Restaurant reservations Part 2: Specifying any dietary restrictions or special requests.
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Key Phrases
Queria fazer uma reserva para sábado à noite.
I'd like to make a reservation for Saturday evening.
A minha filha é vegetariana.
My daughter is vegetarian.
Queríamos uma mesa mais calma, se for possível.
We'd like a quieter table, if possible.
Skills You'll Learn
How to make a restaurant reservation and say the day and time.
Como fazer uma reserva num restaurante e indicar o dia e a hora.
How to explain dietary needs such as vegetarian and gluten-free requirements.
Como explicar necessidades alimentares, como opções vegetarianas e sem glúten.
How to make polite special requests and confirm booking details.
Como fazer pedidos especiais com educação e confirmar detalhes da reserva.
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you are calling a restaurant in Portugal to book a table for Saturday evening, while also explaining your family’s dietary needs and asking for a quieter table.
Boa tarde. Queria fazer uma reserva para sábado à noite.
Good afternoon. I’d like to make a reservation for Saturday evening.
Boa tarde! Claro, para quantas pessoas?
Good afternoon! Of course, for how many people?
Somos quatro, às oito, se for possível.
There are four of us, at eight o’clock, if possible.
Sim, temos mesa disponível às oito.
Yes, we have a table available at eight.
Ótimo. Queria avisar que a minha filha é vegetariana.
Great. I wanted to let you know that my daughter is vegetarian.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
Boa tarde.
BOH-ah TAR-duh
Good afternoon.
🇵🇹 [Boa tarde] is the standard polite greeting from around lunch time until evening in Portugal, and it works well when calling a restaurant too.
See breakdown →Queria
kuh-REE-ah
I would like
💬 [Queria] literally looks like [I wanted], but in requests it softens the tone and means [I'd like]. The same pattern works in other service situations: [Queria marcar uma consulta.]
See breakdown →Fazer uma reserva
fuh-ZAIR OO-muh heh-ZAIR-vuh
To make a reservation
Queria fazer uma reserva.
kuh-REE-ah fuh-ZAIR OO-muh heh-ZAIR-vuh
I'd like to make a reservation.
💬 [Queria] is a very common polite way to ask for something in Portugal, softer than a direct [quero]. You can reuse it easily: [Queria uma mesa] or [Queria avisar].
See breakdown →Para sábado
PAH-ruh SAH-buh-doo
For Saturday
À noite
ah NOY-tuh
In the evening
💬 [A] + [a] becomes [à], so [à noite] is literally something like [at the night/evening]. You'll see the same contraction in time expressions like [à tarde].
See breakdown →Para sábado à noite
PAH-ruh SAH-buh-doo ah NOY-tuh
For Saturday evening
Claro.
KLAH-roo
Of course.
Para quantas pessoas?
PAH-ruh KWAN-tush puh-SOH-ush
For how many people?
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