Planning lunch at a restaurant | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: Before lunch, two friends choose a small restaurant, arrange where to meet, and plan to ask for a table..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Planning lunch at a restaurant to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Te gustaría almorzar juntos?

tay goos-tah-REE-ahs ahl-mor-SAR HOON-tohs Would you like to have lunch together?
B

Suena bien. ¿Adónde vamos?

SWEH-nah BYEHN. ah-DOHN-deh BAH-mohs That sounds nice. Where should we go?
A

Tal vez el restaurante pequeño de aquí cerca.

tahl behs el res-tow-RAHN-teh peh-KEH-nyoh deh ah-KEE SEHR-kah Maybe the small restaurant near here.
B

Vamos allí si no está lleno.

BAH-mohs ah-YEE see noh ehs-TAH YEH-noh Let's go there if it isn't busy.
A

¿Nos encontramos junto a la puerta principal?

nohs en-kohn-TRAH-mohs HOON-toh ah lah PWEHR-tah preen-see-PAHL Should we meet by the front door?
B

Esperaré donde puedas verme.

ehs-peh-rah-REH DOHN-deh PWEH-dahs BEHR-meh I'll wait where you can see me.
A

Entonces iré a buscarte.

en-TOHN-sehs ee-REH ah boos-KAR-teh Then I'll come find you.
B

Después, podemos pedir una mesa.

dehs-PWEHS poh-DEH-mohs peh-DEER OO-nah MEH-sah After that, we can ask for a table.

Word by Word

Te In “¿Te gustaría almorzar juntos?”, “Te” refers to the person being addressed and means “you” in this informal expression. It appears before “gustaría” as the person whose preference is being asked about. Use it when making this kind of informal offer to one person.
gustaría In “¿Te gustaría almorzar juntos?”, “gustaría” helps ask politely whether someone would like something. It combines with “Te” and an infinitive such as “almorzar” to ask about the other person’s preference. Use this question when inviting someone to do something.
almorzar In “¿Te gustaría almorzar juntos?”, “almorzar” means “to have lunch.” Its infinitive form follows “gustaría” to name the activity being suggested. Use it when talking about having lunch, especially in an invitation.
juntos In “¿Te gustaría almorzar juntos?”, “juntos” means “together” and shows that both people will do the activity as a group. It comes after “almorzar” in this invitation. Use it when proposing a shared activity with the person you are speaking to.
Suena In “Suena bien”, “Suena” presents the suggestion as sounding good or pleasant. Together with “bien”, it responds positively to the previous idea. Use this expression when agreeing that a plan or suggestion seems good.
bien In “Suena bien”, “bien” gives a positive evaluation of the suggestion, so the whole expression means that it sounds nice or good. It follows “Suena” in this common response. Use it when reacting positively to a proposed plan.
Adónde In “¿Adónde vamos?”, “Adónde” asks for the destination, meaning “where to.” It is used with “vamos” because the question concerns where the group should go. Use this question when deciding on a destination with someone.
vamos In “¿Adónde vamos?”, “vamos” refers to the group going somewhere, while in “Vamos allí si no está lleno.” the same form is used as a suggestion meaning “let’s go.” Its meaning depends on whether it appears in the question or the suggestion. Use it when asking about or proposing shared movement.
Tal In “Tal vez”, “Tal” is one part of the fixed expression meaning “maybe.” Its contribution is understood together with “vez”, so the two words should be learned as a unit here. Use “Tal vez” when suggesting an option without certainty.
vez In “Tal vez”, “vez” is the second part of the fixed expression meaning “maybe.” It does not give the full meaning by itself in this sentence; “Tal” and “vez” work together. Use “Tal vez” before an option you are proposing tentatively.
el In “el restaurante”, “el” introduces the specific restaurant being suggested. It appears directly before “restaurante” as part of the noun phrase. Use it before a specific noun when referring to something identified in the situation.
restaurante In “el restaurante pequeño de aquí cerca”, “restaurante” means “restaurant” and names the suggested place for lunch. It is described by “pequeño” and “de aquí cerca.” Use it when talking about a restaurant as a place to eat.
pequeño In “el restaurante pequeño de aquí cerca”, “pequeño” describes the restaurant as small. It comes after “restaurante” and helps identify which restaurant is meant. Use it after a noun when describing a small place or object.
de In “de aquí cerca”, “de” links the restaurant with the location phrase that follows, giving the idea of being from or associated with nearby here. The complete phrase helps identify the restaurant’s location. Use this pattern when connecting a noun with a place description.
aquí In “de aquí cerca”, “aquí” refers to the place where the speakers are now: “here.” It provides the reference point for “cerca.” Use it when locating something in relation to the current place.
cerca In “de aquí cerca”, “cerca” says that the restaurant is near the speakers’ current location. Together with “aquí”, it forms the location idea “near here.” Use it when describing something at a short distance from a place.
si In “si no está lleno”, “si” introduces the condition under which the speakers will go: the restaurant must not be full. It connects the proposed action with the condition that follows. Use it to introduce a condition for a plan.
no In “no está lleno”, “no” makes the description negative, meaning that the restaurant is not full. It comes before “está” and negates the following statement. Use it before the expression you want to negate.
está In “está lleno”, “está” says that the restaurant is in the state described by “lleno.” Here it describes the restaurant’s current condition, which determines whether the speakers will go. Use this form with a description of a current state or condition.
lleno In “está lleno”, “lleno” describes the restaurant as full or too busy to be a suitable choice. It follows “está” to name the restaurant’s condition. Use it when talking about a place that has no or little available space.
Nos In “¿Nos encontramos junto a la puerta principal?”, “Nos” shows that the two people are meeting each other. It appears with “encontramos” in the question about arranging the meeting point. Use this form when proposing that you and another person meet.
encontramos In “¿Nos encontramos junto a la puerta principal?”, “encontramos” expresses the action of meeting, with “Nos” showing that the two people meet each other. The location follows in “junto a la puerta principal.” Use this question when arranging where to meet someone.
junto In “junto a la puerta principal”, “junto” marks a position next to something. The complete phrase identifies the meeting place, with “a” linking the position to “la puerta principal.” Use “junto a” when saying that a person or thing is next to a reference point.
a In “junto a la puerta principal”, “a” links “junto” to the place used as the reference point. It is part of the expression for locating someone next to something. Use it after “junto” when naming the place or object beside which someone is located.
la In “la puerta principal”, “la” introduces the specific door that serves as the meeting point. It appears directly before “puerta.” Use it before a specific noun when the listener can identify the thing from the situation.
puerta In “la puerta principal”, “puerta” means “door” and names the meeting point. It is modified by “principal”, which identifies which door is meant. Use it when referring to a door as a place to enter, leave, or meet.
principal In “la puerta principal”, “principal” describes the door as the main or front door. It follows “puerta” and distinguishes it from other possible doors. Use it when identifying the main entrance or most important item of its kind.
Esperaré In “Esperaré donde puedas verme”, “Esperaré” means “I will wait” and states the speaker’s future action. It is followed by the place clause “donde puedas verme,” which explains where the waiting will happen. Use it when telling someone that you will remain in a place until they arrive or find you.
donde In “donde puedas verme”, “donde” introduces the place where the speaker will wait. It connects “Esperaré” with the location clause that follows. Use it to explain where an action takes place.
puedas In “donde puedas verme”, “puedas” expresses that the other person is able to see the speaker in that location. It works with “verme” to describe the useful meeting position. Use this pattern when choosing a place so another person can find or see you.
verme In “donde puedas verme”, “verme” means “see me,” identifying the speaker as the person who should be visible. The form combines the action of seeing with “me” as the person seen. Use it when explaining that someone should be able to see you.
Entonces In “Entonces iré a buscarte”, “Entonces” means “then” and links the next action to the previous meeting arrangement. It shows the sequence: after the other person waits, the speaker will go to find them. Use it to introduce a resulting or following action in a plan.
iré In “Entonces iré a buscarte”, “iré” means “I will go” and states the speaker’s future movement. The phrase “a buscarte” explains the purpose of going. Use it when promising or planning to go somewhere for a specific reason.
buscarte In “iré a buscarte”, “buscarte” means “find you” or “go look for you,” with “te” identifying the person being sought. It follows “a” after “iré” to explain the purpose of the movement. Use this pattern when saying that you will go to find another person.
Después In “Después, podemos pedir una mesa”, “Después” means “after that” or “afterward” and places the next action later in the plan. It connects asking for a table with the earlier meeting steps. Use it to organize actions in time.
podemos In “podemos pedir una mesa”, “podemos” means “we can” and presents asking for a table as a possible action for the group. It is followed by “pedir”, which names the action that is possible. Use it when suggesting what you and another person can do.
pedir In “pedir una mesa”, “pedir” means “to ask for” a table in the restaurant. Its infinitive form follows “podemos” and names the action the group can take. Use it when requesting something, such as a table at a restaurant.
una In “una mesa”, “una” introduces one table that has not yet been specifically identified. It comes directly before “mesa” in the request. Use it before a noun when asking for or referring to one non-specific item.
mesa In “pedir una mesa”, “mesa” means “table” and is the thing the speakers plan to request at the restaurant. It appears after “una” as the object of “pedir.” Use it when asking a restaurant for a table.

Grammar Points

¿Te gustaría + infinitivo?

¿Te gustaría almorzar juntos?

tay goos-tah-REE-ahs ahl-mor-SAR HOON-tohs

Would you like to have lunch together?

Use te gustaría + an infinitive to make a polite invitation or offer.

Futuro simple: esperaré, iré

Esperaré junto a la puerta principal.

ehs-peh-rah-REH HOON-toh ah lah PWEHR-tah preen-see-PAHL

I will wait by the main door.

The simple future expresses an action that will happen later; many first-person forms end in -é.

Spanish Vocabulary

adónde adv
ah-DOHN-deh where to

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allí adv
ah-YEE there

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almorzar verb
ahl-mor-SAR to have lunch

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aquí cerca adv
ah-KEE SEHR-kah near here

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bien adv
BYEHN well; nice

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juntos adj
HOON-tohs together

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pequeño adj
peh-KEH-nyoh small

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restaurante noun
res-tow-RAHN-teh restaurant

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suena verb
SWEH-nah sounds

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tal vez adv
tahl BEHS maybe

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te gustaría verb
tay goos-tah-REE-ahs would you like

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vamos verb
BAH-mohs we go; let's go

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Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Would you like to have lunch together?

Show Answer¿Te gustaría almorzar juntos?

That sounds nice. Where should we go?

Show AnswerSuena bien. ¿Adónde vamos?

Let's go there if it isn't busy.

Show AnswerVamos allí si no está lleno.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

sounds

Show Answersuena

we go; let's go

Show Answervamos

well; nice

Show Answerbien

where to

Show Answeradónde