Restaurant reservations Part 2 (Advanced): Specifying any dietary restrictions or special requests.

💬 celíaca ends in -a because it refers to a woman. For a man, say celíaco.

🇪🇸 Coeliac disease is widely known in Spain, and many restaurants mark gluten-free dishes. Naming the condition is taken more seriously than just asking for no gluten.

💬 Tendrían is a polite "would you have" aimed at the restaurant staff as a group. Swap in what you need: ¿Tendrían mesa para cuatro? "Would you have a table for four?"

🇪🇸 In Spain, bread usually arrives without being ordered and often appears on the bill. Ask for the gluten-free one up front so the regular basket isn't set down by default.

💬 La mayoría needs de before what it's counting: la mayoría de los platos "most of the dishes".

💬 Put in the plural, arroz "rice" stops meaning the grain and means rice dishes, like paella. Menus in Spain often have a whole arroces section.

🇪🇸 Rice dishes in Spain are usually cooked to order for at least two people, and some places want them requested in advance. Mention dietary needs when you book.

💬 aparte after a verb or dish means "separately" or "on the side". It's handy when ordering: la salsa aparte "the sauce on the side".

💬 hay has a silent h and sounds like English "eye": (eye). One word covers both "is there" and "are there".

💬 In Spain, the c before i in contaminación is said like English th: (con-ta-mee-na-THYON).

💬 Es que at the start of a sentence introduces a reason or justification, and it softens what follows. Spaniards use it all the time: Es que llegamos tarde "The thing is, we're running late".

💬 bastante here means "quite" or "pretty", not "enough". Another example: bastante caro "quite expensive".

🇪🇸 Tasting menus in Spain often have to be ordered by the whole table. That's why it's worth flagging dietary needs early so the kitchen can adapt individual courses.

🇪🇸 Fried tapas like croquetas "croquettes" or calamares "squid" usually share a fryer with breaded food. A coeliac diner should ask about these specifically.

💬 Despite coming from ir "to go", vaya on its own is an exclamation of mild disappointment or surprise. Think "oh dear" or "oh no".

💬 Follow ¿Sería posible...? with any action word in its basic form to make a polite request. For example: ¿Sería posible cambiar la hora? "Would it be possible to change the time?"

💬 The le attached to the end of cambiar means "for her" (or "for him/you"). Spanish often sticks these little words straight onto the verb.

💬 To swap one thing for another, use cambiar A por B. For example: cambiar las patatas por ensalada "swap the chips for salad".

💬 Spanish often uses the present tense for a promise about the near future. le prepara reads like "prepares" but means "will prepare".

💬 Here ya means "right now" or "straight away", not "already". Staff say ya lo... to show they're dealing with it on the spot.

💬 In Spain a booking is la reserva. In much of Latin America you'll also hear la reservación.

💬 After para que "so that", sabe "knows" changes to sepa. The full line is para que lo sepa cocina, where cocina means "the kitchen".

💬 After para que "so that", the verb shifts shape: sabe "knows" becomes sepa. Same pattern: para que lo sepan "so they know".

💬 pues here doesn't mean "because". It's a filler like English "well" or "so", and you'll hear it constantly at the start of sentences.

🇪🇸 pues nada is the classic Spanish signal that a call is wrapping up. When staff say it, expect goodbyes next. You can use it yourself to end the booking politely.

💬 Adding -ísimo to a word turns up the intensity, and it matches the noun: muchísimas gracias, muchísimo frío "really cold".

💬 This is short for es usted muy amable "you are very kind", with the verb dropped. amable doesn't change shape, so it works for a man or a woman.

🇪🇸 muy amable "very kind" is the standard warm-but-polite tag after someone has helped you, such as noting an allergy. It sounds natural, not overly formal.

💬 This is short for gracias a usted "thanks to you", the usual reply when someone thanks you first. Between friends it becomes a ti.

💬 Hasta + a day or time is the standard 'see you then': hasta mañana "see you tomorrow", hasta luego "see you later". Days of the week take el and are not capitalised.

💬 que plus this verb form makes a wish: "may it go well". Same pattern: que aproveche "enjoy your meal".

💬 hasta plus a day or time means "see you then". Swap in others: hasta mañana "see you tomorrow", hasta el viernes "see you Friday".