B1 · 41 words

Eating out in Turkish

From snack bar to tavern: how something tastes, what is on the house, who pays and who complains.

Practise this list

From these 41 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

Where you eat says a lot: an esnaf lokantası serves ready-made dishes from the counter at lunchtime, a meyhane lots of small plates in the evening, a pastane cakes and pastries. In a restaurant “to order” is usually just söylemek, “to say”: bir çay söyleyelim. Whoever pays says ben ısmarlıyorum — often one person takes the whole bill instead of everyone paying separately. The adjectives in -lı and -sız, like English “-y” and “-less”, are especially useful here: acılı“spicy”acısız“not spicy”

The words

Verb (4)

ikram etmekto offer, to give on the houseVerbB1

Garson bize tatlı ikram etti.The waiter gave us dessert on the house.

To whom: dative. Also for guests at home: misafire çay ikram etmek.

şikâyet etmekto complainVerbB1

Yemek soğuk geldi, müdüre şikâyet ettik.The food came cold, we complained to the manager.

About what: ablative, gürültüden şikâyet etmek; to whom: dative.

bölüşmekto share, to splitVerbB1

Hesabı üç kişi bölüştük.The three of us split the bill.

What: accusative; with whom: ile.

yer ayırtmakto book a tableVerbB1

Bu meyhane hafta sonu çok dolu, önceden yer ayırtmamız lazım.This tavern is very full at weekends, we need to book a table in advance.

For when: için; for how many: -lik (dört kişilik yer).

Noun (23)

Grammar for these: No article, no gender · The plural with -ler and -lar

meyhanetavern (with meze)NounB1

Cuma akşamı arkadaşlarla meyhaneye gittik.On Friday evening we went to a tavern with friends.

Evenings, lots of small plates, long conversations.

esnaf lokantasısimple lunchtime restaurantNounB1

Öğle yemeğini her gün bir esnaf lokantasında yiyorum.I have lunch at a simple local restaurant every day.

Literally “tradesmen’s restaurant”: home cooking from the counter, quick and cheap.

büfesnack bar, kioskNounB1

Otogardaki büfeden bir tost aldım.I bought a toastie at the kiosk in the coach station.

pastanecake shop, patisserieNounB1

Pazar sabahları pastaneden poğaça alıyoruz.On Sunday mornings we get pastries from the cake shop.

kahvehanecoffee house, tea houseNounB1

Dedem her öğleden sonra kahvehanede tavla oynuyor.My grandfather plays backgammon at the coffee house every afternoon.

Also just kahve: kahveye gitmek.

kebapçıkebab restaurantNounB1

Köşedeki kebapçı gece yarısına kadar açık.The kebab place on the corner is open until midnight.

-çı turns the food into the shop or the person who makes it.

açık büfebuffetNounB1

Otelde kahvaltı açık büfe.Breakfast at the hotel is a buffet.

paket servistakeaway, deliveryNounB1

Bu akşam yemek yapmayalım, paket servis söyleyelim.Let us not cook tonight, let us order a takeaway.

servis ücretiservice chargeNounB1

Hesaba servis ücreti dâhil mi?Is the service charge included in the bill?

manzaraviewNounB1

Terastan Boğaz manzarası harika.From the terrace the view of the Bosphorus is wonderful.

şefchefNounB1

Şefin bugünkü önerisi fırında kuzu.The chef’s recommendation today is roast lamb.

tattaste, flavourNounB1

Bu çorbanın tadı çok güzel.This soup tastes very good.

Softens despite one syllable: tadı. “To taste”: tadına bakmak.

iştahappetiteNounB1

Hastayken hiç iştahım yoktu.When I was ill I had no appetite at all.

With a possessive and var/yok: iştahım yok “I have no appetite”.

sofratable (laid for a meal)NounB1

Sofrayı birlikte kurup birlikte toplarız.We lay the table together and clear it together.

sofra kurmak “to lay the table”, sofrayı toplamak “to clear the table”.

serpme kahvaltıspread breakfast (many small plates)NounB1

Pazar günü serpme kahvaltıya gidelim mi?Shall we go for a big breakfast on Sunday?

Cheese, olives, honey, eggs and much more on small plates for the whole table.

tabldotset menu of the dayNounB1

Bu lokantada her gün değişen bir tabldot var.This restaurant has a set menu that changes every day.

çorbacısoup restaurantNounB1

Gece geç saatte çorbacıya gittik.Late at night we went to a soup place.

Many stay open all night.

ocakbaşıgrill restaurant (open grill)NounB1

Ocakbaşı biraz pahalı ama et çok iyi.The grill restaurant is a bit expensive, but the meat is very good.

You sit by the grill and watch the meat being cooked.

mekânplace, venueNounB1

Bu mekân hafta sonları çok kalabalık oluyor.This place gets very crowded at weekends.

ikramtreat, something on the houseNounB1

Çaylar bizden ikram.The tea is on the house.

adisyonbill (in a restaurant)NounB1

Garson adisyonu masaya bıraktı.The waiter left the bill on the table.

garnitürside dishNounB1

Köftenin yanında garnitür olarak pilav var.The meatballs come with rice as a side dish.

kuvercover chargeNounB1

Bu restoranda kişi başı kuver ücreti alınıyor.This restaurant charges a cover charge per person.

Adjective (11)

Grammar for these: The adjective comes first and stays the same · Bigger and biggest: “daha” and “en”

acılıspicy, hotAdjectiveB1

Bu lahmacun biraz acılı, dikkat et.This lahmacun is a bit spicy, be careful.

acısıznot spicy, mildAdjectiveB1

Çocuklar için acısız bir şey var mı?Is there something mild for the children?

baharatlıspicy, well seasonedAdjectiveB1

Annemin yemekleri hep çok baharatlı.My mother’s cooking is always very spicy.

bayatstaleAdjectiveB1

Bu ekmek bayat, yenisini alalım.This bread is stale, let us buy a fresh one.

ev yapımıhomemadeAdjectiveB1

Bu lokantada her şey ev yapımı.Everything is homemade in this restaurant.

nefisdeliciousAdjectiveB1

Bu baklava gerçekten nefis!This baklava is really delicious!

ekşisourAdjectiveB1

Bu limonata çok ekşi olmuş.This lemonade has turned out very sour.

yağlıgreasy, fattyAdjectiveB1

Akşamları yağlı yemek yemiyorum.I do not eat fatty food in the evening.

doyurucufillingAdjectiveB1

Mercimek çorbası hem ucuz hem doyurucu.Lentil soup is both cheap and filling.

From doymak “to get full”.

az pişmişrare (meat)AdjectiveB1

Eti az pişmiş mi istersiniz, iyi pişmiş mi?Would you like the meat rare or well done?

Well done: iyi pişmiş.

hesaplıgood value, reasonably pricedAdjectiveB1

Bu lokanta hem lezzetli hem hesaplı.This restaurant is both tasty and good value.

Phrase (3)

dışarıda yemekto eat outPhraseB1

Bu akşam dışarıda yiyelim mi?Shall we eat out tonight?

yemek becomes yi- before y: yiyelim, yiyecek.

paket yaptırmakto have (food) wrapped to take awayPhraseB1

Kalanını paket yaptırabilir miyiz?Could we have the rest wrapped to take away?

What: accusative, yemeği paket yaptırmak; yaptırmak is “to have done”.

tadına bakmakto taste, to tryPhraseB1

Çorbanın tadına bakar mısın, tuzu yeterli mi?Will you taste the soup? Is there enough salt in it?

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