something to drink?

    You

    Wasser, bitte.

    Water, please.

  4. Server

    Ist alles in Ordnung?

    Is everything all right?

    You

    Danke, es schmeckt sehr gut.

    Thank you, it’s very good.

  5. Server

    Möchten Sie die Dessertkarte sehen?

    Would you like the dessert menu?

    You

    Nein, danke. Nur einen Kaffee, bitte.

    No, thank you. Just a coffee, please.

  6. The lunch rush is over and you’ve finished your coffee. It’s time to pay.

    You

    Die Rechnung, bitte.

    The bill, please.

Which German phrases do you need?

  • Was ist das Tagesgericht?

    What is the dish of the day?

  • Was empfehlen Sie?

    What do you recommend?

  • Ich nehme das Hähnchen.

    I’ll have the chicken.

  • Ich hätte gern die Suppe.

    I’d like the soup, please.

  • Möchten Sie etwas trinken?

    Would you like something to drink?

  • Wasser, bitte.

    Water, please.

  • Still oder mit Kohlensäure?

    Still or sparkling?

  • Möchten Sie die Dessertkarte sehen?

    Would you like the dessert menu?

  • Danke, es schmeckt sehr gut.

    Thank you, it’s very good.

  • Die Rechnung, bitte.

    The bill, please.

What is worth knowing in Germany?

How a lunch deal works

  1. 1

    Look for a board outside or a line on the menu: Mittagstisch, Tagesgericht or Tagesmenü.

  2. 2

    It is often one main dish, sometimes with a soup or salad. Ask what comes with it.

    What is the dish of the day?
  3. 3

    Drinks and coffee are usually ordered, and paid for, on top.

Lunch is a midday offer

The lunch special is usually served only around midday, often on weekdays. Arrive by early afternoon, or the kitchen may have moved on to the full menu.

Guten Appetit

When the food arrives, the server or the people you’re eating with may wish you “Guten Appetit”. Answer with “Danke, gleichfalls” or “Danke, Ihnen auch”.

Danke, gleichfalls.

Thanks, you too.

Questions about this situation

Which German phrases matter most here?
“Was ist das Tagesgericht?” (What is the dish of the day); “Was empfehlen Sie?” (What do you recommend); “Ich nehme das Hähnchen.” (I’ll have the chicken). 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 Germany. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in German

All situations in German

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.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.