Politely discussing a disappointing fish dish | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a restaurant, a customer politely tells a server that a fish dish is dry and asks for a light sauce..

EN → ES / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Politely discussing a disappointing fish dish to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Disculpe, ¿podría preguntarle por el pescado? Está un poco seco.

dees-KOOL-peh, poh-DREE-ah preh-goon-TAR-leh por el pehs-KAH-doh? es-TAH oon POH-koh SEH-koh. Excuse me, could I ask about the fish? It is a bit dry.
B

Lo siento. Lo consultaré con la cocina.

loh SYEHN-toh. loh kohn-sool-tah-REH kohn lah koh-SEE-nah. I'm sorry about that. I'll check with the kitchen.
A

El sabor es agradable, pero la textura no es lo que esperaba.

el sah-BOR es ah-grah-DAH-bleh, PEH-roh lah teks-TOO-rah noh es loh keh ehs-peh-RAH-bah. The flavor is nice, but the texture is not what I expected.
B

Un poco de salsa aparte podría ayudar.

oon POH-koh deh SAHL-sah ah-PAR-teh poh-DREE-ah ah-yoo-DAR. A little sauce on the side might help.
B

¿Quiere que le traiga un poco?

KYEH-reh keh leh TRY-gah oon POH-koh? Would you like me to bring some?
A

Eso ayudaría, siempre que no sea demasiado pesada.

EH-soh ah-yoo-dah-REE-ah, SYEHMP-reh keh noh SEH-ah deh-mah-SYAH-doh peh-SAH-dah. That would help, as long as it is not too heavy.
B

Puedo traerle un platito de salsa y avisar a la cocina.

PWEH-doh trah-EHR-leh oon plah-TEE-toh deh SAHL-sah ee ah-bee-SAR ah lah koh-SEE-nah. I can bring a small dish of sauce and let the kitchen know.
A

Quería comentarlo antes de comer más.

keh-REE-ah koh-men-TAR-loh AHN-tehs deh koh-MEHR mahs. I wanted to mention it before I ate more of it.
B

Por favor, dígame si el pescado sigue seco después de probar la salsa.

por fah-VOR, DEE-gah-meh see el pehs-KAH-doh SEE-gheh SEH-koh dehs-PWEHS deh proh-BAR lah SAHL-sah. Please tell me if it is still dry after you try the sauce.
B

Podemos encontrar otra solución.

poh-DEH-mohs en-kohn-TRAR OH-trah soh-loo-SYOHN. We can find another solution.

Word by Word

Disculpe Disculpe means “excuse me” and politely gets the server’s attention. It is useful when beginning a respectful question or request in a restaurant.
podría podría means “could” here and makes the question polite: “¿podría preguntarle...?”. It is useful for making a courteous request when speaking to a server or another person.
preguntarle preguntarle means “to ask him or her,” referring here to asking the server about the fish. In the pattern “preguntarle por algo,” por introduces the thing being asked about; this is useful when requesting information from someone.
por por means “about” in “preguntarle por el pescado,” introducing the subject of the question. The reusable pattern is “preguntar por + thing” when asking about a person or thing.
el el means “the” before the singular noun pescado in “el pescado.” It identifies a specific fish dish, as when referring to a particular item being served.
pescado pescado means “fish” here, specifically the dish the customer is discussing. It can be used after “el” when referring to a particular fish dish in a restaurant.
Está Está means “is” here and describes the fish’s current condition: “Está un poco seco.” The form estar is used for a condition, so this is useful when commenting on how food is at the moment.
un un means “a” in “un poco,” forming the expression “a little.” It is useful before “poco” when describing a small amount or degree, as in the customer’s mild criticism.
poco poco means “a little” in “un poco seco,” softening the statement that the fish is dry. The pattern “un poco + adjective” is useful for expressing a small degree of a quality.
seco seco means “dry” and describes the texture of the fish in this dialogue. It is useful when giving direct feedback about food or another item’s condition.
Lo siento Lo siento means “I’m sorry” as the server’s polite response to the customer’s complaint. In this fixed expression, Lo refers to the situation and siento expresses the speaker’s regret; it is useful when apologizing for a problem.
Lo Lo means “it” in “Lo consultaré,” referring to the matter the customer has just raised. It comes before the conjugated verb and is useful when referring back to something already mentioned.
consultaré consultaré means “I will check” or “I will consult” here, referring to checking with the kitchen. The pattern “consultar algo con alguien” is useful when saying that information will be checked with another person or group.
con con means “with” in “con la cocina,” identifying who the server will check with. It is useful after verbs such as consultar when naming the person or group involved.
la la means “the” before cocina in “la cocina.” It identifies the specific restaurant kitchen, which the server will contact about the dish.
cocina cocina means “kitchen” here and refers to the restaurant kitchen staff as the people who can address the problem. It is useful in restaurant conversations when referring to the team preparing the food.
sabor sabor means “flavor” and names the quality the customer finds pleasant. It is useful when giving feedback about the taste of food, as in “El sabor es agradable.”
es es means “is” in “El sabor es agradable,” describing the flavor as pleasant. It is useful for stating a characteristic or evaluation of a food or other thing.
agradable agradable means “pleasant” or “nice,” describing the flavor positively. It is useful for giving polite positive feedback while also mentioning a problem.
pero pero means “but” and contrasts the pleasant flavor with the disappointing texture. It is useful for combining a positive point with a reservation or criticism.
textura textura means “texture” and refers to how the fish feels when eaten. It is useful when discussing whether food is dry, soft, firm, or otherwise different from what was expected.
no no means “not” and negates “es lo que esperaba” in the statement about the texture. It is useful before a verb when saying that something does not match an expectation.
que que means “that” or “what” in “no es lo que esperaba,” helping introduce the quality the customer expected. The whole pattern “no es lo que esperaba” is useful when something does not meet an expectation.
esperaba esperaba means “I expected” and refers to the quality the customer had anticipated before eating the dish. The pattern “lo que esperaba” is useful when comparing reality with a previous expectation.
de de means “of” in “un poco de salsa,” linking the quantity poco to what it contains. The reusable pattern “un poco de + noun” is useful for requesting or describing a small amount of something.
salsa salsa means “sauce,” the food accompaniment suggested to improve the dry fish. It is useful when asking for or discussing an additional sauce with a dish.
aparte aparte means “on the side” or “separately” in “salsa aparte.” It is useful in a restaurant when asking for an accompaniment to be served separately from the main dish.
ayudar ayudar means “to help” in the suggestion that sauce might improve the dish. The pattern “podría ayudar” is useful when presenting a possible solution politely.
Quiere Quiere means “would you like” in this polite offer to the customer. In “¿Quiere que...?”, it introduces an offer to have the server perform an action, which is useful when offering assistance.
le le means “to you” in “le traiga,” identifying the person who would receive the sauce. It is useful before a verb when marking the person for whom something is brought or done.
traiga traiga means “bring” in the polite question “¿Quiere que le traiga un poco?”. It describes the action the server offers to perform, and the pattern “¿Quiere que le traiga...?” is useful when offering to bring something.
Eso Eso means “that” and refers to the proposed help of adding some sauce. It is useful for referring back to an idea or action just mentioned, as in “Eso ayudaría.”
ayudaría ayudaría means “would help,” presenting the sauce as a possible improvement rather than a certainty. It is useful when describing the likely benefit of a proposed action.
siempre que siempre que means “as long as” or “provided that” and introduces the condition for accepting the sauce. Siempre contributes the idea of “always,” while que connects it to the condition; the whole expression is useful when agreeing only under a specific condition.
sea sea means “is” or “be” in the condition “siempre que no sea demasiado pesada,” describing the sauce’s quality. It is useful after “siempre que” when stating the condition that must be met.
demasiado demasiado means “too” or “excessively” and shows that the sauce must not be overly heavy. The pattern “demasiado + adjective” is useful when setting a limit on a quality.
pesada pesada means “heavy” here in the sense of a rich or substantial sauce. It is useful when explaining that a food should not feel too rich or filling.
Puedo Puedo means “I can” and introduces the server’s ability or offer to bring sauce and notify the kitchen. The pattern “Puedo + infinitive” is useful when offering to do something.
traerle traerle means “bring you something,” with le referring to the customer. The pattern “traerle + thing” is useful when offering to bring an item to someone.
platito platito means “small dish” and refers to the small container of sauce the server will bring. It is useful when specifying that a serving dish or container is small.
y y means “and” and joins the two actions “traerle” and “avisar.” It is useful for linking actions performed by the same person.
avisar avisar means “to let someone know” or “to notify” the kitchen about the problem. The pattern “avisar a + person or group” is useful when saying who will receive the information.
a a means “to” in “avisar a la cocina,” marking the kitchen as the group that will be notified. It is useful after “avisar” when identifying the person or group receiving the information.
Quería Quería means “I wanted to” and introduces the customer’s previous intention to mention the problem. The pattern “Quería + infinitive” is useful when explaining an intention or reason for speaking.
comentarlo comentarlo means “to mention it,” with lo referring to the issue with the fish. The pattern “comentar algo” is useful when bringing a matter to someone’s attention, especially before continuing with an action.
antes antes means “before” in “antes de comer más,” showing the time at which the customer chose to speak up. The pattern “antes de + infinitive” is useful for describing an action that happens earlier than another action.
comer comer means “to eat” in “antes de comer más.” It is useful after “antes de” when describing an action that has not yet happened.
más más means “more” and refers to eating an additional amount of the dish. The pattern “comer más” is useful when talking about eating an additional quantity.
por favor por favor means “please” and makes the request “dígame” polite. Por links the request to a favor, while favor names the kindness being requested; the whole expression is useful when making a courteous request.
dígame dígame means “tell me” in a polite request to the customer, with me identifying the person who should receive the information. The pattern “dígame si...” is useful when asking someone to report whether a condition is still present.
si si means “if” in “dígame si el pescado sigue seco,” introducing the question about whether the fish remains dry. It is useful for asking about a condition or result.
sigue sigue means “continues to be” or “is still” in “sigue seco.” The pattern “seguir + adjective” is useful when checking whether a condition has remained unchanged.
después después means “after” in “después de probar la salsa,” placing one action later than another. The pattern “después de + infinitive” is useful for describing what happens after an action.
probar probar means “to try” or “to taste” here, referring to tasting the sauce. The pattern “probar + food or drink” is useful when sampling something to judge its taste or effect.
Podemos Podemos means “we can” and presents finding another solution as a shared possibility between the restaurant and customer. The pattern “Podemos + infinitive” is useful when offering a possible next step.
encontrar encontrar means “to find” in “encontrar otra solución,” referring to finding an alternative way to resolve the problem. It is useful with a noun naming the result or option being sought.
otra otra means “another” or “a different one” and modifies solución, indicating an alternative solution. It is useful before a singular noun when the first option may not be suitable.
solución solución means “solution” and refers to another way of addressing the disappointing dish. It is useful when discussing an alternative response to a problem.

Grammar Points

¿Podría + infinitivo...?

¿Podría traer la salsa aparte, por favor?

poh-DREE-ah trah-EHR lah SAHL-sah ah-PAR-teh, por fah-VOR?

Could you bring the sauce on the side, please?

The conditional podría makes a request more polite than a direct command.

Imperfecto: esperaba

Esperaba un sabor agradable.

ehs-peh-RAH-bah oon sah-BOR ah-grah-DAH-bleh.

I expected a pleasant flavor.

The imperfect esperaba describes an expectation or mental state in progress in the past.

Spanish Vocabulary

agradable adj
ah-grah-DAH-bleh pleasant; nice
aparte adv
ah-PAR-teh on the side; separately
cocina noun
koh-SEE-nah kitchen
consultar verb
kohn-sool-TAR to consult; to check consultaré
disculpar verb
dees-kool-PAR to excuse; excuse me Disculpe

Polite way to get someone's attention

esperar verb
ehs-peh-RAR to expect esperaba
pescado noun
pehs-KAH-doh fish
sabor noun
sah-BOR flavor
salsa noun
SAHL-sah sauce
seco adj
SEH-koh dry
sentir verb
sehn-TEER to feel; to be sorry siento

Used in Lo siento to apologize

textura noun
teks-TOO-rah texture

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Would you like me to bring some?

Show Answer¿Quiere que le traiga un poco?

I wanted to mention it before I ate more of it.

Show AnswerQuería comentarlo antes de comer más.

We can find another solution.

Show AnswerPodemos encontrar otra solución.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

kitchen

Show Answercocina

pleasant; nice

Show Answeragradable

texture

Show Answertextura

fish

Show Answerpescado