Food and Beverage Vocabulary

This page from our English for F&B Staff covers vocabulary needed by people working in restaurants and bars in an English-speaking context.

Many English words and expressions about food come directly from French. This is why some words about food are written with an accent (for example: à la carte). However, you may also see such words written without accent.

vocabulary part of speech	meaning	example sentence
à la carte	without a side dish	Is it possible to get the steak à la carte? I don't eat potatoes.
à la mode	with ice cream	Would you like your apple pie à la mode?
alcohol, liquor noun	a distilled liquid such as rum or whiskey	This beer has 5% alcohol.
all you can eat	customers pay one fee and can eat as much as they wish	These are all you can eat fries, so let me know if you want more.
appetizer noun	small snack before a meal	Would you like some garlic bread or another appetizer to start?
appetizing adjective	looks pleasing to eat	I'm afraid these pancakes don't look very appetizing.
apron noun	a cloth covering worn over the clothes while cooking	Remove your apron before you come out to the dining room.
awful (taste) adjective	very bad taste	The customer said that her pasta was awful.
bar noun	place in an establishment where people go to get a drink (especially alcoholic drinks)	If you sit up at the bar you don't have to order any food.
barbeque noun/verb	southern style of cooking over a grill	The barbeque wings are our specialty.
barstool noun	tall seats that customers use at the bar	The guest fell off his barstool before he even ordered a drink.
bartender noun	staff member that mixes, pours, and serves alcoholic beverages	I do part-time work as a bartender in a local pub.
beverage noun	drink	Can I bring you some beverages while you look at the menus?
bill, cheque, check noun	the slip of paper that tells the customer how much to pay	Table 3 would like you to bring them their cheque.
black coffee noun	coffee without any milk	Should I bring some cream, or do you take your coffee black?
boil verb	style of cooking that involves placing food in a deep pot of extremely hot water	We usually boil the potatoes first so that they will cook faster.
book off verb	mark a day that you cannot work	I need to book off the first week of May.
booster seat noun	a plastic unit that fits on top of a chair to help small children reach the table	Will your child be needing a booster seat today?
booth, bench noun	type of seating in which people sit side by side on a cushioned area	We'd prefer a booth if you have one available.
booze (slang)	alcohol	You've been into the booze already, haven't you?
bottle opener noun	a device used for opening beer bottles that don't twist off	All of the servers keep bottle openers on their keychains.
bread basket noun	slices of bread and butter served before and with a meal	I'll bring you a bread basket to hold the kids down until dinner.
breaded adjective	rolled and cooked in bread crumbs	The shrimp is breaded in our homemade batter.
buffet noun	self-serve tables of food that are set out for the customer to pick and choose from	The plates and everything you need are up at the buffet.
burnt adjective	overcooked to the point of turning black	The toast is burnt around the edges.
buspan noun	rubber tub used for collecting dirty dishes	The buspan is stacked so high it's too heavy for me to carry.
busboy, busser noun	a person who helps out in a restaurant (especially clearing and setting tables)	Ask the busboy to help you bring out all of the food.
cash noun	paper money payment	I don't have any cash. Do you accept Visa?
cash out verb	counting and submitting the payment of all of the customers bills at the end of one's shift	Don't forget to include any coupons from tonight when you cash out later.
cashier noun	staff member responsible for collecting customer's money at the front of an establishment	We don't have a cashier; you have to pay your server.
charge verb	to add a fee	I will have to charge you an extra dollar to add ice cream.
check on verb	make sure the guests are satisfied	You should always check on your guests about two minutes after you serve the meal.
chef noun	staff member who is professionally trained to prepare food	Our head chef is one of the best cooks in town.
clear verb	remove finished or unused items from a table	You need to clear this table and set it for four.
cocktail noun	an alcoholic drink with juice	Would anyone care for a cocktail on this warm sunny day?
coffee maker noun	machine that dispenses coffee into a glass container for pouring	You need to teach the new waitress how to operate the coffee maker.
coffee round noun	an offering of coffee and refills around a section of a restaurant	Let's ask the busboy to do a coffee round while we take a smoke break.
combo, combination noun	mixture	The combo platter has veggies, ribs, and chicken fingers.
comment card noun	a piece of paper that customers are given to record their dining experience	When she asked for a comment card I knew she was going to complain about the food.
complaint noun	a problem with service or food	The guest brought his complaint to the manager.
condiments noun	types of sauces that are added for flavouring (i.e. mustard)	All of the condiments you should need are on the table.
cook verb/noun	prepare and heat food until it is ready to serve	The guest says that this chicken isn't cooked enough.
corkscrew noun	tool for removing the cork from the top of a wine bottle.	You will need to learn how to work a corkscrew before you start bartending.
counter noun	flat area often used for placing dishes on or preparing food	I left one of the salads on the kitchen counter by mistake.
coupon noun	a slip of paper that offers the customers a discounted rate	Your coupon is only valid for food, not for alcoholic drinks.
complimentary adjective	free of charge	The desserts are complimentary because the dinner took so long.
creamer noun	small plastic container of cream for coffee	Will you need more than two creamers for your coffee?
credit card noun	a plastic card that allows people to pay for something later	You forgot to sign your credit card slip.
customer, guest noun	person who goes to an establishment to be served	It is our policy that the customer is always right.
customer service noun	treatment of guests	Our restaurant got the award for having the best customer service this year.
cutlery, silverware, utensils noun	tools for eating with (fork, knife, spoon)	In a fine dining restaurant the staff has to polish the silverware.
cut (sby) off verb	stop serving a customer any more alcohol	I cut off the man with the beard because he'd had too much to drink. I had to cut him off.
debit (card) noun	a kind of bank card used to pay directly from bank account	Can we pay by debit here, or do you only take credit cards?
deep fried adjective	cooked in a large pot of oil	Most of the appetizers on our menu are deep fried.
defrost, thaw verb	remove frozen food from the freezer to prepare	Don't forget to defrost some pies for tomorrow.
delicious adjective	very good taste	The cookies were so delicious they were gone in half an hour.
delivery noun	food brought to the home	Do you have delivery or do we have to come in to eat?
designated driver	person in a party who agrees not to consume alcohol in order to drive everyone home safely	Is there a designated driver in your party or are you taking a taxi?
dessert noun	sweet treat after a meal	I think we're too full to have dessert tonight.
dessert tray noun	a plate of all of the desserts that customers can view and order from	I'll bring the dessert tray around and see if I can tempt any of you with a slice of cake or pie.
dirty dishes	plates that customers are finished with	I'll just clear these dirty dishes and make some room for you.
discount noun	at a cheaper cost	We got a discount because we are regular customers.
dishpit noun	area in the restaurant where the dirty dishes are placed.	Jody is not going to want to go into the dishpit today.
dishwasher noun	the staff member/machine that washes the dirty dishes	Can you bring the dishwasher these pans to clean?
doggie bag noun	unfinished food that is packed up for the customer to take home	I can't finish my steak, but I'll take a doggie bag.
double noun	two shots of alcohol in one drink	Make that a double in a tall glass, please.
draft noun	beer from a keg that pours out of a tap	We have a selection of local beers on draft.
dressing noun	liquid topping for salads	Would you like Italian or French dressing?
dry adjective	no sauce	I'll have dry toast with two eggs.
entrée, main course noun	the largest part of a meal (after appetizer, before dessert)	The entrées are after the lunch specials on page 6 of the menu.
fast-food noun	an eatery that offers quick inexpensive food	We don't provide table service. This is a fast-food restaurant.
fine dining noun	a very expensive eating establishment	The waiters wear bowties because it's a fine dining restaurant.
float noun	small amount of cash used to make change at the beginning of a server or bartender's shift	I need a roll of quarters for my float.
free refills	beverages that can be filled again without any cost	Have all of the soda you want; it's free refills here.
fry verb	cook over an element in oil	Don't fry the vegetables too long or they will go soggy.
garnish noun/verb	food that is added to a plate for appearance or colour(i.e. parsley or fruit)	Don't forget to garnish all of the entrees that go out.
glassware noun	group of drinking glasses	Make sure the glassware doesn't have any spots before you put it away.
gloves noun	(plastic) covering for the hands to prevent the spread of germs	Whenever you are handling food make sure you are wearing gloves.
gratuity, tip noun	extra money given as a thank you for service	When we have a large party we're allowed to add a 15% gratuity to the bill.
greet verb	say hello and welcome customers to the establishment	Your priority as a hostess is to greet the guests at the door with a smile.
grill noun/verb	cooking over iron slats that allow for oil and fat to drop down	The healthiest way to prepare meat is on a grill.
hairnet noun	a covering worn on the head while preparing food	If you don't want to wear a hat, you can wear a hairnet.
happy hour noun	short amount of time when alcoholic drinks are on sale	We're expecting a rush because it's almost happy hour.
highball noun	alcohol served with soda	Our highballs are on for half price today.
highchair noun	a tall chair with a plastic tray designed for a baby	The party is for ten plus a highchair.
hold verb	leave off/without	I'll take a hamburger, hold the bun.
homemade adjective	made from a recipe	We serve the best homemade soup in town.
host, hostess noun	staff member in charge of greeting and seating customers in a restaurant	Please wait and the hostess will seat you.

ingredients noun	all of the different foods that are combined in a recipe	I'll check the ingredients to make sure there aren't any nuts.
kettle noun	pot for boiling water for tea	I'll put the kettle on and make some fresh tea.
last call noun	the last chance for a person to get an alcoholic drink before the establishment closes	We'll have two more screwdrivers for last call.
lemon, lime wedge noun	a small segment of lemon or lime put on the rim of a glass	I'd like a lemon wedge for my ice water please.
lineup noun/verb	a number of people waiting for something	Is this the lineup to pay or get seated?
liqueur noun	alcohol that has a syrupy/sweet taste	Can I offer you a coffee liqueur to go with your dessert?
make change	give customers money back from a payment	We can make change if all you have is large notes.
manager noun	person in charge of a section of a restaurant	I'd like to speak to the floor manager about the service.
melt verb	warm to soften (i.e. cheese/butter)	First, melt two tablespoons of butter in the microwave.
menu noun	a booklet of all of the food that can be ordered	Do you have a children's menu we could see?
microwave noun	a small appliance that heats and cooks food quickly	We can heat your dinner in the microwave if you like.
mild adjective	not spicy	I'd like a half dozen mild chicken wings.
nightclub noun	establishment where adults go to dance and drink alcoholic beverages	If you work at the nightclub you will have to stay until 2 AM.
non-alcoholic beverage	a drink that resembles a certain drink without the alcohol	Can I order a non alcoholic beer?
notepad noun	paper that a server uses to write down orders	Just let me grab my notepad and I'll take your order.
on the rocks	on ice	I'll take a whiskey on the rocks.
on the side	request for a food item to NOT be put on top of another food item	For the nachos, can we have the sour cream on the side?
order verb/noun	make a request to a server	Is everyone ready to order lunch now?
overcharge verb	give a customer a bill that is too high (by mistake)	I think you overcharged us for our drinks; we only had one each.
pack up verb	put in a take-out container for the customer to bring home	Would you like me to pack up the rest of that pizza?
party noun	group of people at or waiting for a table	A party of twelve just walked in without a reservation.
patio noun	outdoor seeating	We closed the patio because it looks like it's going to rain.
paycheque noun	money given to the staff every week or two	You'll get a paycheque every other Monday.
pitcher, jug noun	a container with a spout to pour water, beer, or other beverages out of	We'll take a pitcher of beer with four glasses.
portion noun/verb	a separate amount of food	The chicken fingers are already portioned in the freezer.
pour verb	dispense liquid from a container	Can I pour you folks another glass of water?
prepare verb	get food ready	The servers have to prepare the salads themselves.
pub noun	establishment that specializes in casual food and alcoholic beverages	I can wear whatever I want when I work at the pub.
punch clock (used with punch card)	a machine that staff members place a card into when they begin and finish a work shift	I don't want staff members hanging around the punch clock.
punch in, punch out verb	put a card in the punch clock to mark the time you start and end a shift	You can punch out as soon as you finish sweeping the floors.
punch something in verb	enter an order into a computer system	I'm going to punch in a large order now, so get ready.
rare adjective	cooked meat that is pink inside	This steak is too rare for me to eat.
recipe noun	list of ingredients and instructions for preparing a certain type of food	Our chef is so talented that he almost never bothers with a recipe.
regulars noun	people who come into an establishment often	You can give the regulars a complimentary drink from time to time.
reservation noun	a request to have a table saved for a certain amount of people	We don't take any reservations; it's first come first served here.
restrooms noun	place for people to use a toilet and wash hands	The restrooms are to your left and down the stairs.
roll-up noun	a set of cutlery wrapped in a napkin	Before we punch out we have to prepare enough roll-ups for the night shift.
rush noun	a large amount of customers arriving at the same time	We always have a rush after church on Sundays.
rush noun/verb	prepare quickly for a certain reason	Can you put a rush on this spaghetti; I forgot to punch it in.
sauce noun	liquid flavouring added to food	What kind of sauce would you like on your ice cream, butterscotch or chocolate?
schedule noun/verb	a notice of the time and date each staff member has to work in a certain period of time	If you want to book off a day, let me know before I make the schedule.
seasoning noun	dry flavouring added to food	He wants the chicken plain without any seasoning.
self-serve adjective	the customers bring their own food items to the table and do not pay for service	We have a buffet on, so it's self-serve for lunch.
senior's discount noun	a reduced price for people over a certain age (e.g. over 65)	We have a senior's discount of 25% on Mondays.
separate cheques	a different bill for each member/group sitting at a table	We asked for separate cheques but it all came on one bill.
serve verb	look after a customer, bring items to a customer	Is there someone in charge of serving out on the patio?
set verb	get a table ready with items such as cutlery and glassware	I need you to clear and set table five for a party of eight.
shade noun	place outside that is not in the sun	We'd like to sit on the patio if there is any shade.
shot noun	one ounce of alcohol served in a small glass (shot glass)	Let's do a shot to get this party started.
shooter noun	an ounce of alcohol and juice combined	Is there a shooter that has orange juice in it?
side dish noun	choice of food that goes with a main meal	The two side dishes are mashed potatoes or french fries.
sour adjective	acid or fermented taste	I think the milk has gone sour from sitting out of the fridge too long.
sous chef noun	staff member who works under and assists the main chef	Our sous chef is leaving to become the head chef at another restaurant.
specials noun	items that were prepared particularly for a certain day and are usually at a reduced price	Would you like to hear the specials before you decide on lunch.
specialty noun	food item that a restaurant is popular for	Homemade fish and chips is our specialty.
spicy adjective	hot flavour	Any item with three chilies beside it means that the dish is very spicy.
stay verb	to eat in the restaurant	Are these coffees to go or to stay.
stir, mix verb	spin round and round with a spoon	Stir the soup for a few minutes before you serve it.
straw noun	long hollow plastic stick for drinking out of	Can I please get a straw for my ice tea?
straight up adjective	alcoholic drink without any mix or ice	He always has a straight up glass of rum after his meal.
substitute verb	replace one item for another	Can I substitute the carrots for corn?
supervisor noun	staff member in charge of watching over things and dealing with problems	When I'm not here George will be your supervisor.
sweet adjective	taste with a lot of sugar	If you like sweet things, you'll love our chocolate cheesecake.
take out verb take-out adjective	food that is packed up and eaten at home	You can either eat in or order food to take out.
two-minute check	a visit to a table approximately two minutes after the food has been served to check for satisfaction	Don't forget to do your two-minute check to make sure the steak is cooked properly.
terminal noun	computer system for punching in food orders	There's one terminal in the kitchen and one on the bar.
till noun	drawer of a cash register that money is kept in	You need a key to open the till and make change.
to go verb	to take out of the restaurant	We're just going to order a pizza to go.
toppings noun	food items that go on top of other food items to add flavour	What type of toppings would you like to have on your pizza?
uniform noun	clothing that staff members have to wear	The uniform here is black pants and a white shirt.
waiter, waitress noun	staff member in charge of taking orders and serving food and beverages	When I got promoted from a hostess to a waitress I started making tips.
waiting list noun	list of groups who want a table to eat at	We have a twenty minute waiting list tonight.
warm up verb	heat food to an enjoyable temperature for eating	Would you mind warming up the baby's bottle for me?
well- done adjective	cooked for longer than average	The meat was so well-done it had no flavour.
wine list noun	a menu of all of the wine you can order from the glass, litre, or bottle	You will notice that we have a lot of local wine on our wine list.
winery noun	a place where wine is made, tasted, and sold	There is another winery up the hill that you might enjoy stopping at.
wine-tasting adjective	sampling different types of wine	If you are interested in trying some wines you should go on a wine-tasting tour.