How to share dishes and split the bill in English
Do you guys want to share a few things?
“Do you all want to order a few dishes and share them?”
When: When everyone is looking at the menu
The moment
You are at a busy tapas-style place in the East Village with three friends for a birthday. You want to share dishes, recommend something you ate there before, make a toast, and agree on how to pay.
A2 · Unit 1 · Eating out
The lines
Sharing plates
Many American restaurants have small plates for the whole table. Ask your friends 'Do you guys want to share a few things?' 'You guys' means 'all of you' and is very common, even for women.
Do you guys want to share a few things?
“Do you all want to order a few dishes and share them?”
When to use it: When everyone is looking at the menu
What you’ll hear back: Yeah, let's do that! (Yes, good idea.)
You have to try it
To recommend food you ate before, say 'You have to try the...' and then say when you had it: 'I had it last time and it was amazing.' 'You have to' here is a friendly push, not an order.
You have to try the short ribs. I had them last time.
“The short ribs are very good. I ate them last time.”
When to use it: When friends ask what is good here
What you’ll hear back: Okay, I'm sold. Let's get them. (Okay, you convinced me.)
Words for this scene
| Word or phrase | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Cheers to Sam! | CHEERZ tuh SAM | Let's lift our drinks for Sam. |
Okay everyone, glasses up. Cheers to Sam, happy birthday! Everyone, lift your drinks. We drink for Sam because it is his birthday. Tip: Americans make eye contact and clink glasses; toasts stay short. | ||
| I'm down. | aim DOWN | I agree. I want to do that too. |
Want to get dessert too? I'm down if you are. Do you want a sweet dish too? I want one if you want one. Tip: Very casual; use with friends, not with your boss. | ||
| Should we just split it evenly? | shud-wee JUST SPLIT-it EE-vun-lee | Should everyone pay the same amount? |
It's around sixty each with tip. Should we just split it evenly? Each person pays about sixty dollars with the tip. Should we all pay the same? Tip: Add 18-20% tip before splitting; servers depend on it. | ||
Your objective
Recommend a dish you’ve had before; when a friend can’t eat it, suggest another to share, then propose how to split the bill.
- a dish you recommend
- another dish when they can’t eat it
- how to split the bill
Lines that get it done
- Do you guys want to share a few things?
- You have to try the short ribs. I had them last time.
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. Your friends ask what is good here. You ate the tacos last month. What do you say?
- You have to try the tacos. I had them last time.
- You must to try the tacos. I have them last time.
- You should tried the tacos. I eat them last time.
- Try you the tacos. I was have them last time.
Show the answer
You have to try the tacos. I had them last time.
'You have to try...' is a friendly recommendation, and 'I had them' is the simple past of 'have'.
2. Your friend says, 'Want to share some fries?' and you answer, 'I'm down.' What do you mean?
- Yes, I want to do that.
- I feel sad tonight.
- No, I'm too full.
- I want to sit downstairs.
Show the answer
Yes, I want to do that.
'I'm down' is casual American English for 'I agree' or 'Count me in.'
3. The check comes and you want everyone to pay the same amount. What do you say?
- Should we just split it evenly?
- Should we just cut it the same?
- Should we pay it equal for all?
- Should we just break the bill middle?
Show the answer
Should we just split it evenly?
Americans 'split' the check. 'Evenly' means everyone pays the same share.