SOMETHING GOES WRONG
Dialogue
Manager: Yes, you asked for me , I think
Client: Yes, I did. I just wanted to show you the beautiful hair I found in my vegetable
soup, and look how flighty these glasses are.
Manager: Let me see.
Client: Yes, look for yourself. I’m not having this soup and I’m not drinking out of one of
these glasses.
Manager: Please, don’t shout. I’m sorry but this isn’t a hair it’s just a bean string and I’ll
have these glasses replaced immediately.
( he speaks to the waiter).
Tim, will you bring two clean glasses, please?
Client: Oh but I’m revolted. Every restaurant is the same. Either the wine is acid or the
potatoes are rotten…
Manager: Maybe you haven’t been very lucky. Our clientele has never complained.
Client: Service is always too slow. You’ll always miss the first act of the play.
Oh, and last time a waitress spilled some sauce all over my new diner suit!
Manager: Here are your glasses, Sir. I hope you’ll soon be making friends again with
restaurants.
Client: I doubt it.
EXPRESSIONS:
is there anything wrong?
- what’s up/what’s the matter?.
- What’s happening?
- What’s wrong?
- What is it?
this isn’t what I ordered!
- I asked f or a … not a…
- I’m sorry, I’ll change it right away.
the plates/ the glasses:
- are chipped/cracked
- have got lipstick on them
- I’m terribly sorry, I’ll change it/ them
the tablecloth/ the napkins:
- are dirty/ stained
- I’m terribly sorry, I’ll change it / them.
the soup:
- there’s a fly/ a hair in it.
- I’m sorry but this is not a fly/ a hair
the vegetables:
- aren’t cooked.
- Are cold
- I’m terribly sorry, I’ll take them back to the kitchen.
the salad:
- is full of bugs
- hasn’t been washed
- I’m terribly sorry I’ll bring you another one.
the fish:
- is not fresh
- is too salty
- is too peppery/ hot
- I’m sorry, but the sauce you asked for is very spicy.
the meat
- is raw/isn’t cooked enough
- is over-cooked
- is tough
- I’m terribly sorry, I’ll take it back to the chef.
The wine:
- Would need more/ less chilling / to be at room temperature.
- Has got a funny taste
- Is cloudy
- Has got a cork taste to it / is corky ( un goût de bouchon)
- I’m terribly sorry, I’ll get you another bottle.
the desserts:
- are too sweet
- the cake is burned
- this fruit is spoiled
- I’m terribly sorry, I’ll see what I can do.
the coffee/ the tea:
- is too weak/strong
- is boiling hot
- I’m sorry, I’ll go and get another one/ some milk
the bill
- is too expensive
- there’s a mistake
- I’m going to don’t it out to the cashier
anyhow the service is bad:
- is too slow
- we’ve been waiting for hours and we’re getting very hungry
- it’ll only take a minute now.
the waiter/the waitress:
- is rude
- doesn’t even speak English properly
- all this is very annoying
- I’m going to see the manager
little incidents:
- I have spilt some sauce/ wine on your…
- I’ll get some water right away
- Don’t worry if the stain doesn’t disappear, the restaurant will pay for the cleaning of the
garment.
- You’ll just have to send us the laundry bill.
- I dropped the dish and broke it.
- A clumsy movement
- I went down the wrong away
- He’s got the hiccoughs/ hiccups
Apologies
- I’m terribly sorry
- Excuse me
- Pardon me
- What can I do for you?
- I’ll see what I can do for you
- I’ll go and see in the kitchen
- I’ll see to it
the client isn’t feeling well:
I have stomach pain/a headache
Call the doctor/ an ambulance
I’ll bring you an aspirin, you’ll feel better
and if everything ands well…
Oh it doesn’t matter.
Don’t worry
It’ll be all right
Thank you for your help
Practice:
1. make up your own dialogues:
- imagine something is wrong with the cutlery
- you have had a clumsy movement and you spilled some tomato sauce on your client’s dress.
- Your client doesn’t find his meat very good. Say why.
- You, the waiter, have to calm the customer who is very angry because he’s been waiting too
long.
2. what do you answer to:
- waiter, I don’t want this cake, it is burnt!
- Waiter, this coffee is too weak!
- Don’t you speak English?
- Waiter, there’s a mistake in the bill.
- Waiter, your wine is cloudy
- Waiter, I haven’t got a glass
- Waiter, my soup is too salty
- Waiter , I didn’t order trout! I ordered smoked salmon!
- Waiter, I’m not feeling well, I have a headache
- Waiter, I‘m worried about this stain.
