Essential Restaurant Phrases and Terms to Learn Before Traveling to Western Europe

Ask anyone who has traveled to a foreign country and they'll tell you that what you eat, and how much you pay for it, while abroad can make or break your entire trip. While most of the major cities in Western Europe have English speaking staff in their larger and more popular restaurants, don't count on that being true in the countryside. Not only that, but smaller bistros, cafes, etc., may not have English speaking staff at all. And while you may be able to glance at a few foreign words and know what their English menu equivalents are by mere inference, will you know how to send your steak back if it isn't cooked properly? Probably not. Fortunately, those in the restaurant business in Western Europe are usually quite adept at interpreting the choppy requests of foreigners. Knowing a few basic terms in the main language of your country of choice, however, can make the difference between a delightful culinary experience and a vacation spent in search of antacids. Before you hop on that international flight, check out the following essential restaurant phrases and terms to learn before traveling to Western Europe.

Tip #1: Size matters. Learn how to say "small," "medium," "large," "bigger," and "smaller" before you hit a foreign restaurant for the first time. While size options aren't always the same in Western European restaurants as they are in America, your waiter should understand what you are asking for if you know these terms. Know that you'll likely be offered a large, almost family sized portion in smaller, chain style establishments if you aren't specific.

Tip #2: Learn how to ask for extra silverware. If you're eating at a small family sandwich shop in the French countryside and you need a knife, using your hand to make a sawing motion at the waiter might be a little embarrassing.

Tip #3: Train yourself to ask for a "toilet." In many areas of Western Europe, there is no such thing as a "restroom" or "bathroom." While it may seem improper to us, it's quite acceptable to refer to the bathroom literally as a "toilet" in most of Western Europe. If you ask your waiter where the bathroom is, your translation of the combined words "bath" and "room" may come off literally to him or her as a place to bathe. Not what you want. When researching the term for bathroom in the foreign language you'll need to study, look for the word "toilet" instead.

Tip #4: "Rare", "medium rare", "medium well", and "well" are terms that might not be as clear or important as "cook more" or "cook less." Because our interpretations can be skewed, learning how to send food back is just as important as knowing how to ask for it initially.

Tip #5: The word "problem" is your best friend in a Western European restaurant. If you want to communicate that you don't agree with a charge on your bill or that the food is unacceptable, depending on your waiter to read your facial expressions and understand your angry English might not be the most effective route. If you can say that you have a "problem," and from there point out what it is as best you can, you can at least get your waiter or cashier headed in the right direction.

Tip #6: Learn how to say "I'm allergic to (insert allergen)." Many first time travelers neglect to think of this very important phrase until they are at the dinner table. Be sure to also learn the variations of the word that depicts your allergen. Because words can be entirely different in two dialects of the same language, knowing how to communicate your allergens in restaurants throughout the country is key to preventing a vacation crisis.

Tip #7: Become adept at saying "too much" and "too little." When all else fails, from trying to communicate that the chicken is burnt or that the sauce is overwhelming the dish, knowing how to point and say "too much" or "too little" in a Western European restaurant is absolutely a life saver for anyone who doesn't have time to become fluent in a foreign language before their vacation.

Tip #8: Learning how to say "non-alcoholic" can save you from having to explain to your kids that what they're experiencing is called a "hangover." Western Europeans don't have the rigid views on alcohol that Americans do, and most of their restaurants serve it in everything from sauces to fondu to what might otherwise seem like non-alcoholic beverages. They also don't tend to have a legal drinking age of 18, nor will they be likely to do any carding. While you may not be worried about a little extra kick in your own cuisine and beverage choices, you might be concerned if your sixteen year old has his or her first experience with alcohol in a powerful and unexpected way in the middle of your vacation.

If the tips above have you worried about your foreign dining experiences to come, try to keep in mind that most Western Europeans know how to speak at least some English. You do, however, have to know how to ask! Before trying to use any of the phrases or terms you've learned to study above, be sure to simply ask your waiter in his or her native tongue if he or she speaks your language. If he/she does not, they may be able to direct you to a manager who does. If you have no luck, well, that's what this article is for.