If you’re visiting Colombia and wanna know what kind of expressions people use here when ordering food, this is the perfect post for you. You’ll find some common words at the restaurant and learn natural ways for expressing what you’d like to eat. At the end, you’ll see some conversations as example.
The word «regalar»
This is one of our favorite words, the literal translation of regalar is «to give away», but when a colombian uses it, he’s not asking for something for free, it’s just a colloquial word we use at restaurants, or when we wanna buy something.
It’s just used in Colombia, so avoid using it in other countries since they’ll be more likely to think you’re a freeloader. We also use it as a synonym of «to bring».
How to use «Regalar»?
We can include regalar in sentences like: «Regálame una botella de agua, por favor» or if you wanna sound more polite but still using it, you could say: «Me podría regalar la cuenta, por favor», or «¿Me regala otra empanada, por favor?»
It’s totally natural to use it that way, and people won’t think you’re rude, it’s just a natural way we use for asking someone for giving us or bringing something to our table.
Do we use: «Quisiera», «Me gustaría» or «Deseo»?
In Colombia, we’re pretty casual when ordering food, so we usually use «Quiero» or «Me regala». It’s pretty direct, but it’s something natural for us, and it’s part of our culture.
If you don’t feel comfortable using these words, the best options would be using «¿Me podría traer…?/could you bring me…?» or «¿Me puede dar…/can you give me…?»
On the other hand, the servers will keep formal but friendly manners, and it’s very common to hear «quisiera», «le gustaría» or «desea» from them.
They’ll be more likely to use the formal form of «you»: «usted». If you wanna sound formal, you can do it, but using «tú» is totally fine too.
Paying by installments. ¿A cuántas cuotas?
When it’s time for paying with your credit card, the server will ask you ¿A cuántas cuotas? refering to how long you wanna take for paying the bill, say, you wanna pay it in 3 months, so you have to say «3», that way, the total amount would be divided and you’ll have to pay just a portion of the debt during those 3 months.
In some countries, it might sound silly, but in Colombia this is very common, we tend to pay meals or even our groceries by splitting the total amount of money, we love having the option of paying by installments.
Leaving a tip. ¿Desea incluir el servicio?
The tip at the restaurant is usually between 10% to 20% depending on the restaurant you’re in. It’s not mandary, though. However, when you ask for the check, the server will ask you «¿Desea incluir el servicio?», which is an equivalent for Would you like to leave a tip? If accept the request, the server will automatically add the porcentage the restaurant has for the tips, before printing it.
Let’s practice
Parte 1
- Mesera: Buenas tardes, bienvenido. ¿Una mesa para cuántos?
- Cliente: ¡Buenas tardes! Solo para mí.
- Mesera: Claro que sí, ¿prefiere una mesa aquí o en la terraza?
- Cliente: Por aquí está bien.
- Mesera: Listo, muy bien. Aquí puede leer el menú.
- Cliente: Perfecto, muchas gracias.
- Mesera: ¿Desea alguna bebida antes de pedir?
- Cliente: Sí, ¿por favor me trae un vaso de agua?
- Mesera: Claro que sí, ya se lo traigo.
- Cliente: Muchas gracias.
Part 1
- Waitress: Good afternoon, welcome!. A table for…?
- Customer: Good afternoon! Just for me.
- Waitress: Of course, do you prefer a table here or on the terrace?
- Customer: It’s okay around here.
- Waitress: Alright. You can read the menu here.
- Customer: Perfect, thank you very much.
- Waitress: Would you like any kind of drink before ordering?
- Customer: Yes, would you bring me a glass of water, please?
- Waitress: Of course, I’ll bring it right away.
- Customer: Thanks a lot!
Parte 2. La mesera trae el vaso con agua
- Mesera: Aquí está el agua, ¿ya está listo para ordenar?
- Cliente: Sí, de entrada, me regalas por favor unas empanadas de carne.
- Mesera: Perfecto, ¿algo más?
- Cliente: Sí, también quiero un patacón con pollo y carne, y de tomar una limonada natural, por favor.
- Mesera: Excelente elección. ¿Desea algo más?
- Cliente: No, así estoy bien, muchas gracias.
Part 2. The waitress brings the glass of water
- Waitress: Here is the water, are you ready to order?
- Customer: Yes, for starter, I’ll have some meat empanadas, please.
- Waitress: Perfect!, anything else?
- Customer: Yes, I’d also like a patacón with chicken and meat, and a natural lemonade, please.
- Waitress: Nice choice. Would you like anything else?
- Customer: No, that’ll be all, thank you very much.
15 minutos después
- Mesera: Aquí está su comida. ¡Buen provecho!
- Cliente: ¡Muchas gracias!
- Mesera: Con gusto, cualquier problema con la comida me cuenta, por favor.
- Cliente: Bueno, Muchas gracias.
15 minutes later
- Waitress: Here’s your food, bon appetit!
- Customer: Thanks a lot!
- Waitress: You’re welcome, if you have any problem with the food, please let me know.
- Customer: Alright! thank you very much.
Al terminar de comer, la mesera llega de nuevo
- Mesera: ¿Qué tal la comida?
- Cliente: Todo está muy rico.
- Mesera: ¡Qué bueno! ¿Le puedo retirar los platos?
- Cliente: Sí, sí, claro.
- Mesera: ¿Desea algún tipo de postre? Tenemos torta de chocolate, torta de queso y helado.
- Cliente: ¿Cuál me recomienda?
- Mesera: La torta de queso es nuestra especialidad.
- Cliente: Ah, genial. Tráigame porfa un pie de queso y me regala la cuenta, también.
- Mesera: Claro, ¿desea incluir el servicio?
- Cliente: Sí, por supuesto.
When you’re done, the waitress shows up again
- Waitress: How’s the meal?
- Customer: Everything is pretty delicious
- Waitress: So glad! Can I take the dishes?
- Customer: Sure, of course!.
- Waitress: Would you like any kind of dessert? We have chocolate cake, cheesecake and ice cream.
- Customer: Which one do you recommend?
- Waitress: The cheese cake is our specialty.
- Customer: Okay, great! Bring me a cheesecake please, and could you bring me the check, too, please?.
- Waitress: Sure, would you like to leave a tip?
- Customer: Yes, of course.
Pagando la cuenta
- Mesera: Aquí está la cuenta. ¿Paga en efectivo o con tarjeta?
- Cliente: Con tarjeta de crédito.
- Mesera: ¿A cuántas cuotas?
- Cliente: Una, por favor.
- Mesera: ¿Desea copia del recibo?
- Cliente: No, así está bien.
- Mesera: Bueno, eso es todo. ¡Muchas gracias por su visita, feliz noche!
- Cliente: Gracias, igualmente.
Paying the check
- Waitress: Here’s the bill. You’re paying in cash or by card?
- Customer: By credit card
- Waitress: How many installments?
- Customer: One, please.
- Waitress: Would you like a copy of the receipt?
- Customer: No, that’s fine.
- Waitress: Well… that’s it. Thank you very much for your visit, have a good evening!
- Customer: Thanks, likewise.
Sample video
Here’s a video created by Why not Spanish? explaining some basic expressions we use in Colombia plus a real example at a restaurant.
when are you and Cody posting more content? You’re the best on the Net!
Hey! Thanks for your comment, I’ll be posting more pretty soon! 🙂