Portuguese at a Brazilian Restaurant: Get a Table, Order, and Ask for the Bill
Follow a meal from arriving at the restaurant to checking the order and paying the bill.
Real Life Portuguese · 8 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
When you arrive, greet the staff and ask whether there is a table for your group: Tem uma mesa para duas pessoas? (Is there a table for two?). Cardápio means menu. If you need a table outside or a quieter place, name the preference and let the staff confirm availability.
Ask for a table and the menu
Some restaurants use a queue or ask for a reservation, so listen for the next step. You can ask how long the wait is and whether you should leave your name. Keep your group size and seating request clear.
Boa noite. Tem uma mesa para três pessoas?
Good evening. Do you have a table for three?
Podemos sentar do lado de fora?
Can we sit outside?
Quanto tempo de espera?
How long is the wait?
Order a dish and ask what comes with it
Use Eu vou querer… (I’ll have…) or Para mim… (For me…) to order. If you do not recognize an item, ask O que vem neste prato? (What comes with this dish?). You can also ask whether a dish is spicy or whether a side can be changed.
Menus and portion sizes differ across restaurants, so ask staff before assuming a dish includes a particular side. If someone has an allergy or dietary restriction, use the more specific phrases in the Real Life Portuguese allergy guide and confirm the answer before ordering.
Para mim, um prato de peixe, por favor.
For me, a fish dish, please.
O que vem neste prato?
What comes with this dish?
Pode trocar o arroz por legumes?
Can you replace the rice with vegetables?
Check the order and request another item
If an item is missing, say Com licença, ainda estamos esperando… (Excuse me, we are still waiting for…). To check an order, repeat the item and ask whether it is coming. A calm, specific question helps staff understand what you need.
You can ask for water, another drink, or a serving utensil by naming the item. If the menu shows a service charge, ask how it is calculated before paying when you are unsure. Practices vary, so rely on the bill and the restaurant’s explanation.
Ainda estamos esperando a salada.
We’re still waiting for the salad.
Pode trazer mais água, por favor?
Could you bring more water, please?
Este pedido é para a mesa cinco?
Is this order for table five?
Ask for the bill and confirm payment
A conta is the bill. Ask A conta, por favor (The bill, please) or Pode trazer a conta? (Could you bring the bill?). Check the total and ask whether card or another payment method is accepted. Confirm how the amount will be divided if your group wants separate payments.
This meal sequence connects naturally with the Real Life Portuguese café, bakery, and payment guides. I Speak Portuguese teachers can role-play an order and help you practice speaking clearly in a restaurant. Use short questions and confirm the total before paying.
Pode trazer a conta, por favor?
Could you bring the bill, please?
Podemos pagar separadamente?
Can we pay separately?
A taxa de serviço está incluída?
Is the service charge included?
Put it into practice
Learn mesa, cardápio, Eu vou querer…, O que vem neste prato?, and a conta. Confirm substitutions and payment details with the staff.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Can you replace the rice with vegetables”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.