Words for your next conversation
Russian for ordering food and drinks
The waiter is ready, but you still need a minute with the menu. Knowing how to ask for that minute is often more useful than memorising twenty dishes. Work through a meal from choosing a table to splitting the bill, with phrases for ingredients, cooking preferences and a mistaken order. The examples use polite requests suitable for restaurant staff. Practise one complete order aloud, including a question and a follow-up, so you can keep the conversation going.
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24 words and phrases to try
An accent marks the stressed vowel. Transliteration is a reading aid; ё carries its own stress.
| Russian | Transliteration | Meaning | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ме́ню | ményu | menu | Принеси́те ме́ню, пожа́луйста. Please bring the menu. |
| сто́лик | stólik | table | У нас сто́лик на двои́х. We have a table for two. |
| официа́нт | ofitsiánt | waiter | Официа́нт сейча́с подойдёт. The waiter will come over shortly. |
| зака́з | zakáz | order | Э́то не наш зака́з. This isn't our order. |
| заку́ска | zakúska | starter | Кака́я заку́ска без мя́са? Which starter has no meat? |
| га́рнир | gárnir | side dish | Га́рнир вхо́дит в це́ну? Is the side dish included? |
| десе́рт | desért | dessert | Десе́рт зака́жем по́зже. We'll order dessert later. |
| со́ус | sóus | sauce | Со́ус пода́йте отде́льно. Serve the sauce separately. |
| сли́вки | slívki | cream | Здесь есть сли́вки? Is there cream in this? |
| оре́хи | orékhi | nuts | В десе́рте есть оре́хи? Does the dessert contain nuts? |
| соста́в | sostáv | ingredients / composition | Мо́жно узна́ть соста́в? May I ask about the ingredients? |
| по́рция | pórtsiya | portion | По́рция о́чень больша́я. The portion is very large. |
| прожа́рка | prozhárka | doneness | Кака́я бу́дет прожа́рка? What doneness would you like? |
| бока́л | bokál | stemmed glass | Принеси́те ещё бока́л. Bring another glass. |
| графи́н | grafín | carafe | Принеси́те графи́н воды́. Please bring a carafe of water. |
| чаевы́е | chaevýe | tip | Чаевы́е включены́? Is the tip included? |
| термина́л | terminál | card terminal | Термина́л не рабо́тает. The card terminal isn't working. |
| упако́вка | upakóvka | packaging / container | Нужна́ упако́вка с собо́й. We need a takeaway container. |
| Мы ещё выбира́ем. | My eshchyo vybiráem. | We are still choosing. | Мы ещё выбира́ем десе́рт. We are still choosing dessert. |
| Мне без о́строго. | Mne bez óstrogo. | Nothing spicy for me. | Мне без о́строго, пожа́луйста. Nothing spicy for me, please. |
| Мо́жно счёт? | Mózhno schyot? | May I have the bill? | Мо́жно счёт, пожа́луйста? May I have the bill, please? |
| По отде́льности. | Po otdélnosti. | Separately. | Мы запла́тим по отде́льности. We'll pay separately. |
| Заверни́те с собо́й. | Zaverníte s sobóy. | Pack it to take away. | Заверни́те с собо́й оста́ток. Pack the rest to take away. |
| Что вы сове́туете? | Chto vy sovétuete? | What do you recommend? | Что вы сове́туете на десе́рт? What do you recommend for dessert? |
Try the conversation
A: Вы гото́вы сде́лать зака́з?
Are you ready to order?
B: Да. Что вы сове́туете без мя́са?
Yes. What do you recommend without meat?
A: Овощно́е рагу́. Со́ус пода́ть отде́льно?
Vegetable stew. Shall I serve the sauce separately?
B: Да, пожа́луйста. И графи́н воды́.
Yes, please. And a carafe of water.
Questions about this situation
How do I politely ask for the bill?
Can I use these phrases for a food allergy?
What if I need more time to order?
Keep exploring
Make this set yours
Add your own words with AI and build a set around the conversations you want to have.