We’ve put together a list for you with expressions that you would need when you go out to eat in Sweden. It consists of questions for the waiter or waitress and questions and critique from you. The list is more or less chronologically ordered, so in the beginning you have expressions for the beginning of your meal and so on:
Before the eat
Vill du/ni äta här? | Do you (sing./plur.) want to eat here? |
Ska du/ni äta här eller ta med? | Are you going to eat here or take with you? |
Äta här eller ta med? | Eat here or to go? |
Ett bord för X personer, tack. | A table for X people, please. |
Kan jag/vi få se menyn, tack? | Can I/we have a look at the menu, please? |
Vad vill du/ni ha att dricka? | What do you want to drink? |
Vad vill du/ni ha att äta? | What do you want to eat? |
Vad rekommenderar du? | What do you recommend? |
Jag tar … | I’ll have … |
Jag vill ha … | I would like … |
Skulle jag kunna få … istället för …? | Could I have … instead of …? |
med | with |
utan | without |
Smaklig måltid! | Bon appetit |
Skål! | Cheers! |
Kan jag få en/ett till, tack? | Could I have another one, please? |
After the meal
Smakade det bra? | Did it taste well? |
Ja, tack, det var gott. | Yes, thank you, it was delicious. |
Ja, det smakade bra. | Yes, it was delicious. |
Ja, maten var god. | Yes, the food was delicious. |
Kan jag/vi få betala, tack? | Could I/we pay, please? |
Kan jag/vi få notan, tack? | Could I/we have the check, please? |
Vi betalar var för sig. | We are paying for oneself. |
Vi betalar tillsammans. | We are paying together. |
Det är jämnt. | It is even. Keep the change. |
Example: Tack för hjälpen! – Varsågod!
Although the Swedes are a thankful people, you don’t have to put “tack” at the end of every question or request since a lot of the extra formal language has been dropped since the 50’s. It is enough if you say “Kan jag få betala?” and no one will bat an eye. “Tack” could make you sound like an old textbook so try to get a feeling for it and use it properly.