Checking a restaurant order | Learn German in English

German lesson set in a contemporary Berlin everyday setting: At a restaurant, a customer asks staff to confirm a mild order and side dish before the food is served..

EN → DE / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Checking a restaurant order to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Könnten wir unsere Bestellung überprüfen, bevor das Essen kommt?

KURN-ten veer OON-zeh-reh beh-SHTEL-loong oo-behr-PROO-fen, beh-FOHR dahs ESS-en kommt? Could we review our order before the food comes out?
B

Was möchten Sie bestätigen?

vahs MURKH-ten zee beh-SHTEH-ti-gen? What would you like to confirm?
A

Ich habe um die milde Variante gebeten, nicht um die scharfe.

ikh HAH-beh oom dee MIL-deh vah-ree-AHN-teh geh-BEH-ten, nikht oom dee SHAR-feh. I asked for the mild version, not the spicy one.
B

Ich kläre das mit der Küche.

ikh KLEH-reh dahs mit dair KOO-kheh. Let me check that with the kitchen.
A

Bei der Beilage mache ich mir am meisten Sorgen.

bye dair BYE-lah-geh MAKH-eh ikh meer am MAY-sten ZOR-gen. The side dish is the part I am most worried about.
B

Ich kann einen deutlichen Hinweis hinzufügen, damit die Bestellung richtig zubereitet wird.

ikh kahn EYE-nen DOYT-likh-en HIN-vice hin-TSOO-fyoo-gen, dah-MIT dee beh-SHTEL-loong RIKH-tikh tsoo-beh-RAI-tet veert. I can add a clear note so the order is prepared correctly.
A

Das hilft. Wir möchten nur, dass wir genau das bekommen, was wir bestellt haben.

dahs hilft. veer MURKH-ten noor, dahs veer geh-NOW dahs beh-KOM-men, vahs veer beh-SHTELT HAH-ben. That helps. We just want the meal to match our order.
B

Ich verstehe. Es ist besser, das zu überprüfen, bevor das Essen kommt.

ikh fehr-SHTEH-eh. ess ist BESS-er, dahs tsoo beh-PRU-fen, beh-FOHR dahs ESS-en kommt. I understand. It is better to check before the food arrives.
A

Könnten Sie die Bestellung bestätigen, bevor das Essen serviert wird?

KURN-ten zee dee beh-SHTEL-loong beh-SHTEH-ti-gen, beh-FOHR dahs ESS-en sehr-VEERT veert? Could you confirm the order before the food is served?
B

Ich prüfe das jetzt und sage Ihnen, ob etwas geändert werden muss.

ikh PROO-feh dahs yetst oont ZAH-geh EE-nen, ohp ET-vahs geh-EN-dehrt VEH-den moos. Let me check now and tell you if anything needs changing.

Word by Word

Könnten “Könnten” means could here and makes the request polite in “Könnten wir unsere Bestellung überprüfen?”. It is useful for politely asking whether someone can do something.
wir “wir” means we and is the subject of the polite request “Könnten wir unsere Bestellung überprüfen?”. It refers to the speakers together and can be reused as the subject of a request or statement.
unsere “unsere” means our and shows that the order belongs to the speakers in “unsere Bestellung”. A useful pattern is “unsere” followed by something belonging to the speakers.
Bestellung “Bestellung” means order here, specifically the restaurant order being checked. It is used in “unsere Bestellung” and “die Bestellung bestätigen”, so it can refer to an order that someone reviews or confirms.
überprüfen “überprüfen” means to check or review the order in “unsere Bestellung überprüfen”. After “Könnten wir”, it names the action being requested; a reusable pattern is “etwas überprüfen”.
bevor “bevor” means before and introduces the time condition in “bevor das Essen kommt”. It connects an action with something that happens later and places the verb at the end of the following clause.
das In “das Essen”, “das” means the and comes before the noun for the food. In “Das hilft”, the same form means that; the surrounding words determine its function.
Essen “Essen” means food or meal here, referring to the restaurant food that is about to arrive or be served. It appears in “das Essen kommt” and “bevor das Essen serviert wird”.
kommt “kommt” means comes or arrives in “das Essen kommt”, referring to the food arriving at the table. It is also placed at the end of the clause after “bevor”.
Was “Was” means what and starts the question “Was möchten Sie bestätigen?”. It asks which part of the order the other person would like to confirm.
möchten “möchten” means would like and expresses a polite wish in “Was möchten Sie bestätigen?”. A useful pattern is “möchten” followed by the thing or action someone wants.
Sie “Sie” means you when addressing someone formally in “Was möchten Sie bestätigen?” and “Könnten Sie die Bestellung bestätigen?”. Its capital letter marks this formal form.
bestätigen “bestätigen” means confirm in “Was möchten Sie bestätigen?” and “die Bestellung bestätigen”. It names the action of checking that the order details are correct.
Ich “Ich” means I and marks the speaker as the subject in “Ich habe um die milde Variante gebeten” and other statements. It is used before the verb when the speaker describes their own action or view.
habe “habe” means have as part of the past statement “Ich habe um die milde Variante gebeten”. Here it works with “gebeten” to describe a request the speaker already made; a reusable pattern is “Ich habe ... gebeten”.
um In “um die milde Variante gebeten”, “um” belongs to the pattern for asking for something. The reusable pattern is “um etwas bitten”, with the requested thing following “um”.
die In “die milde Variante”, “die” means the and comes before the specific option being requested. It identifies the variant that the speaker asked for.
milde “milde” means mild in “die milde Variante”, contrasting with the spicy option mentioned afterward. With food, it describes an option that is not spicy; a useful pattern is “eine milde Variante”.
Variante “Variante” means version or option here, referring to one possible preparation of the food. “die milde Variante” identifies the particular version the speaker requested.
gebeten “gebeten” means asked or requested in “um die milde Variante gebeten”. Together with “habe”, it describes a request made earlier; a reusable pattern is “um etwas gebeten haben”.
nicht “nicht” means not and rejects the alternative in “nicht um die scharfe”. It makes clear that the speaker requested the mild option rather than the spicy one.
scharfe “scharfe” means the spicy one in “nicht um die scharfe”, referring back to the omitted variant. The form describes the alternative that the speaker did not request.
kläre “kläre” means clarify or check in “Ich kläre das mit der Küche”. It describes resolving the order question with the kitchen; a useful pattern is “etwas mit jemandem klären”.
mit “mit” means with in “mit der Küche” and shows who will be consulted about the order. It is useful in the pattern “etwas mit jemandem klären”.
der “der” means the in “mit der Küche”. It is the article used with “Küche” in this phrase and belongs to the expression identifying the kitchen being consulted.
Küche “Küche” means kitchen here, referring to the restaurant kitchen or its staff. In “mit der Küche”, it names the people or place with whom the order is checked.
Bei “Bei” means regarding or concerning in “Bei der Beilage mache ich mir am meisten Sorgen”. It introduces the part of the order that is the focus of the speaker’s concern.
Beilage “Beilage” means side dish and is the specific part of the order that worries the speaker. “Bei der Beilage” presents it as the topic being discussed.
mache “mache” means make within the expression “mache ich mir am meisten Sorgen”. The whole expression means that the speaker is most worried; the reusable pattern is “sich Sorgen machen”.
mir “mir” means to me or for myself in “mache ich mir ... Sorgen”. It is part of the expression “sich Sorgen machen”, which describes the speaker experiencing concern.
am “am” is part of the fixed superlative expression “am meisten”. Together with “meisten”, it shows the highest degree of concern in the sentence.
meisten “meisten” means most in “am meisten Sorgen”. The expression emphasizes that the side dish causes the greatest concern among the order details.
Sorgen “Sorgen” means worries or concern in “mache ich mir am meisten Sorgen”. It is used with “sich Sorgen machen” to express being worried about something.
kann “kann” means can and expresses ability or possibility in “Ich kann einen deutlichen Hinweis hinzufügen”. It introduces an action the speaker is able to carry out.
einen “einen” means a or one in “einen deutlichen Hinweis”. It introduces the particular note that the speaker can add; a useful pattern is “einen Hinweis hinzufügen”.
deutlichen “deutlichen” means clear or explicit and describes the note in “einen deutlichen Hinweis”. The note is intended to make the requested preparation clear to the kitchen.
Hinweis “Hinweis” means note or instruction here, referring to information added to the order. A useful pattern is “einen Hinweis hinzufügen” when extra information should be recorded.
hinzufügen “hinzufügen” means add in “einen deutlichen Hinweis hinzufügen”. It describes putting extra information onto the order so it can be followed correctly.
damit “damit” means so that and introduces the purpose in “damit die Bestellung richtig zubereitet wird”. It links the added note with the desired result and starts a clause whose verb comes at the end.
richtig “richtig” means correctly or properly in “richtig zubereitet wird”. It says that the order should be prepared according to the customer’s request.
zubereitet “zubereitet” means prepared in “die Bestellung richtig zubereitet wird”. It describes how the food is handled, with “richtig” specifying that the preparation should be correct.
wird “wird” helps form the passive expression “zubereitet wird”, meaning that the order is prepared. In this sentence, it places the focus on the order and what is done to it.
hilft “hilft” means helps in “Das hilft”. The speaker says that the clear note is useful; this short expression can respond to assistance or a helpful solution.
nur “nur” means just or only in “Wir möchten nur”. It limits the speakers’ request to receiving exactly what they ordered.
dass “dass” means that and introduces the content of the speakers’ wish in “dass wir genau das bekommen, was wir bestellt haben”. It connects “Wir möchten nur” with the result they want.
genau “genau” means exactly and emphasizes that the meal should match the order precisely. It appears in “genau das bekommen, was wir bestellt haben”.
bekommen “bekommen” means get or receive in “wir genau das bekommen”. It refers to receiving the meal that corresponds to the order; a useful pattern is “etwas bekommen”.
bestellt “bestellt” means ordered in “was wir bestellt haben”. Together with “haben”, it refers to the order the speakers made earlier.
haben “haben” means have as part of “was wir bestellt haben”. Together with “bestellt”, it describes what the speakers ordered; a useful pattern is “etwas bestellt haben”.
verstehe “verstehe” means understand in “Ich verstehe”. The speaker uses it to acknowledge and show understanding of the customer’s concern.
ist “ist” means is in “Es ist besser, das zu überprüfen”. It links the situation with the evaluation that checking is preferable.
besser “besser” means better in “Es ist besser, das zu überprüfen”. It expresses a preference for checking before the food arrives; a useful pattern is “Es ist besser, ... zu ...”.
zu “zu” marks the verb in “das zu überprüfen” after “Es ist besser”. It connects the evaluation with the action that is considered preferable.
serviert “serviert” means served in “bevor das Essen serviert wird”. It describes the food being brought to the customer; the reusable pattern is “das Essen serviert wird”.
prüfe “prüfe” means check or examine in “Ich prüfe das jetzt”. It describes the staff member checking the order immediately; a useful pattern is “etwas prüfen”.
jetzt “jetzt” means now in “Ich prüfe das jetzt”. It shows that the check is happening at the present moment.
und “und” means and and links the two actions in “Ich prüfe das jetzt und sage Ihnen”. It shows that the speaker will check the order and then communicate the result.
sage “sage” means tell or say in “sage Ihnen, ob etwas geändert werden muss”. Here it introduces information that will be given to the customer; a useful pattern is “jemandem etwas sagen”.
Ihnen “Ihnen” means to you in the formal expression “sage Ihnen”. It identifies the customer as the recipient of the information and is written with a capital letter for formal address.
ob “ob” means whether or if and introduces the indirect question “ob etwas geändert werden muss”. It is used when the speaker will report whether a change is necessary.
etwas “etwas” means something or anything in “ob etwas geändert werden muss”. It refers to an unspecified part of the order that may need changing.
geändert “geändert” means changed in “etwas geändert werden muss”. It describes a possible modification to the order, with “muss” expressing that the modification may be necessary.
werden “werden” means be in the passive expression “geändert werden muss”. Together with “geändert”, it means that something needs to be changed rather than stating who changes it.
muss “muss” means must or needs to in “etwas geändert werden muss”. It expresses necessity: the unspecified part of the order requires a change.

Grammar Points

sich Sorgen machen

Mache ich mir Sorgen?

MAKH-eh ikh meer ZOR-gen?

Am I worried?

This fixed phrase uses the reflexive pronoun mir with machen; Sorgen is not translated as the main verb.

bevor + Verb am Ende

Bevor Sie die Bestellung bestätigen

beh-FOHR zee dee beh-SHTEL-loong beh-SHTEH-ti-gen

Before you confirm the order

After bevor, the conjugated verb moves to the end of the subordinate clause.

German Vocabulary

Beilage noun
BYE-lah-geh side dish
bestätigen verb
beh-SHTEH-ti-gen to confirm
Bestellung noun
beh-SHTEL-loong order
bitten verb
BIT-ten to ask for; to request gebeten
deutlich adj
DOYT-likh clear; explicit deutlichen
klären verb
KLEH-ren to clarify; to sort out kläre
Küche noun
KOO-kheh kitchen
mild adj
milt mild milde
scharf adj
sharf spicy; hot scharfe
sich Sorgen machen phrase
zikh ZOR-gen MAKH-en to worry mache ich mir ... Sorgen
überprüfen verb
oo-behr-PROO-fen to check; to review
Variante noun
vah-ree-AHN-teh version; variant

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What would you like to confirm?

Show AnswerWas möchten Sie bestätigen?

Let me check that with the kitchen.

Show AnswerIch kläre das mit der Küche.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

kitchen

Show AnswerKüche

order

Show AnswerBestellung

to ask for; to request

Show Answergebeten

mild

Show Answermilde