Food & Drinks

1. Een koffie, alstublieft

   A coffee, please

   Usage

   Basic café order, used in cafés and restaurants

   Grammar Note

   "Een" is the indefinite article. "Koffie verkeerd" (wrong coffee) means café au lait

2. De rekening, alstublieft

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Standard phrase to request the bill at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Rekening" also means account. "De bon" is used for receipt in informal contexts

3. Ik ben allergisch voor noten

   I am allergic to nuts

   Usage

   Important phrase to communicate food allergies when ordering

   Grammar Note

   "Allergisch voor" means allergic to. Can substitute: gluten, lactose, schaaldieren (shellfish)

4. Wat zijn de dagspecials?

   What are today's specials?

   Usage

   Asking the waiter about the daily specials or chef's recommendations

   Grammar Note

   "Dag" means day; "specials" is borrowed from English. "Dagschotel" means dish of the day

5. Heeft u een vegetarisch gerecht?

   Do you have a vegetarian dish?

   Usage

   Useful for vegetarians when ordering at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   For vegan: "veganistisch gerecht". The polite "u" takes the third-person singular form "heeft" of "hebben" (to have): "Heeft u ...?"

6. Ik wil graag een tafel voor twee

   I would like a table for two

   Usage

   Used to request or reserve a table at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Graag" softens the request politely. Change "twee" (two) for other group sizes

7. Dit is heerlijk

   This is delicious

   Usage

   Complimenting the food, showing appreciation to the cook or host

   Grammar Note

   "Heerlijk" derives from "heer" (lord/heaven). Used for food, weather, and experiences

8. Mag ik het menu zien?

   May I see the menu?

   Usage

   Asking for the menu when seated at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Mag ik" is the first-person question form of "mogen" (to be allowed). Polite permission request

9. Ik wil graag stamppot proberen

   I would like to try stamppot

   Usage

   Ordering stamppot, a traditional Dutch dish of mashed potatoes and vegetables

   Grammar Note

   "Proberen" means to try. Stamppot is a winter staple made with boerenkool (kale) or hutspot

10. Heeft u lactosevrije melk?

    Do you have lactose-free milk?

    Usage

    Asking for lactose-free milk at a café or restaurant for dietary needs

    Grammar Note

    "-vrij" means free of. Examples: glutenvrij (gluten-free), suikervrij (sugar-free)

11. de rijst

    Rice (cooked)

    Usage

    Point to this to order or check for rice as a side

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word covering both raw and cooked rice; say "gekookte rijst" if you need to specify cooked

12. het brood

    Bread

    Usage

    Point to this to order bread or to check for wheat

    Grammar Note

    A "het" word; a loaf is "het brood" and a slice is "de boterham"

13. de noedels

    Noodles

    Usage

    Point to this for Asian-style noodles; Italian-style ones are called "de pasta"

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word used in the plural; thanks to Indonesian cuisine the Dutch also say "bami" in everyday speech

14. pittig

    Spicy (chilli hot)

    Usage

    Point to this to check or order chilli heat; "niet pittig" means not spicy

    Grammar Note

    An adjective; "heet" covers both temperature and spice and is therefore ambiguous, so use "pittig" for heat from chilli. Belgians also say "pikant"

15. zoet

    Sweet

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether something is sweet; "niet zoet" means not sweet

    Grammar Note

    An adjective; "without sugar" is "zonder suiker"

16. rauw

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether something is cooked; "goed doorbakken" asks for it well done

    Grammar Note

    An adjective meaning uncooked only; the Dutch raw herring speciality is known as "de haring"

17. de soep

    Soup

    Usage

    Point to this to order soup; the Dutch classic is "erwtensoep", split pea soup

    Grammar Note

    A "de" word; stock or broth is "de bouillon"

18. het fruit

    Fruit

    Usage

    Point to this to order fruit or ask where it is sold

    Grammar Note

    A "het" collective noun for fruit as food; a single fruit is "de vrucht" and vegetables are "de groente"

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