Greek Restaurant Phrases: What to Say at a Taverna

Ask for a table and the menu

Start with Γεια σας (Yia sas, hello) when speaking to staff. These requests use polite forms suitable for someone you do not know. Learn one opening and one follow-up so you can use them together.

• Έχετε τραπέζι για δύο;

  Échete trapézi ya dío?Do you have a table for two?Use on arrival to ask whether a table for two is available.

• Μπορούμε να δούμε το μενού;

  Boroúme na doúme to menoú?Can we see the menu?A request for your table: “Can we see the menu?”

• Τι προτείνετε;

  Ti protínete?What do you recommend?Ask for a recommendation when you are ready to listen to the reply.

Latin-letter cues are approximate. The accent marks the stressed syllable; ch represents Greek χ, not the English sound in “chair”, and d represents δ, like “th” in “this”. Keep the Greek visible and use the pronunciation guide alongside listening.

Order food with “I would like”

Θα ήθελα… (Tha íthela…) means “I would like…”. It gives you a polite way to begin an order. Learn a complete example before changing the food words: the article and ending depend on what you order.

• Θα ήθελα μια σαλάτα.

  Tha íthela mia saláta.I would like a salad.A complete polite order. Add παρακαλώ (parakaló, please) if you wish.

• Μια μερίδα ψάρι, παρακαλώ.

  Mia merída psári, parakaló.A portion of fish, please.A compact request for one portion of fish.

• Χωρίς αλάτι, παρακαλώ.

  Chorís aláti, parakaló.Without salt, please.Ask for no salt while ordering, so staff can tell you whether it is possible.

A common beginner mistake: copying the same article into every order. Learn μια σαλάτα (a salad) and έναν καφέ (a coffee) as complete chunks. Θέλω means “I want”; Θα ήθελα is a gentler starting point for a request.

Ask for the bill or takeaway

• Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ.

  Ton logariasmó, parakaló.The bill, please.Catch the server’s attention, then make the request.

• Για πακέτο, παρακαλώ.

  Ya pakéto, parakaló.To take away, please.Say this when placing an order to take away.

The printable guide also gives Ο λογαριασμός, παρακαλώ (O logariasmós, parakaló). You may hear both forms. The object form τον λογαριασμό fits the implied request “I would like the bill”. For a café visit, follow the guide to ordering coffee in Greek.

Rehearse a short taverna visit

1. Greet the server and ask for a table for two.
2. Ask to see the menu, then say the salad order without looking.
3. Finish by asking for the bill and saying Ευχαριστώ (Efcharistó, thank you).

Cover the Greek and use the English as a prompt. If you cannot follow a reply, try Πιο αργά, παρακαλώ (Pio argá, parakaló, more slowly, please). Our phrases for saying you don’t understand give you a way to continue.

For the rest of your trip, learn Greek hotel phrases and browse the Greek travel phrase guide.

Made for real life

Save the free Restaurant Greek PDF

Useful words and polite requests for a taverna, restaurant or cafe.

Each entry includes Greek, a GreekMate pronunciation cue and its English meaning. Keep the guide close at hand, practise a few entries at a time and use them when you need them.

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Download the free Restaurant Greek PDF