How to Order Food in a German Restaurant
Ordering food in Germany is easy once you know the steps and a few polite phrases. In this lesson, Johannes from YourGermanTeacher takes you through a full restaurant visit, from finding a table to paying and tipping, and adds the customs you should know.
Before You Sit Down
Most German restaurants show die Speisekarte (the menu) outside. The prices already include everything, so there are no hidden fees. Do not just sit down: first ask for a table with Haben Sie noch einen Tisch für zwei Personen?
Use die Bedienung to address a waiter or waitress. Der Kellner and die Kellnerin describe the profession (Ich bin Kellner.) but you do not call them that. Never shout for service: make eye contact and raise your hand.
Step by Step: Phrases for Every Moment
| Situation | German phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Asking for a table | Haben Sie noch einen Tisch für zwei Personen? | Do you still have a table for two? |
| Waiter offers drinks | Darf ich Ihnen schon etwas zu trinken bringen? | May I bring you something to drink? |
| Not ready yet | Wir brauchen noch einen Moment. | We need a moment. |
| Ready to order | Wir würden gerne bestellen. | We would like to order. |
| Ordering a drink | Ich hätte gerne eine Cola. / Ich nehme ein großes Bier. | I would like a cola. / I'll take a large beer. |
| Starter | Dann bitte zweimal die Tomatensuppe. | Two tomato soups, please. |
| Main course | Als Hauptgericht hätte ich gerne die Käsespätzle. | As a main course I would like the Käsespätzle. |
| Smaller portion | Machen Sie auch kleine Portionen? | Do you also do small portions? |
| Asking for salt | Könnten wir bitte Salz und Pfeffer haben? | Could we have salt and pepper? |
| Waiter checks | War alles in Ordnung? / Hat es Ihnen geschmeckt? | Was everything OK? / Did you like it? |
| Answering | Alles bestens. | Everything was great. |
| Asking for the toilet | Entschuldigung, ich suche die Toilette. | Excuse me, I'm looking for the toilet. |
| Paying | Die Rechnung, bitte. / Wir würden gerne zahlen. | The bill, please. / We would like to pay. |
| Together or separate | Zusammen oder getrennt? - Zusammen, bitte. | Together or separate? - Together, please. |
| Cash or card | Zahlen Sie bar oder mit Karte? - Wir zahlen bar. | Do you pay cash or by card? - We pay cash. |
Würden gerne, hätte gerne and könnten are all Konjunktiv II forms. They sound polite, and you can learn them as fixed phrases now and study the grammar later. Also note the word for dessert: das Dessert, der Nachtisch and die Nachspeise all mean the same.
Paying and Tipping
In the video the bill is 48 euros 60 (achtundvierzig Euro sechzig). The usual tip is about 10 percent. You hand over the money and say Stimmt so. (Keep the change.) Or you name the total you want to pay: Machen Sie 55. (Make it 55.) Then the waiter gives back the difference.
Customs to Know
- Look at the portion sizes around you before ordering. They can be big, so ask for a small portion if you know you cannot finish.
- Keine eigenen Speisen und Getränke: you may not bring your own food or drinks, not even water.
- Do not slurp, smack or burp while eating: nicht schlürfen, schmatzen, rülpsen.
- Sei geduldig! Sometimes you wait 20 to 30 minutes for your food. That is normal in Germany.
What to Learn Next
Learn the travel vocabulary in Public Transport in Germany: Vocabulary and Phrases and the verb empfehlen in German Verbs with Dative and Accusative Objects. For polite questions, see Du or Sie? Formal vs Informal German.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ask for a table in a German restaurant?
Ask Haben Sie noch einen Tisch für zwei Personen? Do not sit down first. Wait until someone shows you a table or says you can sit anywhere.
How do I call the waiter in German?
Make eye contact and raise your hand. Use die Bedienung when speaking about staff. Shouting Bedienung is considered rude.
How do I say I would like to order in German?
Say Wir würden gerne bestellen. To order, use Ich hätte gerne ... or Ich nehme ...
How much tip do you give in Germany?
About 10 percent is normal. You say Stimmt so to let the waiter keep the change, or you say Machen Sie 55 to name the total you want to pay.
Can I bring my own food to a restaurant in Germany?
No. Bringing your own food and drinks is not allowed, not even water.
Want to feel confident in everyday situations like this one? Learn step by step with our A1 German online course and practise real conversations.
