German at the restaurant and café
Phrases and vocabulary for ordering, allergies, special requests, and paying at a restaurant or café.
Mention allergies at the start
Tell the server before you order what you cannot have. They can then suggest suitable dishes.
Announce splitting the bill in advance
If you want to split the bill, mention it before the check comes. It saves time and avoids confusion.
Round up the total when tipping
It is common to round up by five to ten percent. State the total you want to pay when handing over the money.
Seating: sit down yourself or wait to be seated?
In German cafés and bistros you generally seat yourself. In more upmarket restaurants you wait at the door until a member of staff says 'Ich bringe Sie zu Ihrem Tisch' (I will take you to your table). When in doubt, ask: 'Können wir uns einfach hinsetzen?' (Can we just sit down?) — most staff appreciate being asked.
Reserving a table
You are calling to reserve a table.
Hello, I would like to reserve a table for four for Saturday at seven p.m.
Under which name should I make the reservation?
Adjusting your order
You want a dish without one ingredient.
Could you make the pasta without cream, please? I cannot have dairy.
Is there an alternative you would recommend?
Paying and tipping
You want to pay and leave an appropriate tip.
We would like to pay. Make it fifty euros, please.
Could we have a receipt as well?
Mentioning allergies when being seated
You are being shown to your table and want to immediately inform the server about your peanut allergy.
Before we order: I have a severe peanut allergy. Could you please check with the kitchen which dishes are safe for me?
Of course, I will speak directly with the head chef and come back to you.
How do I say I eat vegetarian or vegan?
Say: Ich esse vegetarisch (I eat vegetarian) or Ich esse vegan. Then ask: Which dishes are suitable for me?
How do I order tap water?
Tap water is unusual in Germany. Ask politely: Could we have a glass of tap water? — it sometimes costs a little.
How do I say the food is cold?
Say politely: Excuse me, the food is unfortunately cold. Could you reheat it, please?
How can I reserve a table if my German is not very good yet?
The simplest formula on the phone is: 'Guten Tag, ich möchte einen Tisch für [number] Personen am [day] um [time] Uhr reservieren. Mein Name ist [name].' Many restaurants also offer online booking — for example via their website or platforms like TheFork (formerly LaFourchette) — where no speaking is required.
How do I complain about a dish without sounding rude?
Always start with 'Entschuldigung' (excuse me) and use 'leider' (unfortunately): 'Entschuldigung, das Fleisch ist leider noch roh. Könnten Sie es bitte zurückgehen lassen?' (the meat is unfortunately still raw — could you please send it back?) or 'Entschuldigung, ich glaube, das ist nicht meine Bestellung' (I think this is not my order). Using 'könnten Sie' (Konjunktiv II) instead of 'müssen Sie' keeps the tone polite and matter-of-fact.
How do I tip correctly in Germany?
When you pay, you state the total amount you want to give. Example: the bill is €23.50, you hand over a €50 note and say 'Stimmt so' (keep the change) or name a round amount: '26 Euro, bitte' — meaning €2.50 tip. Tips are not left on the table but handed directly to the server.
Related Verbs
Open verb collectionsRelated Topics
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