The vocabulary here is small and highly repetitive, which makes it one of the fastest areas to become genuinely comfortable in.

At a restaurant

  • "A table for two, please."
  • "Could we see the menu?"
  • "What would you recommend?"
  • "I'll have the paneer tikka, please."
  • "Does this contain nuts?"
  • "Could I get that without onions?"

While eating

  • "Could we get some more water?"
  • "This isn't what I ordered, I'm afraid."
  • "Everything was lovely, thank you."

Paying

  • "Could we have the bill, please?" (British) / "Can we get the check?" (American)
  • "Do you take card?"
  • "Can we split it?"
  • "Keep the change."

At a café, to go

  • "A medium latte, to go please."
  • "For here or takeaway?" — the question you will be asked
  • "Could I get that with oat milk?"

Shopping

  • "I'm just looking, thanks."
  • "Do you have this in a medium?"
  • "Where are the changing rooms?"
  • "Is this on sale?"
  • "Can I return it if it doesn't fit?"

Two words worth knowing

Takeaway (UK) and to go (US) mean the same thing. Similarly bill and check. Either is understood almost everywhere, so pick one and stop worrying about it.

Staff in restaurants and shops hear non-native English all day. They are the most patient audience you will ever get — use them as practice.