Eating Out in Russian
The café lesson got you coffee; this one gets you a full dinner — ordered the way Russians actually order, with a case ending hiding in every cup of tea.
The Scene
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| ресторан | restaurant |
| меню | menu (never changes form) |
| официант | waiter |
| счёт | the bill |
| салат / суп / десерт | salad / soup / dessert |
Счёт, пожалуйста!
The bill, please!
Note: Two words that end every meal in the Russian-speaking world.
Я буду…
The native way to order — literally "I will (have)":
Я буду суп и салат.
I'll have the soup and a salad.
Note: Softer than «дайте», smoother than pointing. This is how Russians order.
Что вы будете?
What will you have?
Я буду борщ и блины.
I'll have the borscht and blini.
Что-нибудь пить?
Anything to drink?
Чашку чая, пожалуйста.
A cup of tea, please.
A Cup of What?
Measures take the genitive — of tea, of water, of juice:
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| чашка чая | a cup of tea |
| стакан воды | a glass of water |
| бутылка сока | a bottle of juice |
| тарелка супа | a bowl of soup |
The genitive you learned for absence does quantities too — English says of, Russian says an ending.
Table Blessings
| Russian | When |
|---|---|
| Приятного аппетита! | when someone starts eating — bon appétit |
| Очень вкусно! | verdict on the food |
| За вас! | raising a glass — to you! |
Common Mistakes
- Bending меню. Borrowed words don't decline: в меню, из меню — always меню.
- «Дайте счёт». Fine, but Счёт, пожалуйста is smoother — the noun alone does the work.
- Чашка чай. The measure needs its genitive: чашка чая.
What You Can Do Now
You can order a starter, a main and a drink, compliment the kitchen, toast your company and get the bill — an entire restaurant evening in Russian.