Choosing a restaurant for a short lunch | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: During a lunch break, two adults compare nearby places and choose the closer restaurant to have more time to eat..

EN → DE / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a restaurant for a short lunch to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Welches Restaurant sollen wir zum Mittagessen wählen?

VEL-khuh res-taw-RONT ZOL-len veer tsoom MIT-tahk-ess-en VAY-len? Which place should we choose for lunch?
B

Lass uns einen Ort in der Nähe wählen, der gut passt.

lahs oons EYE-nen ort in dair NAY-uh VAY-len, dair goot pahst. Let's pick somewhere close and convenient.
A

Das Restaurant in dieser Straße hat eine einfache Mittagskarte.

dahs res-taw-RONT in DEE-zair SHTRAH-suh haht EYE-nuh EYN-fah-khuh MIT-tahks-KAR-tuh. The place on this street has a simple lunch menu.
B

Das Café in der Nähe des Parks ist vielleicht ruhiger.

dahs kah-FAY in dair NAY-uh dess parks ist fee-LYKHT ROO-ih-gair. The cafe near the park might be quieter.
B

Aber es ist weiter weg.

AH-ber ess ist VY-ter vayk. But it is farther away.
A

Brauchen wir für das Restaurant in der Nähe eine Reservierung?

BROW-khen veer fyoor dahs res-taw-RONT in dair NAY-uh EYE-nuh ray-zair-VEE-roong? Do we need a reservation for the nearby place?
B

Wahrscheinlich nicht. Um diese Zeit finden wir normalerweise einen Tisch.

vah-SHINE-likh nikht. oom DEE-zuh tsайт FIN-den veer nor-mah-LAIR-vy-zuh EYE-nen TISH. Probably not. Around this time, we can usually find a table.
A

Dann wählen wir das Restaurant in dieser Straße.

dahn VAY-len veer dahs res-taw-RONT in DEE-zair SHTRAH-suh. Then let's choose the place on this street.
B

Dann haben wir mehr Zeit zum Essen.

dahn HAH-ben veer mayr tsайт tsoom ESS-en. That leaves us more time to eat.

Word by Word

Welches “Welches” asks which one in “Welches Restaurant”, referring to the restaurant they should choose. It appears directly before “Restaurant” in the question. Use “Welches” when selecting one option from several known possibilities, such as in a new example: “Welches Buch möchtest du?”
Restaurant “Restaurant” means restaurant in “Welches Restaurant” and names the place they are choosing for lunch. It is the object of “wählen” here. A common pattern is “ein Restaurant wählen” for choosing a restaurant.
sollen “Sollen” expresses what they should do in “sollen wir ... wählen”. Together with “wir” and the infinitive “wählen”, it asks for a suggestion or decision. Use “Sollen wir ...?” when asking another person what action to take.
wir “Wir” means we and identifies the people who will make the choice together. It is the subject in “sollen wir ... wählen”. Use “wir” when referring to yourself and at least one other person.
zum “Zum” means for the or to the in “zum Mittagessen”. It is the contracted form of “zu dem” and introduces the meal occasion here. A common pattern is “zum Frühstück” or “zum Abendessen” for saying what meal something is for.
Mittagessen “Mittagessen” means lunch in “zum Mittagessen”. With “zum”, it identifies the occasion for which they are choosing the restaurant. Use “zum Mittagessen” when talking about going somewhere or doing something for lunch.
wählen “Wählen” means choose in “sollen wir ... wählen”. It is the infinitive used after “sollen” and names the action they are deciding on. A reusable pattern is “Wir wählen ...” when selecting one option.
Lass “Lass” begins the suggestion “Lass uns ... wählen”, meaning let’s choose. It invites the other person to do something together. Use “Lass uns” to suggest a joint action, as in a new example: “Lass uns anfangen.”
uns “Uns” means us in “Lass uns ... wählen” and refers to the speaker and the other person together. It completes the suggestion introduced by “Lass”. The reusable pattern is “Lass uns” followed by an action.
einen “Einen” introduces one indefinite place in “einen Ort”. It presents the place as a possible choice rather than a specifically identified one. A common pattern is “einen ... wählen”, followed by the thing being chosen.
Ort “Ort” means place in “einen Ort in der Nähe”. Here it refers to a place where they could have lunch. Use “ein Ort” when referring generally to a place or location.
in “In” contributes the meaning in or near in the phrase “in der Nähe”. Here it helps locate the place close to them. A common pattern is “in der Nähe” followed by an optional place or object.
der “Der” is the article in the location phrase “in der Nähe” and belongs with “Nähe”. Together, “in der Nähe” means nearby or in the vicinity. Memorize the reusable expression “in der Nähe” for describing something close by.
Nähe “Nähe” means vicinity or nearby area in “in der Nähe”. The phrase describes a place that is close to them. Use “in der Nähe” when saying that a person or thing is nearby.
gut “Gut” contributes the idea suitably or well in “der gut passt”. It describes how well the place works for their lunch decision. A common pattern is “Das passt gut” in a new example when something suits a plan.
passt “Passt” means fits or works in “der gut passt”, referring to a place that suits their needs. Together with “gut”, it says that the place is convenient for them. Use “Das passt” when accepting an option or saying it works.
Das “Das” means the in “Das Restaurant” and “Das Café”, introducing the place being discussed. It appears at the beginning of each of those sentences. Use “Das” before a neuter noun when identifying a specific thing or place.
dieser “Dieser” means this in “dieser Straße” and points to the street where the restaurant is located. It helps identify the street as the one being referred to. A common pattern is “in dieser ...” when pointing to a specific nearby place or setting.
Straße “Straße” means street in “in dieser Straße”. The phrase locates the restaurant on the street being discussed. Use “in einer Straße” or “in dieser Straße” when describing a location on a street.
hat “Hat” means has in “Das Restaurant ... hat eine einfache Mittagskarte”. It says that the restaurant offers or possesses the lunch menu mentioned. Use “hat” with a place or person to say that it has something.
eine “Eine” introduces the indefinite noun phrase “eine einfache Mittagskarte”. It presents one lunch menu without identifying it as a particular previously named menu. A common pattern is “eine” followed by a noun describing one available thing.
einfache “Einfache” means simple in “eine einfache Mittagskarte”. It describes the lunch menu as uncomplicated or basic. Use an adjective such as “einfache” before a noun when describing what kind of thing it is.
Mittagskarte “Mittagskarte” means lunch menu in “eine einfache Mittagskarte”. It refers to the menu available for the midday meal at the restaurant. Use “Mittagskarte” when discussing a restaurant’s lunch offerings.
Café “Café” means cafe in “Das Café in der Nähe des Parks”. It identifies the alternative place being compared with the restaurant. Use “ein Café” when referring to a cafe as a possible place to eat or drink.
des “Des” contributes the meaning of the in “in der Nähe des Parks”, linking the nearby area to the park. The full phrase means near the park. A common pattern is “in der Nähe des ...” when locating something near a specific place.
Parks “Parks” means park’s or of the park in “in der Nähe des Parks”. It identifies which place the café is near. Use “des Parks” after “in der Nähe” when referring to the park as the nearby landmark.
ist “Ist” means is in “Das Café ... ist vielleicht ruhiger”. It connects the café with the description that follows. Use “ist” to describe a place or thing, as in “Das Café ist ...”.
vielleicht “Vielleicht” means perhaps or maybe in “ist vielleicht ruhiger”. It makes the comparison tentative rather than certain. Use “vielleicht” when offering a possibility or cautious opinion.
ruhiger “Ruhiger” means quieter in “Das Café ... ist vielleicht ruhiger”. It compares the café’s expected noise level with that of the other possible place. Use “ruhiger” when saying that one place or situation has less noise than another.
Aber “Aber” means but and introduces a consideration that goes against the previous suggestion. Here it introduces the fact that the café is farther away. Use “Aber” to add an important contrasting point in a decision.
es “Es” means it and refers back to the café in “Aber es ist weiter weg”. It allows the speaker to continue describing that place without repeating “Café”. Use “es” to refer back to a previously mentioned thing or place when the context is clear.
weiter “Weiter” contributes the comparative idea farther in “weiter weg”. The complete expression says that the café is at a greater distance. Use “weiter weg” when comparing the distance of one place with another.
weg “Weg” contributes the idea away in “weiter weg”. Together with “weiter”, it describes the café as farther away. Use “weg” in expressions that describe distance from a person or place, such as the new example “Das ist weit weg.”
Brauchen “Brauchen” means need in the question “Brauchen wir ... eine Reservierung?”. It asks whether a reservation is necessary for the nearby restaurant. Use “Brauchen wir ...?” when asking if something is required for a plan.
für “Für” means for and introduces the restaurant that the reservation would be for in “für das Restaurant”. It connects the reservation with its intended place. Use “für” before the person, thing, or place that something is intended for.
Reservierung “Reservierung” means reservation in “eine Reservierung”. It refers to booking a table before going to the restaurant. Use “eine Reservierung brauchen” when asking whether a booking is necessary.
Wahrscheinlich “Wahrscheinlich” means probably in “Wahrscheinlich nicht”. It expresses that the speaker expects the answer to be no but is not completely certain. Use “Wahrscheinlich” before an answer or statement when giving a likely conclusion.
nicht “Nicht” means not in “Wahrscheinlich nicht”. It negates the expected need for a reservation. Use “nicht” to reject or deny something, especially in a short answer such as “Wahrscheinlich nicht.”
Um “Um” means around or at in the time expression “Um diese Zeit”. It introduces the approximate time when they usually find a table. Use “um” with a time expression when referring to a particular time or period.
diese “Diese” means this in “diese Zeit” and points to the time period they are currently discussing. It identifies the relevant period rather than time in general. Use “diese” before a noun when referring to a particular current or mentioned thing.
Zeit “Zeit” means time in “Um diese Zeit”. It refers to the current part of the day or the approximate period around it. Use “um diese Zeit” when talking about what normally happens at a particular time.
finden “Finden” means find in “finden wir normalerweise einen Tisch”. It describes successfully locating an available table. It appears before the subject because the sentence begins with “Um diese Zeit”; a common pattern is “Wir finden ...” followed by what is found.
normalerweise “Normalerweise” means usually or normally in “finden wir normalerweise einen Tisch”. It describes what generally happens around this time. Use it to talk about a regular or expected situation.
Tisch “Tisch” means table in “einen Tisch”. Here it means an available table at the restaurant. Use “einen Tisch finden” when saying that you locate a table, or “einen Tisch reservieren” when booking one.
Dann “Dann” means then in “Dann wählen wir das Restaurant ...”. It marks the decision that follows from the earlier discussion. Use “Dann” to introduce the next action or conclusion after a condition or decision.
haben “Haben” means have in “haben wir mehr Zeit zum Essen”. It says that they will have more time available for eating. A common pattern is “mehr Zeit haben, um ...” or “mehr Zeit zum ... haben.”
mehr “Mehr” means more in “mehr Zeit”. It indicates a larger amount of time than with the farther café. Use “mehr” before a noun when comparing quantities, as in “mehr Zeit”.
Essen “Essen” means eating in “zum Essen”. It names the activity for which the extra time is available. The reusable pattern “mehr Zeit zum Essen” means more time for eating.

Grammar Points

Lass uns + Infinitiv

Lass uns Mittagessen wählen.

lahs oons MIT-tahk-ess-en VAY-len.

Let's choose lunch.

“Lass uns” plus the infinitive expresses a suggestion. The infinitive stays at the end.

Adjektiv im Komparativ: ruhiger

Ein Café im Park ist ruhiger.

ine kah-FAY im park ist ROO-ih-gair.

A café in the park is quieter.

The ending -er forms the comparative “quieter.” After ist, the adjective has no extra ending.

German Vocabulary

Café noun
kah-FAY cafe
einfache adj
EYN-fah-khuh simple
in der Nähe phrase
in dair NAY-uh nearby
Lass uns phrase
lahs oons let's
Mittagessen noun
MIT-tahk-ess-en lunch
Mittagskarte noun
MIT-tahks-KAR-tuh lunch menu
Ort noun
ort place
passt verb
pahst fits well
Restaurant noun
res-taw-RONT restaurant
Straße noun
SHTRAH-suh street
wählen verb
VAY-len choose
welches det
VEL-khuh which Welches

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

But it is farther away.

Show AnswerAber es ist weiter weg.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

fits well

Show Answerpasst

street

Show AnswerStraße

choose

Show Answerwählen

restaurant

Show AnswerRestaurant