Another way of making a suggestion is to use ¿Por qué no? (Why dont?).
Why dont?
¿Por qué no pruebas el pescado?Why don't you try the fish?¿Por qué no tomas otra copa de vino?Why don't you have another glass of wine?¿Por qué no tomamos un café para terminar?Why don't we have a coffee to finish with?No sé qué pedir. ¿Por qué no decides tú?I dont know what to choose. Why dont you decide?You could also try making suggestions about where or what you should eat using ¿Qué te parece si? or ¿Qué tal si?, which both mean How about?
How about?
¿Qué te parece si pedimos unas tapas?How about having some tapas?¿Qué te parece si pedimos una botella de cava?How about having a bottle of cava?¿Qué te parece si pedimos otra ración?How about asking for another portion?¿Qué tal si vamos a un restaurante gallego?How about going to a Galician restaurant?¿Qué tal si probamos los mejillones?How about trying the mussels?¿LO SABÍAS?
Dont use un or una in front of otro and otra (another). To say another glass of wine, for instance, you just say otra copa de vino.
To ask someone what they think, use ¿Crees que deberíamos? (Do you think we should?).
Do you think we should?
¿Crees que deberíamos reservar mesa?Do you think we should book a table?¿Crees que deberíamos tomar la paella?Do you think we should go for the paella?¿Qué vino crees que deberíamos tomar con esto? ¿Blanco o tinto?What sort of wine do you think we should have with this? White or red?What would you recommend?
No sé qué tomar de postre, ¿qué me recomienda?I dont know what to have for dessert. What would you recommend?No puedo decidirme entre la paella y el pescado. ¿Cuál me recomienda?I cant make up my mind between the paella and the fish. Which would you recommend?¿Recomienda usted algún plato de la zona?Is there a local dish youd recommend?COMPLAINING
If youre unfortunate enough to have something to complain about, remember that estar is the verb to use to talk about temporary, changeable qualities. For more on ser and estar, see here.
is
El café está frío.The coffees cold.El pan está duro.The breads stale.El vino está malo.The wines corked.El filete no está muy bien hecho.This steak isnt very well cooked.You may want to say that theres too much of something or that there isnt enough of something. You can use demasiado and suficiente to do this.
too much
Hay demasiado ajo en esta salsa.Theres too much garlic in the sauce.La verdura tiene demasiada sal.Theres too much salt in the vegetables.No hay suficiente pan para todos.There isnt enough bread for everyone.No hay suficientes copas.There arent enough glasses.¿LO SABÍAS?
Dont forget to change the endings of demasiado and suficiente to go with the noun they describe. For more information on agreement of adjectives, see here.
You can also use demasiado to mean too. In this case, the ending always stays the same.
too
La música está demasiado fuerte.The musics too loud.Esta mesa está demasiado cerca de la cocina.This tables too close to the kitchen.You can say that something has run out by using no queda (there isnt anyleft).
There isnt anyleft
No queda pan.There isnt any bread left.No queda vinagre en la vinagrera.There isnt any vinegar left in the bottle.LISTEN OUT FOR
Here are some of the key phrases you may hear when going out for a meal.
¿Le vendría bien a las nueve?Would nine oclock suit you?¿Tienen reserva?Have you got a reservation?¿A nombre de quién está hecha la reserva?Under what names the booking?Estamos completos.Were full.Sígame, por favor.Follow me, please.Pasen por aquí.This way please. (to more than one person)Pase por aquí.This way please. (to one person)Aquí tiene la carta de vinos.Heres the wine list.El plato del día es la paella.The dish of the day is paella.La merluza se nos ha terminado.There isnt any hake left.Es una especialidad de la zona.Its a local speciality.¿Han decidido ya?Are you ready to order?¿Qué va a tomar?What are you going to have?¿Qué va a beber?What will you have to drink?¿Qué desea tomar?What would you like?Le recomendaría el pescado.Id recommend the fish.¿Quieren beber algo primero?Would you like anything to drink first?¿Quieren café?Would you like any coffee?En seguida se lo traigo.Ill bring it right away.Aquí lo tiene.Here it is.¿Desea alguna cosa más?Would you like anything else?En un momento estoy con usted.Ill be right with you.A esto les invita la casa.This is on the house.Lifestyle Tips
Spaniards usually dont have lunch till around two or three and may not start their evening meal till nine, ten or even later. So it isnt advisable to go out for dinner too early. If you cant wait, however, you will find bars serving tapas