German · Restaurant
You ask the waiter what they recommend today: what to say in German
You ask the waiter what he recommends today.
💡
How it's done. Tagesgericht is the dish of the day; Mittagstisch is a cheaper lunch offer that many places have on weekdays.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Entschuldigung, was empfehlen Sie heute?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vahs emp-FEH-layn zee KHOY-teh?
Excuse me, what do you recommend today?
Or say:Entschuldigung, was ist das Tagesgericht?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vahs eest dahs TAH-ges-geh-reekht?
THEY SAY
Heute haben wir Rouladen mit Rotkohl und Kartoffeln.KHOY-teh KHAH-bayn veer roo-LAH-dayn meet ROT-kol oont kuhr-TOH-feln.
Today we have beef rolls with red cabbage and potatoes.
They might also say:
Als Tagesgericht gibt es Rouladen mit Rotkohl.
Ahls TAH-ges-geh-reekht geept es roo-LAH-dayn meet ROT-kol.
The dish of the day is beef rolls with red cabbage.
2
YOU REPLY
Was ist das genau?
Vahs eest dahs geh-NOW?
What is that exactly?
THEY SAY
Das ist Rindfleisch mit Speck und Gurke, gerollt. Dazu gibt es Kartoffeln.Dahs eest REENT-flighsh meet shpek oont GOOR-keh, geh-ROLT. Duh-TSOO geept es kuhr-TOH-feln.
It is beef rolled with bacon and pickle. It comes with potatoes.
3
YOU REPLY
Das klingt gut. Dann nehme ich das.
Dahs kleengt goot. Dahn NEH-meh eekh dahs.
That sounds good. Then I'll have that.
THEY SAY
Sehr gern. Und was möchten Sie trinken?Zehr gehrn. Oont vahs MYOKH-tayn zee TREEN-kayn?
Very gladly. And what would you like to drink?
4
YOU FINISH
Ein stilles Wasser, bitte. Danke!
Ighn SHTEE-les VAH-suh, BEE-teh. DAHN-keh!
Still water, please. Thank you!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
empfehlen
emp-FEH-layn
verb
to recommend
heute
KHOY-teh
adverb
today
haben
KHAH-bayn
verb
to have
Rouladen
roo-LAH-dayn
noun
beef rolls
Rotkohl
ROT-kol
noun
red cabbage
Kartoffeln
kuhr-TOH-feln
noun
potatoes
30 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You ask for the bill and the waiter asks if you are paying togetherRestaurant · A2 in the app
→You do not eat meat and ask if there is something vegetarianRestaurant · A2 in the app
→Your food arrives cold and you politely say soRestaurant · A2 in the app
→You walk into a restaurant without a reservation and ask if there is a tableRestaurant · A1 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report