VI. Study the following and memorize useful words and phrases.

Dinner’s on me: entertaining and eating out

A Paying the bill

We'll split the bill, shall we? [each person will pay for him/herself]

Lunch is on me today. [informal: I am paying for you]

Will you join us [come with us] for dinner at the City Plaza hotel? We'd like you to be our guest [formal: we will pay]

Let me get this. [informal: pay the bill this time]

I was wined and dined every night by our New York office. [invited out to restaurants]

 

 

B Describing service

A new Italian restaurant called Bella Roma has just opened in the High Street, and we went there the other night to try it. I couldn't help comparing it to the Casa Italia, where we I ate last week. In the Bella Roma, the service was impeccable and quick; at the Casa Italia it's always a bit sluggish². In the new place the waiters are courteous³ and friendly without being overbearing⁴. In the other place they tend to be sullen⁵ and the service is rather brusque⁶,which I find very off-putting⁷. But at Bella Roma they'll go out of their way to give you what you want.

 

¹ perfect, cannot be faulted

² rather slow

³polite

⁴ too confident / too inclined to
tell people what to do

⁵ bad-tempered / unwilling to smile

⁶ quick and rude

⁷ makes you feel you do not want

to go there again

⁸ do everything possible