Food & Drinks

1. Я возьму это

   Ya voz'-mu e-to

   I will take this

   Usage

   Used when pointing at a menu item to order

   Grammar Note

   First person future of "взять" (to take). "Принесите, пожалуйста" (please bring) is also used for ordering.

2. Очень вкусно

   O-chen' vkus-no

   Very delicious

   Usage

   Compliment used when food tastes good

   Grammar Note

   Neuter short-form of "вкусный" (delicious), used predicatively. "Вкуснятина!" is a colloquial "so yummy!".

3. Счёт, пожалуйста

   Schyot, po-zha-luy-sta

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Used to request the bill after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "счёт" means "account, bill". To call a waiter, say "Официант!" (Waiter!).

4. Стакан воды, пожалуйста

   Sta-kan vo-dy, po-zha-luy-sta

   A glass of water, please

   Usage

   Used to request a glass of water at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "воды" is the genitive of "вода" (water). In Russian, nouns after quantity words take the genitive case.

5. Принесите меню, пожалуйста

   Pri-ne-si-te me-nyu, po-zha-luy-sta

   Please bring the menu

   Usage

   Requesting the menu after being seated

   Grammar Note

   "Принесите" is perfective imperative of "принести" (to bring). "меню" is an indeclinable loanword from French.

6. Есть ли вегетарианские блюда?

   Yest' li ve-ge-ta-ri-an-ski-ye blyu-da?

   Are there any vegetarian dishes?

   Usage

   Checking for vegetarian options

   Grammar Note

   "Есть ли" is a polite question form "is there/are there". "ли" is a question particle. "блюда" is plural of "блюдо" (dish/course).

7. Что вы рекомендуете?

   Chto vy re-ko-men-du-ye-te?

   What do you recommend?

   Usage

   Asking for a restaurant recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "вы" here is the formal "Вы". "Рекомендуете" is present tense of "рекомендовать" (to recommend), a loanword from French.

8. Борщ со сметаной, пожалуйста

   Borshch so sme-ta-noy, po-zha-luy-sta

   Borscht with sour cream, please

   Usage

   Ordering Russia's iconic beet soup

   Grammar Note

   Borscht is iconic to Russian and Ukrainian cuisine. "со" is variant of "с" (with), governing the instrumental case. Smetana (sour cream) is the essential topping.

9. Можно ещё хлеба?

   Mozh-no ye-shchyo khle-ba?

   May I have a little more bread?

   Usage

   Politely asking for more bread

   Grammar Note

   "хлеба" is partitive genitive of "хлеб" (bread), expressing "some bread". Russian uses genitive for partial quantities.

10. У меня аллергия на орехи

    U me-nya al-ler-gi-ya na o-re-khi

    I have a nut allergy

    Usage

    Important phrase to communicate food allergies

    Grammar Note

    Russian uses "у + genitive + есть" to express possession. Swap "орехи" for other allergens as needed.

11. Варёный рис

    Va-ryo-nyy ris

    Cooked rice

    Usage

    "Ris" alone also means uncooked rice, so "varyonyy" (boiled) pins it to cooked rice

12. Хлеб

    Khleb

    Bread

    Usage

    Point at this to order or buy bread

13. Лапша

    Lap-sha

    Noodles

    Usage

    Point at this to order noodles

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