Chapter 8

Guten Appetit! Dining Out and Going to the Market

In This Chapter

Talking about hunger, thirst, and meals

Navigating a restaurant or other eatery

Buying food at a grocery store or other shop

Finding out about the food and eating habits in another country is one of the most interesting — and tasty — ways of learning about its culture. Whether you’re interested in having a business lunch, enjoying a casual dinner, or cooking for yourself, this chapter helps you find your way around food.

When eating out in German-speaking Europe, you’ll likely notice that the food variety isn’t much different from what you’re used to. A typical German meal consists of meat, potatoes, and vegetables or a salad, and it isn’t particularly fancy. However, local cuisines vary from region to region. We suggest you try them. In addition, you’re also likely to find a surprisingly wide variety of authentic international cuisines, ranging from Spanish to Sicilian, Portuguese to Philippine, and Turkish to Tibetan.

Whatever your meal, remember to say Guten Appetit (gooh-ten âp-e-teet) (enjoy your meal) as the Germans do with each other before they start to eat!

Hast du Hunger? Hast du Durst?

When it comes to food, expressing your hunger and thirst are important! Otherwise, you have no cure for your grumbling stomach and parched throat. Here’s how you talk about being hungry or thirsty in German:

Ich habe Hunger / Durst. (iH hah-be hoong-er / doorst.) (I am hungry / thirsty. Literally: I have hunger/thirst.)

Ich bin hungrig / durstig. (iH bin hoong-riH / door-stiH.) (I am hungry / thirsty.)

To satisfy your hunger or thirst, you have to eat — essen (ês-en) — and to drink — trinken (trin-ken). Here are the conjugations for essen, which is an irregular verb, and trinken (see Chapter 2 for more information on conjugating verbs):

Conjugation	Pronunciation
ich esse	iH ês-e
du isst (singular, informal)	dooh ist
Sie essen (singular, formal)	zee ês-en
er, sie, es isst	êr, zee, ês ist
wir essen	veer ês-en
ihr esst (plural, informal)	eer êst
Sie essen (plural, formal)	zee ês-en
sie essen	zee ês-en

Conjugation	Pronunciation
ich trinke	iH trin-ke
du trinkst (singular, informal)	dooh trinkst
Sie trinken (singular, formal)	zee trin-ken
er, sie, es trinkt	êr, zee, ês trinkt
wir trinken	veer trin-ken
ihr trinkt (plural, informal)	eer trinkt
Sie trinken (plural, formal)	zee trin-ken
sie trinken	zee trin-ken

Here are two examples using essen and trinken:

Wir essen gern Fisch. (veer ês-en gêrn fish.) (We like to eat fish.)

Trinkst du Bier? (trinkst dooh beer?) (Do you drink beer?)

All about Meals

German meals and meal times don’t differ too much from their American counterparts. The three Mahlzeiten (mahl-tsayt-en) (meals) of the day are the following:

das Frühstück (dâs frue-shtuek) (breakfast)

das Mittagessen (dâs mi-tahk-ês-en) (lunch)

das Abendessen (dâs ah-bent-ês-en) (dinner)

In most cafés and hotels, breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., and it’s often more substantial than the typical continental breakfast. Lunch is usually served between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. For some Germans, lunch is the main meal of the day; for others the main meal comes at dinnertime. In restaurants, a full menu generally is available between 6:30 and 9:00 p.m. In larger cities and restaurants, a full menu may be served until 11 p.m. In addition, fast food places abound, including several well-known American hamburger restaurant chains, where, interestingly, you can order beer.

The traditional cold evening meal in German homes consists of bread with cold meats, cheeses, salad, and other cold dishes. This same fare is what families and friends in southern Germany have at the local Biergarten (dêr beer-gâr-ten) (beer garden), where they spread their food out on a picnic table and enjoy warm summer evenings with eine Maß Bier (ayn-e mahs beer [as in English]) (a liter of beer).

You may occasionally hear people say Mahlzeit! (mahl-tsayt) as a greeting at lunchtime. Roughly translated, the word means mealtime in English, and there is no equivalent greeting in English. This greeting is especially common among colleagues at the workplace. If someone says this to you, just say the same — Mahlzeit! — and smile.

Setting the Table for a Meal

The German table features all the same items that you find on your table at home, including the following:

das Glas (dâs glahs) (glass)

die Tasse (dee tâs-e) (cup)

der Teller (dêr têl-er) (plate)

der Suppenteller (dêr zoop-en-têl-er) (soup bowl)

die Serviette (dee sêr-vee-êt-e) (napkin)

das Messer (dâs mês-er) (knife)

die Gabel (dee gah-bel) (fork)

der Löffel (dêr ler-fel) (spoon)

das Besteck (dâs be-shtêk) (a set of a knife, fork, and spoon)

If you’re in a restaurant and need an item not found on the table (for example, a spoon, fork, or knife), call the waiter over by saying

Entschuldigen Sie bitte! (ênt-shool-di-gen zee bi-te!) (Excuse me, please!)

After you get the waiter’s attention, ask for what you need:

Kann ich bitte einen Löffel / eine Gabel / ein Messer haben? (kân iH bi-te ayn-en ler-fel / ayn-e gah-bel / ayn mês-er hah-ben?) (Can I please have a spoon / a fork / a knife?)

Dining Out: Visiting a Restaurant

Eating out is quite popular in Germany, and you’ll find little difference between going out to a restaurant in Germany and going to one in the U.S. Just a few minor differences exist. For instance, in many German restaurants, you don’t have to wait to be seated as you do in the U.S. However, the waiter or waitress in more upscale places usually takes you to your table. Also, doggie bags aren’t common practice in Germany. But, surprisingly, dogs are generally welcome in many restaurants if they sit under the table.

Europeans in general place great value on the dining experience. You can expect a more leisurely pace while enjoying your meal in Europe. In fact, don’t expect to see the check after you’ve finished your meal — you have to ask for it.

In the following sections, we help you become acquainted with dining out so you get the most from your experience.

Deciding where to eat

Most German eateries post a menu (see Figure 8-1) at their entrances, making it easy to tell what kind of dining experience you can get there. This display is helpful when you’re wandering around looking for a place to eat. However, if you want to ask someone about a particular kind of eatery, it helps to know what different kinds are available. Here are the most common ones:

das Restaurant (dâs rês-tuh-ron) (restaurant): You can find a similar variety of restaurants in Germany that you can in the U.S., ranging from simple to fancy establishments with corresponding menus and prices.

die Gaststätte (dee gâst-shtêt-e) (local type of restaurant): This restaurant is a simpler type where you’re likely to find local specialties.

das Gasthaus (dâs gâst-hous) / der Gasthof (dêr gâst-hohf) (inn): You usually find these inns in the country. They often offer home cooking, and the atmosphere may be rather folksy. In rural areas, some offer lodging.

die Raststätte (dee râst-shtêt-e) (roadside restaurant): These restaurants usually are found on the Autobahn and have service station facilities and sometimes lodging. Note: In Austria, these restaurants are called der Rasthof (dêr râst-hohf).

der Ratskeller (dêr rahts-kêl-er): This type of restaurant is named after an eatery in the Keller (kêl-er) (cellar) of the Rathaus (raht-hous) (town hall). You often find these in historic buildings.

die Bierhalle (dee beer-hâl-e) / die Bierstube (dee beer-shtooh-be) (beer hall): Beer halls, of course, specialize in beer served from huge barrels. But, besides beer, you can also order hot dishes (usually deciding among a few dishes of the day), salads, and pretzels. The best-known beer halls are in Munich, Bavaria, where the Oktoberfest (ok-toh-ber-fêst) takes place for two weeks beginning in late September. At this event, each Munich brewery sets up a massive Bierzelt (beer-tsêlt) (beer tent).

die Weinstube (dee vayn-shtooh-be) (wine bar): At this cozy restaurant, often found in wine-producing areas, you can sample wine with bar food and snacks.

die Kneipe (dee knayp-e) (bar-restaurant): This type of bar-restaurant combination is similar to what you may find in the U.S. You usually find a casual atmosphere here where the locals hang out.

das Café (dâs café [as in English]) (café): Cafés may range from places to have Kaffee und Kuchen (kâf-ey oont koohH-en) (coffee and cake) to upscale establishments with full menus. Vienna’s café tradition is famous. In these cafés, you can sit down for a leisurely cup of fine coffee and read the newspaper.

der (Schnell)imbiss (dêr (shnêl-)im-bis) (snack bar, fast-food restaurant): Here you can get food like Wurst (woorst) (sausage) and Pommes frites (pom frit) (french fries).

Figure 8-1: German restaurants typically post a menu near the door.

Making reservations

Making reservations isn’t always necessary in Germany. In fact, during the week you may be able to get a table without a reservation — unless you’re going to a particularly trendy place or one with limited seating. You usually don’t make reservations at a Kneipe or Gaststätte — you get a table on a first-come-first-served basis. However, when you want to be on the safe side, call ahead to make a reservation.

When making a reservation, consider using the following expressions:

Ich möchte gern einen Tisch reservieren / bestellen. (iH merH-te gêrn ayn-en tish rê-zêr-vee-ren / be-shtêl-en.) (I would like to reserve a table.)

Haben Sie um . . . Uhr einen Tisch frei? (hah-ben zee oom . . . oohr ayn-en tish fray?) (Do you have a table free at . . . o’clock?)

Ich möchte gern einen Tisch für . . . Personen um . . . Uhr. (iH merH-te gêrn ayn-en tish fuer . . . pêr-zohn-en oom . . . oohr.) (I would like a table for . . . people at . . . o’clock.)

To get more specific about when you want the reservation, you can add the specific day of the week to your request, or one of the following appropriate phrases:

am Freitag Abend (âm fray-tahk ah-bent) (on Friday evening)

heute Abend (hoy-te ah-bent) (this evening)

morgen Abend (mor-gen ah-bent) (tomorrow evening)

heute Mittag (hoy-te mi-tahk) (today at lunchtime)

morgen Mittag (mor-gen mi-tahk) (tomorrow at lunchtime)

So here’s what you may say:

Ich möchte gern für heute Abend einen Tisch reservieren. (iH merH-te gêrn fuer hoy-te ah-bent ayn-en tish rê-zêr-vee-ren.) (I would like to reserve a table for this evening.)

Haben Sie am Sonntag Abend um . . . Uhr einen Tisch frei? (hah-ben zee âm zon-tahk ah-bent oom . . . oohr ayn-en tish fray?) (Do you have a table free on Sunday evening at . . . o’clock?)

Talkin’ the Talk

Mike and his friend Ute want to check out the trendy new Restaurant Galleria. Mike calls the restaurant to make a reservation.
Restaurant:	Restaurant Galleria. rês-tuh-ron gâ-le-ree-â. Restaurant Galleria.
Mike:	Guten Tag. Ich möchte gern einen Tisch für heute Abend bestellen. gooh-ten tahk. iH merH-te gêrn ayn-en tish fuer hoy-te ah-bent be-shtêl-en. Hello. I would like to reserve a table for this evening.
Restaurant:	Für wie viele Personen? fuer vee fee-le pêr-zohn-en? For how many people?
Mike:	Zwei Personen, bitte. Haben Sie um acht Uhr einen Tisch frei? tsvay pêr-zohn-en, bi-te. hah-ben zee oom âHt oohr ayn-en tish fray? Two people, please. Do you have a table free at eight o’clock?
Restaurant:	Tut mir leid. Um acht Uhr ist alles ausgebucht. Sie können aber um acht Uhr dreißig einen Tisch haben. tooht meer layt. oom âHt oohr ist âl-ês ous-ge-boohHt. zee kern-en ah-bêr oom âHt oohr dray-siH ayn-en tish hah-ben. I’m sorry. At 8:00 everything’s booked. But you could have a table at 8:30.
Mike:	Acht Uhr dreißig wäre auch gut. âHt oohr dray-siH vai-re ouH gooht. 8:30 would be good, too.
Restaurant:	Und Ihr Name, bitte? oont eer nah-me, bi-te? And your name, please?
Mike:	Evans. evans [as in English]. Evans.
Restaurant:	Geht in Ordnung, ich habe den Tisch für Sie reserviert. geyt in ort-noong, iH hah-be deyn tish fuer zee rê-zêr-veert. That’s all set. I have reserved the table for you.
Mike:	Vielen Dank. Bis heute Abend. fee-lên dânk. bis hoy-te ah-bent. Thank you very much. Until this evening.

Occasionally, you’ll call for a reservation and discover that no tables are available. In those instances, you may hear the following:

Es tut mir leid. Wir sind völlig ausgebucht. (ês tooht meer layt. veer zint fer-liH ous-ge-boohHt.) (I’m sorry. We are totally booked.)

If you show up at a busy restaurant without making a reservation, expect to hear one of the following:

In . . . Minuten wird ein Tisch frei. (in . . . mi-nooh-ten virt ayn tish fray.) (In . . . minutes a table will be free.)

Können Sie in . . . Minuten wiederkommen? (kern-en zee in . . . mi-nooh-ten vee-der-kom-en.) (Could you come back in . . . minutes?)

Arriving and being seated

When you arrive at a restaurant, you want to take your seat, Platz nehmen (plâts neym-en) and get your Speisekarte (shpayz-e-kâr-tê) (menu). In casual restaurants, you seat yourself. In upscale restaurants, a waiter, der Kellner (dêr kêl-ner), or a waitress, die Kellnerin (dee kêl-ner-in), directs you to your table.

Talkin’ the Talk

Mike and Ute have been looking forward to eating at Restaurant Galleria since Mike made the reservation. They arrive at the restaurant and are seated. (Track 17)
Mike:	Guten Abend. Mein Name ist Evans. Wir haben einen Tisch für zwei Personen bestellt. gooh-ten ah-bent. mayn nah-me ist evans [as in English]. veer hah-ben ayn-en tish fuer tsvay pêr-zohn-en be-shtêlt. Good evening. My name is Evans. We reserved a table for two people.
Kellner:	Guten Abend. Bitte, nehmen Sie hier vorne Platz. gooh-ten ah-bent. bi-te, neym-en zee heer forn-e plâts. Good evening. Please take a seat over here.
Ute:	Könnten wir vielleicht den Tisch dort drüben am Fenster haben? kern-ten veer fee-layHt deyn tish dort drue-ben âm fên-ster hah-ben? Could we perhaps have the table over there by the window?
Kellner:	Aber sicher, kein Problem. Setzen Sie sich. Ich bringe Ihnen sofort die Speisekarte. ah-ber ziH-er, kayn pro-bleym. zêts-en zee ziH. iH bring-e een-en zo-fort dee shpayz-e-kâr-te. But of course, no problem. Have a seat. I’ll bring you the menu right away.

Deciphering the menu

After you decide where to eat and how to get a reservation and table, you’re ready for the fun part — deciding what you want to eat! Of course, what’s on the menu depends entirely on what kind of place you go to. Unlike in the U.S., the prices shown on a German menu normally include taxes and service.

If you go to a French, Spanish, or Chinese restaurant, the menu may be in the language of the respective country, with a German translation below the original name of the dish. In popular tourist areas, you may even find an English translation.

The following sections tell you about foods you may find in European restaurants. Keep in mind, however, that these sections don’t tell you about local cuisine, which differs substantially from region to region; many areas have their local specialties. For example, there are certain regional dishes that you would commonly find on the menu in Bavaria or southern Germany but never in Hamburg or the northern parts of the country. Austria and Switzerland also have their own regional specialties.

Breakfast

The following items may be offered zum Frühstück (tsoom frue-shtuek) (for breakfast) in a German-speaking country:

das Brot (dâs broht) (bread)

das Brötchen (dâs brert-Hên) (roll)

der Toast (dêr tohst) (toast)

der Aufschnitt (dêr ouf-shnit) (cold meats and cheese)

die Butter (dee boot-er) (butter)

die Marmelade (dee mâr-me-lah-de) (marmelade, jam)

das Müsli (dâs mues-lee) (muesli)

die Milch (dee milH) (milk)

der Saft (dêr zâft) (juice)

die Wurst (dee voorst) (sausage)

das Ei (dâs ay) (egg)

das Spiegelei (dâs shpee-gêl-ay) (fried egg, sunny side up)

die Rühreier (dee ruehr-ay-er) (scrambled eggs)

In Germany, Brötchen are popular for breakfast; however, you also may get all kinds of bread or croissants. It’s also common to eat cold cuts for breakfast in Germany. And if you order an egg without specifying that you want it scrambled or sunny side up, you’ll get it soft-boiled, served in an egg cup.

Appetizers

For Vorspeisen (fohr-shpayz-en) (appetizers), you may see the following German favorites:

Gemischter Salat (ge-mish-ter zâ-laht) (mixed salad)

Grüner Salat (gruen-er zâ-laht) (green salad)

Melone mit Schinken (mê-loh-ne mit shin-ken) (melon with ham)

Meeresfrüchtesalat mit Toast (meyr-es-frueH-te-zâ-laht mit tohst) (seafood salad with toast)

Soups

You may see the following Suppen (zoop-en) (soups) on a German menu:

Tomatensuppe (to-mah-ten-zoop-e) (tomato soup)

Kartoffelcremesuppe (kâr-tof-el-kreym-zoop-e) (cream of potato soup)

Gulaschsuppe (gooh-lash-zoop-e) (hearty beef and occasionally pork soup)

Französische Zwiebelsuppe (frân-tser-zi-she tsvee-bel-zoop-e) (French onion soup)

Main dishes

Hauptspeisen (houpt-shpayz-en) (main dishes) are as diverse in Germany as they are in any culture; here are some you may find on a German menu:

gefüllte Hühnerbrust mit Kartoffelpüree (ge-fuel-te huen-er-broost mit kâr-tof-el-puer-ey) (stuffed chicken breast with mashed potatoes)

Frischer Spargel mit Räucherschinken (frish-er shpâr-gel mit royH-er-shin-ken) (fresh asparagus with smoked ham)

Rumpsteak mit Pommes Frites und gemischtem Salat (roomp-steak mit pom frit oont ge-mish-tem zâ-laht) (rump steak with french fries and mixed salad)

Kalbsschnitzel nach Art des Hauses (kâlps-shnits-el nahH ârt dês houz-es) (chef’s style veal cutlet)

Lammfrikassee mit Reis (lâm-frik-â-sey mit rays) (lamb fricassee with rice)

Lachs an Safransoße mit Spinat und Salzkartoffeln (lâks ân zâf-rahn-zohs-e mit shpi-naht oont zâlts-kâr-tof-eln) (salmon in saffron sauce with spinach and boiled potatoes)

Fisch des Tages (fish dês tah-ges) (fish of the day)

Side dishes

You can sometimes order Beilagen (bay-lah-gen) (side dishes) separately from your main course. Consider the following popular items:

Butterbohnen (boot-er-bohn-en) (buttered beans)

Gurkensalat (goork-en-zâ-laht) (cucumber salad)

Kartoffelkroketten (kâr-tof-el-kroh-ket-en) (potato croquettes)

Dessert

German restaurants commonly offer many fine dishes zum Nachtisch (tsoom naH-tish) (for dessert), including the following:

Frischer Obstsalat (frish-er ohpst-zâ-laht) (fresh fruit salad)

Apfelstrudel (âp-fel-shtrooh-del) (apple strudel)

Gemischtes Eis mit Sahne (ge-mish-tes ays mit zahn-e) (mixed ice cream with whipped cream)

Rote Grütze mit Vanillesoße (roh-te grue-tse mit vâ-ni-le-zohs-e) (red berry compote with vanilla sauce)

Beverages

When it comes to ordering Wasser (vâs-er) (water), you have the choice between the carbonated or noncarbonated one — ein Wasser mit Kohlensäure (ayn vâs-er mit koh-len-zoy-re) (carbonated water) or ein Wasser ohne Kohlensäure (ayn vâs-er oh-ne koh-len-zoy-re) (noncarbonated water). If you ask the waiter or waitress for ein Mineralwasser (ayn min-êr-ahl-vâs-êr) (mineral water), you usually get carbonated water. Germans usually don’t drink Leitungswasser (lay-toongs-vâs-er) (tap water) in restaurants. However, if you’d like a glass of tap water, you can say this:

ein Glas Leitungswasser, bitte. (ayn glahs lay-toongs-vâs-er, bi-te.) (a glass of tap water, please.)

You can order Wein (vayn) (wine) by the bottle — die Flasche (dee flâsh-e) — or by the glass — das Glas (dâs glahs). Occasionally, you also can get a carafe of wine, which is die Karaffe (dee kah-râf-e).

In the following list, you find some common beverages, Getränke (gê-train-ke), that you may see on a German menu:

Bier (beer [as in English]) (beer)

das Export (dâs export [as in English]) (smooth lager beer)

das Bier vom Fass (dâs beer fom fâs) (draft beer)

das Pils / Pilsner (dâs pils / pilsner [as in English]) (pale lager beer)

helles / dunkles Bier (hel-es / dunk-les beer) (light / dark beer) (Helles refers to the beer’s light color, not its alcoholic content.)

Wein (vayn) (wine)

der Weißwein (dêr vays-vayn) (white wine)

der Rotwein (dêr roht-vayn) (red wine)

der Tafelwein (dêr tahf-el-vayn) (table wine, lowest quality)

der Kaffee (dêr kâf-ê) (coffee)

der Tee (dêr tey) (tea)

Placing your order

As in English, in German you use a variety of common expressions to order your food. Luckily, they aren’t too complicated, and you can use them both for ordering anything from food to drinks and for buying food at a store. Consider these expressions:

Ich hätte gern . . . (iH hêt-e gêrn . . .) (I would like to have . . .)

Für mich bitte . . . (fuer miH bi-te . . .) (For me . . . please)

Ich möchte gern . . . (iH merH-te gêrn . . .) (I would like to have . . .)

When ordering, you may decide to be adventurous and ask the waiter or waitress to suggest something for you. Here’s how:

Könnten Sie etwas empfehlen? (kern-ten zee êt-vâs êm-pfey-len?) (Could you recommend something?)

Be prepared for your waiter or waitress to rattle off names of dishes you may be unfamiliar with. To avoid any confusion, try holding out your menu so he or she can point at it while responding.

Applying the subjunctive to express your wishes

Take a closer look at the verb forms hätte, könnte, and möchte in the previous section. These verbs require you to be able to use the subjunctive.

The subjunctive has a number of uses in German, such as describing a wish or condition or expressing your opinion. In the examples in this section, you use it for making polite requests. Basically, the subjunctive acts like the English “would.”

Ich hätte . . . (iH hêt-e . . .) (I would have . . .) comes from haben (hah-ben) (to have). The big difference here between the German and the English usage is that in German you can combine “would” and “have” into one word: hätte. Add gern to hätte and presto! You have the form for ordering: Ich hätte gern . . . (iH hêt-e gêrn) (I would like to have . . .)

You also have Ich möchte . . . (iH merH-te . . .) (I would like . . .), which comes from mögen (mer-gen) (to like). It’s quite simple: möchte basically corresponds to the English “would like.” You use it in a similar way when ordering. Consider the following example:

Ich möchte gern ein Glas Mineralwasser. (iH merH-te gêrn ayn glahs min-êr-ahl-vâs-er.) (I would like a glass of mineral water.)

Both hätte and möchte are commonly used without the infinitive of a verb.

The phrase Ich könnte . . . (iH kern-te . . .) (I could . . .) comes from the verb können (kern-en) (to be able to or can). Könnte combines with the infinitive of a verb to make the following request:

Könnten Sie uns helfen? (kern-ten zee oons helf-en?) (Could you help us?)

Talkin’ the Talk

Mike and Ute have had a chance to look at the menu. The waiter returns to take their orders. (Track 18)
Kellner:	Darf ich Ihnen etwas zu trinken bringen? dârf iH een-en êt-vâs tsooh trin-ken bring-en? May I bring you something to drink?
Mike:	Ja, ich möchte gern ein Bier. yah, iH merH-te gêrn ayn beer. Yes, I’d like a beer.
Kellner:	Pils oder Export? pils oh-der export? A pils or an export?
Mike:	Export, bitte. export, bi-te. Export, please.
Kellner:	Ein Export. Und was darf es für Sie sein? ayn export. oont vâs dârf ês fuer zee zayn? One export. And what would you like?
Ute:	Mmm . . . Soll ich den Sylvaner oder den Riesling bestellen? Mmm . . . zol iH deyn Sylvaner [as in English] oh-der deyn Riesling [as in English] be-shtêl-en? Mmm. Should I order the Sylvaner or the Riesling?
Kellner:	Ich kann Ihnen beide Weißweine empfehlen. iH kahn een-en bay-de vays-vayn-e êm-pfey-len. I can recommend both white wines.
Ute:	Gut. Ich hätte gern ein Glas Sylvaner. gooht. iH hêt-e gêrn ayn glahs Sylvaner. Good. I would like to have a glass of Sylvaner.

Using modals to modify what you say

You may want to know a little more about the verbs darf, soll, and kann. Here’s the story: These verbs help you further determine or modify the action expressed by another verb (that’s why they’re called modal auxiliaries), and they work in a similar way as their English equivalents “may,” “should” and “can.” Möchte, which we discuss in the preceding section, does double duty as a modal auxiliary and as a subjunctive. You can find the conjugations for these verbs in Appendix B.

Ich darf . . . (iH dârf . . .) (I may/I’m allowed to . . .) comes from the verb dürfen (duerf-en) (may/to be allowed to). Ich soll . . . (iH zol . . .) (I should . . .) comes from the verb sollen (zol-en) (should). Ich kann . . . (iH kân . . .) (I can . . .) comes from the verb können (kern-en) (can). Here are some example sentences to familiarize you with darf, soll, and kann:

Darf ich die Speisekarte haben? (dârf iH dee shpayz-e-kâr-te hah-ben?) (May I have the menu, please?)

Dürfen wir dort drüben sitzen? (duerf-en veer dort drueb-en zits-en?) (May we sit over there?)

Sie sollten den Apfelstrudel bestellen. (zee zol-ten den âp-fel-shtrooh-del be-shtêl-en.) (You should order the apple strudel.)

Soll ich Ihnen zwei Löffel bringen? (zol iH een-en tsvay ler-fel bring-en?) (Shall I bring you two spoons?)

Kann ich bitte eine Serviette haben? (kân iH bi-te ayn-e sêr-vee-êt-e hah-ben?) (Can I have a napkin, please?)

Können Sie uns bitte noch zwei Bier bringen? (kern-en zee oons bi-te noH tsvay beer bring-en?) (Can you bring us two more beers, please?)

Ordering something special

People all over the world are now more conscientious than ever about what they’re eating, whether due to health or ethical concerns. So you may need the following phrases to order something a little out of the ordinary:

Haben Sie vegetarische Gerichte? (hah-ben zee vey-gê-tahr-ish-e ge-riH-te?) (Do you have vegetarian dishes?)

Ich kann nichts essen, was . . . enthält (iH kân niHts ês-en, vâs . . . ênt-hailt) (I can’t eat anything that contains . . .)

Haben Sie Gerichte für Diabetiker? (hah-ben zee ge-riH-te fuer dee-â-bey-ti-ker?) (Do you have dishes for diabetics?)

Haben Sie Kinderportionen? (hah-ben zee kin-der-por-tsee-ohn-en?) (Do you have children’s portions?)

Replying to “How did you like the food?”

After a meal, it’s traditional for the server to inquire whether you liked the food by asking this question:

Hat es Ihnen geschmeckt? (hât ês een-en ge-shmêkt?) (Did you enjoy the food?)

Hopefully, you enjoyed your meal and answer the question with one of the following:

danke, gut (dân-ke, gooht) (thanks, good)

sehr gut (zeyr gooht) (very good)

ausgezeichnet (ous-ge-tsayH-net) (excellent)

Asking for the check

At the end of your meal, your server may ask you the following expression as a way to bring your meal to a close and find out whether you’re ready for the check:

Sonst noch etwas? (zonst noH êt-vâs?) (Anything else?)

Unless you’d like to order something else, it’s time to pay die Rechnung (rêH-noong) (bill). You can ask for the bill in the following ways:

Ich möchte bezahlen. (iH merH-te be-tsahl-en.) (I would like to pay.)

Die Rechnung, bitte. (dee rêH-noong, bi-te.) (The check, please.)

If necessary, you can pay together with the other people you’re dining with. In that case, use this phrase: Alles zusammen, bitte. (âl-es tsoo-zâm-en, bi-te.) (Everything together, please.). Or you can ask to pay separately with Wir möchten getrennt bezahlen. (veer merH-ten ge-trênt be-tsahl-en.) (We would like to pay separately.).

Many German restaurants, especially upscale establishments, allow you to pay with a credit card — die Kreditkarte (dee krê-dit-kâr-te). These restaurants have signs in the window or one at the door, indicating which cards they take (just as they do in American restaurants). If it’s essential for you to pay with a credit card, simply look for these signs.

If you need a Quittung (kvit-oong) (receipt), ask the server for one after you’ve asked for the check:

Und eine Quittung, bitte. (oont ayn-e kvit-oong, bi-te.) (And a receipt, please.)

Talkin’ the Talk

Mike and Ute have enjoyed a great meal. They ask for the check, pay, and then tip the waiter. (Track 19)
Mike:	Die Rechnung, bitte. dee rêH-noong, bi-te. The check, please.
Kellner:	Sofort. Das macht 45 Euro 80. zoh-fort. dâs mâHt fuenf-oont-feer-tsiH oy-roh âHt-tsiH. Coming right up. That would be 45 euros 80 cents.
Mike puts 50 euros on the table.
Mike:	Stimmt so. shtimt zoh. Keep the change.
Kellner:	Vielen Dank. fee-len dânk. Thank you very much.
Mike:	Bitte. bi-te. You’re welcome.

Shopping for Food

Sometimes you may not feel like eating out. You may prefer to buy food for a picnic or to do the cooking yourself. If you want to shop for food, you need to know where to go and what to buy. The following section provides you with words for types of stores and food. To find out about how to order specific quantities of food, check out the section in Chapter 4 on weights and measurements.

Knowing where to shop

As in the U.S., in Germany you can shop for food at a number of different stores and shops. The following is a list of stores you may visit:

das Lebensmittelgeschäft (dâs ley-benz-mit-el-ge-shêft) (grocery store)

der Supermarkt (dêr zooh-pêr-mârkt) (supermarket)

der Markt (dêr mârkt) (market)

die Metzgerei (dee mêts-ge-ray) (butcher shop)

die Bäckerei (dee bêk-e-ray) (bakery)

die Konditorei (dee kon-dee-to-ray) (cake and pastry shop)

die Weinhandlung (dee vayn-hând-loong) (wine store)

You may purchase beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages in German supermarkets, grocery stores, discount stores, and even some gas stations. Large train stations may also have stores that sell food and alcoholic beverages, and some of the larger department stores have a full-fledged supermarket located in the basement.

Finding what you need

In the various shops listed in the preceding section, you may find the following types of foods:

die Backwaren (dee bâk-vâr-en) (bakery goods)

das Gebäck (dâs ge-bêk) (cookies, pastries)

das Gemüse (dâs ge-mue-ze) (vegetables)

der Fisch (dêr fish) (fish)

das Fleisch (dâs flaysh) (meat)

das Obst (dâs ohpst) (fruit)

Here are some specific food items you may be interested in purchasing:

das Brot (dâs broht) (bread)

das Brötchen (dâs brert-Hen) (roll)

das Roggenbrot (dâs rog-en-broht) (rye bread)

das Schwarzbrot (dâs shvârts-broht) (brown bread)

der Kuchen (dêr koohH-en) (cake)

die Torte (dee tor-te) (cake, often multilayered)

die Butter (dee boot-er) (butter)

der Käse (dêr kai-ze) (cheese)

die Milch (dee milH) (milk)

die Sahne (dee zahn-e) (cream)

die Flunder (dee floon-der) (flounder)

die Forelle (dee fohr-e-le) (trout)

der Kabeljau (dêr kah-bel-you) (cod)

die Krabben (dee krâb-en) (shrimp)

der Krebs (dêr kreyps) (crab)

der Tunfisch (dêr toohn-fish) (tuna)

die Bratwurst (dee braht-voorst) (fried sausage)

das Hähnchen (dâs hain-Hen) (chicken)

das Rindfleisch (dâs rint-flaysh) (beef)

der Schinken (dêr shin-ken) (ham)

das Schweinefleisch (dâs shvayn-e-flaysh) (pork)

der Speck (dêr shpêk) (bacon)

die Wurst (dee voorst) (sausage)

der Apfel (dêr âp-fel) (apple)

die Banane (dee bâ-nah-ne) (banana)

die Birne (dee birn-e) (pear)

die Bohne (dee bohn-e) (bean)

der Brokkoli (dêr broh-ko-lee) (broccoli)

die Erbse (dee êrp-se) (pea)

die Erdbeere (dee eyrt-beyr-e) (strawberry)

die Gurke (dee goork-e) (cucumber)

die Karotte (dee kâ-rot-e) (carrot)

die Kartoffel (dee kâr-tof-el) (potato)

der Knoblauch (dêr knoh-blouH) (garlic)

der Kohl (dêr kohl) (cabbage)

der Kopfsalat (dêr kopf-zâ-laht) (lettuce)

die Orange (dee oh-ron-ge [g as in the word genre]) (orange)

der Paprika (dêr pâp-ree-kah) (bell pepper)

der Pilz (dêr pilts) (mushroom)

der Reis (dêr rays) (rice)

der Salat (dêr zâ-laht) (salad)

das Sauerkraut (dâs zou-er-krout) (sauerkraut)

der Spinat (dêr shpi-naht) (spinach)

die Tomate (dee to-mah-te) (tomato)

die Zucchini (dee tsoo-kee-ni) (zucchini)

die Zwiebel (dee tsvee-bel) (onion)

If you go shopping at a supermarket in Germany, you’re bound to notice that plastic bags for your groceries aren’t something you just get for free. You either have to bring your own bag or pay a small amount for a plastic bag at the cashier. So why not go with the flow and purchase a few cloth bags that you can reuse? Oh, and keep in mind that bagging your own groceries is customary.

Fun & Games

You have just ordered a glass of water, a cup of coffee, soup, salad, steak, and mashed potatoes for lunch at a café. Identify everything on the table to make sure that your waiter hasn’t forgotten anything. Use the definite articles der, die, or das whenever you know which article to use.

A. ______________________________

B. ______________________________

C. ______________________________

D. ______________________________

E. ______________________________

F. ______________________________

G. ______________________________

H. ______________________________

I. ______________________________

J. ______________________________