Being able to ask for restaurant recommendations is a useful skill in English. Whether you’re traveling, meeting friends, or just looking for a good place to eat, knowing how to ask and understand restaurant suggestions is essential.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
✔️ Improve your listening comprehension
✔️ Learn common phrases for asking about restaurants
✔️ Understand how to ask follow-up questions
✔️ Practice real-life conversation skills

Let’s begin!

Step 1: Listen to the Conversation

🎧 Instructions:

Listen carefully to the conversation between two friends discussing restaurants.
Pay attention to common phrases used when asking for restaurant recommendations.
After listening, answer the comprehension questions below.

📌 Audio Script (Asking About Restaurants)

Mark: Hey Sarah, do you know any good restaurants around here?

Sarah: Yeah! What kind of food are you in the mood for?

Mark: I was thinking of something Italian.

Sarah: Oh, in that case, you should try Bella Roma. It’s a great Italian restaurant just a few blocks away.

Mark: That sounds good! Do they have vegetarian options?

Sarah: Yes, they do! They have great pasta dishes and a delicious vegetable pizza.

Mark: Awesome. How’s the price?

Sarah: It’s reasonably priced. Not too expensive, but not super cheap either.

Mark: Sounds perfect. Do I need a reservation?

Sarah: Probably not for lunch, but for dinner, it might be a good idea to call ahead.

Mark: Great! Thanks for the recommendation.

Step 2: Comprehension Questions

Test your listening skills by answering the following questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

What kind of food is Mark looking for?
a) Chinese
b) Italian
c) Mexican
d) Japanese
What is the name of the restaurant Sarah recommends?
a) Bella Roma
b) La Fiesta
c) Sushi House
d) The Burger Joint
What kind of vegetarian options does the restaurant have?
a) Tofu stir-fry
b) Grilled chicken
c) Pasta and vegetable pizza
d) Steak and potatoes
How does Sarah describe the restaurant’s price?
a) Very cheap
b) Very expensive
c) Reasonably priced
d) Free
What does Sarah say about reservations?
a) They are required at all times
b) You don’t need a reservation for lunch, but it’s a good idea for dinner
c) You must book two weeks in advance
d) You can’t make reservations

(Answer Key: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-c, 5-b)

Step 3: Vocabulary Practice

Here are some important words and phrases from the conversation. Learn their meanings and practice using them in sentences.

Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
In the mood for	Wanting to eat or do something	I’m in the mood for sushi tonight.
Try (a restaurant)	To visit and eat at a restaurant	Let’s try that new Italian restaurant downtown.
Vegetarian options	Food choices that don’t include meat	Does this restaurant have vegetarian options?
Reasonably priced	Not too expensive, not too cheap	The café is reasonably priced and serves good food.
Call ahead	To phone a place before going	You should call ahead to make a reservation.

✅ Exercise:
Fill in the blanks using the vocabulary words above.

I’m _______ Thai food. Do you know a good restaurant?
We should _______ that new sushi place.
This restaurant has a lot of _______ like salads and pasta.
The restaurant is _______ so it’s perfect for casual dining.
If we want a table, we should _______ and book one now.

(Answer Key: 1. in the mood for, 2. try, 3. vegetarian options, 4. reasonably priced, 5. call ahead)

Step 4: Grammar Focus – Asking for Recommendations

When asking about restaurants, we often use polite question structures.

Common Ways to Ask for Recommendations:

Do you know any good restaurants around here?
Can you recommend a place to eat?
Where’s a good place for (Italian/Chinese/Mexican) food?
What’s the best restaurant nearby?
Have you ever tried (restaurant name)?

Practice Exercise:

Complete the following sentences with the correct phrase.

_______ a good pizza place in town?
_______ any cheap restaurants near the beach?
_______ for seafood?
_______ for a romantic dinner?
_______ La Trattoria before?

(Answer Key: 1. Do you know, 2. Can you recommend, 3. Where’s a good place, 4. What’s the best restaurant, 5. Have you ever tried)

Step 5: Discussion Questions

Practice speaking by discussing these questions with a friend or writing down your answers.

What’s your favorite type of food, and why?
How do you choose a restaurant when traveling?
What’s the best restaurant you’ve ever been to?
Do you prefer expensive restaurants or casual dining?
How would you describe a great restaurant to a friend?

Step 6: Writing Challenge

✍ Creative Writing Exercise
Imagine you are visiting a new city and want to find a great restaurant. Write a short dialogue asking a local for recommendations. Try to use at least three phrases from this lesson.

🔹 Example Start:
“Excuse me, do you know any good restaurants around here? I’m in the mood for something spicy.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I politely ask for a restaurant recommendation?

You can say:

Do you know any good restaurants nearby?
Can you recommend a nice place for dinner?
Where’s a good place to eat around here?

2. What should I ask about a restaurant before going?

It’s helpful to ask:

Do they have vegetarian options?
Is it expensive or reasonably priced?
Do I need a reservation?
What’s their most popular dish?

3. How do I respond to a restaurant recommendation?

You can say:

That sounds great! Thanks for the suggestion.
I’ll give it a try!
Is it far from here?
Do you think I need to call ahead?

4. What’s the difference between “cheap” and “reasonably priced”?

Cheap = Very inexpensive (may suggest low quality)
Reasonably priced = Fairly priced (good value for the money)

5. How do I ask for a menu or bill at a restaurant?

Can I see the menu, please?
What’s your special today?
Can I get the check, please? (In the U.S.)
Can I have the bill, please? (In the U.K.)

Conclusion

This lesson helps you improve your listening, vocabulary, grammar, and speaking skills while learning how to ask for and understand restaurant recommendations.

✅ What’s Next?

Listen to the audio again and try to catch more details.
Practice asking for restaurant recommendations with a friend.
Try writing a review of your favorite restaurant in English!