KAHIBARO
11.3. At a Cafรฉ or Restaurant
Table of Contents
Ordering and Communicating at a Cafรฉ or Restaurant
In this chapter you learn how to manage simple interactions in a Georgian cafรฉ or restaurant. You will see typical phrases, question patterns, and key vocabulary that appear in menus and when speaking to staff.
Entering and Getting a Table
When you enter a cafรฉ or restaurant, the staff may greet you and ask how many people are in your group.
Typical staff questions:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแแกแแแแ. | gisment. | I am listening / Can I help you. |
| แ แแแแแแ แฎแแ แ? | ramdeni khart? | How many are you. |
| แแแแแแ แแแแแแแ? | magida gnebavt? | Do you want a table. |
| แจแแแแแ แแฃ แแแ แแ? | shignit tu garet? | Inside or outside. |
Simple replies:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแ แแ แแแแแแแแ. | erti adamiani. | One person. |
| แแ แ แแแแแแแแ. | ori adamiani. | Two people. |
| แกแแแแ แแแ แ. | samni vart. | We are three. |
| แจแแแแแ, แแแฎแแแ. | shignit, gtโkhovt. | Inside, please. |
| แแแ แแ, แแแฎแแแ. | garet, gtโkhovt. | Outside, please. |
You can also ask directly:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแแแแกแฃแคแแแ แแแแแแ แแแฅแแ? | tavisupali magida gakvt? | Do you have a free table. |
Asking for the Menu
Once seated, you will often ask for the menu or check what is available.
Key phrases:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแแแแฃ, แแแฎแแแ. | meniou, gtโkhovt. | The menu, please. |
| แ แแช แแแฅแแ, แแแฉแแแแแ, แแแฎแแแ. | rats gakvt, machvenet, gtโkhovt. | Show me what you have, please. |
| แแฆแแก แแแแแฃ แแแฅแแ? | dghis meniou gakvt? | Do you have a daily menu. |
| แกแแกแแแแแแแก แแแแแฃ แแแฅแแ? | sโasmelebis meniou gakvt? | Do you have a drinks menu. |
Staff may say:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแ, แแแแแฃ. | ai, meniou. | Here is the menu. |
| แแแกแฃแ แแแแแ แ แแ แฌแแแแแแฎแแ. | visurwebdi rom tsaikโitkhot. | Please read it. (more formal / polite) |
Useful Menu Words
Many menu items repeat similar words. Here are important nouns and common phrases you will find.
Food and Course Types
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แกแแญแแแแ | sachmeli | food, dish |
| แฌแแแแแแ | tsvniani | soup |
| แกแแแแแ | salati | salad |
| แชแฎแแแ แแแ แซแแแ | tskheli kerzebi | hot dishes |
| แชแแแ แแแ แซแแแ | tsivi kerzebi | cold dishes |
| แแแกแแ แขแ | deserti | dessert |
| แชแแแแฃแแ | tsomeuli | baked goods, pastries |
| แแฃแ แแก แแ แแแฃแฅแชแแ | puris produktsia | bread products |
Typical Georgian Dishes
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แฎแแญแแแฃแ แ | khachโapuri | cheese-filled bread / khachapuri |
| แแญแแ แฃแแ แฎแแญแแแฃแ แ | acharuli khachโapuri | Adjarian khachapuri (boat shape with egg) |
| แฎแแแแแแ | khinkali | khinkali dumplings |
| แคแฎแแแ | pkhali | vegetable pรขtรฉ with walnuts |
| แฎแแ แชแแแแ แแแ แซแ | khortsiani kerzi | meat dish |
| แแฌแแแแ | mtsโvadi | grilled meat, shashlik |
| แแแแแ | lobio | beans dish |
| แแญแแแ | mtsโadi | cornbread |
| แฎแแแแก แแกแแ แขแ | khilis asorti | fruit assortment |
Drinks and Extras
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แกแแกแแแแ | sโasmeli | drink |
| แฌแงแแแ | tsโqali | water |
| แแแแแ แแแฃแ แ แฌแงแแแ | mineraluri tsโqali | mineral water |
| แแแแแแแ แฌแงแแแ | gaziani tsโqali | sparkling water |
| แฃแแแแ แฌแงแแแ | ugazo tsโqali | still water |
| แฌแแแแ | tsveni | juice |
| แฉแแ | chai | tea |
| แงแแแ | qava | coffee |
| แฆแแแแ | ghvino | wine |
| แแฃแแ | ludi | beer |
| แจแแฅแแ แ | shakari | sugar |
| แแแ แแแ | marili | salt |
| แแแแแแแ | pilpili | pepper |
| แกแแฃแกแ | sousi | sauce |
| แetchup | kechup | ketchup |
| แแแแแแแแ | maionezi | mayonnaise |
Ordering Food and Drinks
When you are ready to order, you will typically get the waiterโs attention and then say what you want.
Getting the Waiterโs Attention
Polite ways to call the waiter or waitress:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แฃแแแชแ แแแแ. | ukโatsravad. | Excuse me. |
| แแแแแจแแ. | bodishit. | Pardon. |
| แจแแแแซแแแแ, แแแฎแแแแแ? | shegidzliat, mokhvidet? | Can you come. |
The waiter may ask:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แ แแก แแแแแแแ? | ras inebebt? | What would you like. |
| แ แแก แจแแฃแแแแแแแ? | ras sheukโvetavt? | What will you order. |
| แแแแ แฎแแ แ แจแแแแแแแกแแแแก? | mzad khart shekvettistvis? | Are you ready to order. |
Phrases for Ordering
Basic pattern with "I want" or "Please bring":
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแแแแ \[X]. | minda \[X]. | I want X. |
| แแแแแขแแแแ \[X], แแแฎแแแ. | momitanet \[X], gtโkhovt. | Bring me X, please. |
| แจแแแซแแแแ \[X]. | sheidzleba \[X]. | May I have X. |
| แแแแฆแแ \[X]. | avigheb \[X]. | I will take X. |
Useful rule:
To order several things, list them with แแ "da" which means "and".
Example: แแแแแ แฎแแญแแแฃแ แ แแ แฉแแ.
minda khachโapuri da chai.
"I want khachapuri and tea."
Examples:
Georgian: แแแแแ แแ แแ แฎแแแแแแ แแ แแ แแ แฉแแ.
Transliteration: minda erti khinkali da erti chai.
English: I want one khinkali and one tea.
Georgian: แแแแแขแแแแ แฎแแญแแแฃแ แ แแ แแแแแ แแแฃแ แ แฌแงแแแ, แแแฎแแแ.
Transliteration: momitanet khachโapuri da mineraluri tsโqali, gtโkhovt.
English: Bring me khachapuri and mineral water, please.
Georgian: แแแแฆแแ แกแแแแแก แแ แฌแแแแก.
Transliteration: avigheb salats da tsvens.
English: I will take salad and juice.
Specifying Size and Quantity
Useful expressions:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแแฎแแแแ แ แแแ แชแแแ | nakhevari portsโit | half portion |
| แแ แแ แแแ แชแแ | erti portsia | one portion |
| แแ แ แแแ แชแแ | ori portsia | two portions |
| แแแขแแ แ | patara | small |
| แแแแ | didi | large, big |
| แแ แแ แคแแแฏแแแ | erti finjani | one cup |
| แแ แแ แแแแแ | erti botli | one bottle |
| แแ แแ แญแแฅแ | erti chโika | one glass |
Examples:
- Georgian: แแ แแ แแแแ แงแแแ, แแแฎแแแ.
Transliteration: erti didi qava, gtโkhovt.
English: One large coffee, please. - Georgian: แแ แ แแแ แชแแ แฎแแแแแแ แแแแแแ.
Transliteration: ori portsia khinkali gvinda.
English: We want two portions of khinkali.
Asking Questions About Dishes
You often need to check ingredients, spiciness, or get a recommendation.
Taste, Spiciness, and Ingredients
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแก แ แ แแ แแก? | es ra aris? | What is this. |
| แแก แ แ แแแ แซแแ? | es ra kerzia? | What dish is this. |
| แ แ แแ แแก แจแแแแแ? | ra aris shignit? | What is inside. |
| แฎแแ แชแแแแแ? | khortsiania? | Does it have meat. |
| แฎแแ แชแแก แแแ แแจแ แแแฅแแ? | khortsis gareshe gakvt? | Do you have it without meat. |
| แงแแแจแ แจแแฅแแ แ แแ แแก? | qavshi shakari aris? | Is there sugar in the coffee. |
| แซแแแแแ แฌแแแแแแแ? | dzalian tsvniania? | Is it very soupy. |
| แฌแแแแแแแ แแฃ แแจแ แแแ? | tsvniania tu mshral i? | Is it saucy or dry. |
| แชแฎแแ แ แแ แแก? | tskhare aris? | Is it spicy. |
| แแ แแแแแ แชแฎแแ แ. | ar minda tskhare. | I do not want spicy. |
To ask for a recommendation:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แ แแก แแแ แฉแแแ? | ras mirchevt? | What do you recommend. |
| แ แแแแแ แแแ แซแ แแ แแก แงแแแแแแ แแแ แแ? | romeli kerzi aris kvelaze kargi? | Which dish is the best. |
| แแแแแ แแแฅแแ? | tevzi gakvt? | Do you have fish. |
Example mini dialogs:
A: แแก แ แ แแ แแก, แแแฎแแแ?
Translit: es ra aris, gtโkhovt?
Eng: What is this, please?
B: แแก แแแแแแก แกแแฌแแแแแแ.
Translit: es lobios satsโebelia.
Eng: This is beans in sauce.
A: แชแฎแแ แ แแ แแก?
Translit: tskhare aris?
Eng: Is it spicy?
B: แชแแขแ.
Translit: tsota.
Eng: A little.
Special Requests and Preferences
You may want to ask for "without" something, or ask to add something extra.
Without / With
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แจแแฅแแ แแ | shakarit | with sugar |
| แฃแจแแฅแ แ | ushakro | sugar free, without sugar |
| แ แซแแ | rdzit | with milk |
| แฃแ แแซแ | uredzo | without milk |
| แฎแแ แชแแ | khortsit | with meat |
| แฃแจแแฅแ แแ, แแแฎแแแ. | ushakrod, gtโkhovt. | Without sugar, please. |
Example patterns:
- Georgian: แฉแแ แ แซแแ, แแแฎแแแ.
Translit: chai rdzit, gtโkhovt.
Eng: Tea with milk, please. - Georgian: แงแแแ แฃแจแแฅแ แแ แแแแแ.
Translit: qava ushakrod minda.
Eng: I want coffee without sugar. - Georgian: แฎแแญแแแฃแ แ แฎแแ แชแแก แแแ แแจแ แแแฅแแ?
Translit: khachโapuri khortsis gareshe gakvt?
Eng: Do you have khachapuri without meat.
Other Special Requests
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แชแแขแ แแแขแ แแฃแ แ, แแแฎแแแ. | tsota meti puri, gtโkhovt. | A little more bread, please. |
| แแแแแขแแแแ แงแแแแ แจแแแซแแแแ? | damatโebit kveli sheidzleba? | Can I have extra cheese. |
| แชแแแ แฌแงแแแ แแแแแ. | tsivi tsโqali minda. | I want cold water. |
| แซแแแแแ แชแแแ แแ แแแแแ. | dzalian tsivi ar minda. | I do not want it very cold. |
During the Meal
While you eat or drink you may need napkins, cutlery, or to call the waiter for something.
Asking for Items
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แฉแแแแแแ | changali | fork |
| แแแแแ | kovzi | spoon |
| แแแแ | dana | knife |
| แฎแแแกแแฎแแชแ | khelsakhotsโi | napkin |
| แแแคแจแ | tephshi | plate |
Useful sentences:
- Georgian: แแ แ แฉแแแแแแก แแแแแขแแแ, แแแฎแแแ?
Translit: ert changals momitโant, gtโkhovt?
Eng: Could you bring me a fork, please? - Georgian: แฎแแแกแแฎแแชแแแ แแ แแแแฅแแก. แแแแแแขแแแแ, แแแฎแแแ.
Translit: khelsakhotsebi ar gvakvs. mogvitanet, gtโkhovt.
Eng: We do not have napkins. Bring us some, please. - Georgian: แชแแแ แฌแงแแแ แแแแขแแแแ, แแแฎแแแ.
Translit: tsivi tsโqali moitanet, gtโkhovt.
Eng: Bring cold water, please.
The waiter may ask:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แงแแแแแคแแ แ แ แแแแแ? | kvelaferi rigzea? | Is everything all right. |
| แแแแ แแแแแ? | gemrielia? | Is it tasty. |
You can answer:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแแแฎ, แแแแแแแ, แแแแ แแแแแ. | diakh, madloba, gemrielia. | Yes, thanks, it is tasty. |
| แซแแแแแ แแแแ แแแแแ. | dzalian gemrielia. | It is very tasty. |
| แชแแขแ แงแแแฃแแแ. | tsota qinulia. | It is a bit cold. |
| แซแแแแแ แชแฎแแ แแ แฉแแแแแแก. | dzalian tskharea chemvtvis. | It is too spicy for me. |
Changing or Cancelling an Order
Sometimes you need to adjust what you ordered.
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แจแแแซแแแแ แจแแแชแแแแ แจแแแแแแ? | sheidzleba shevtsvalo shekveta? | Can I change the order. |
| แแก แแฆแแ แแแแแ. | es agar minda. | I do not want this anymore. |
| แแแแก แแแชแแแแ, แแแแแ \[X]. | amis natsvlad, minda \[X]. | Instead of this, I want X. |
| แซแแแแแ แแแแ แ แแแแแแแแ. | dzalian bevr i gamovida. | It is too much. |
Example:
Georgian: แจแแแซแแแแ แแก แฉแแแก แแแชแแแแ แงแแแ แแแแแฌแแ แ?
Translit: sheidzleba es chais natsvlad qava movitsero?
Eng: May I order coffee instead of this tea.
Asking for the Bill and Paying
When you finish, you ask for the bill and decide how to pay.
Asking for the Bill
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแแแแ แแจแ, แแแฎแแแ. | angarishi, gtโkhovt. | The bill, please. |
| แจแแแซแแแแ แแแแแ แแจแ? | sheidzleba angarishi? | Can I have the bill. |
| แแ แแแ แแแแแแแขแแแแ แแฃ แชแแ-แชแแแแ? | ertad gamogitanot tu tsal-tsalke? | Should I bring it together or separately. |
Your answers:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแ แแแ, แแแฎแแแ. | ertad, gtโkhovt. | Together, please. |
| แชแแ-แชแแแแ, แแแฎแแแ. | tsal-tsalke, gtโkhovt. | Separately, please. |
Talking About Payment
Useful payment words:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แคแฃแแ | puli | money |
| แแแฆแแ แคแฃแแ | nagdi puli | cash |
| แแแ แแแ | barati | card |
| แฅแแจแแ | keshit | in cash |
| แแแ แแแแ | baratit | by card |
Typical questions and answers:
- Georgian: แแแ แแแแ แแแแแแฎแแแ แแฃ แแแฆแแแ?
Translit: baratit gadaikhdit tu nagdit?
Eng: Will you pay by card or in cash? - Georgian: แแแ แแแแ, แแแฎแแแ.
Translit: baratit, gtโkhovt.
Eng: By card, please. - Georgian: แแแฆแแ แคแฃแแแ แแแแแแแฎแแ.
Translit: nagdi pulit gadavikhdi.
Eng: I will pay in cash.
If you need a receipt:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แฅแแแแแ แ แจแแแซแแแแ? | kvitari sheidzleba? | Can I have a receipt. |
Basic Politeness at a Cafรฉ or Restaurant
Cafรฉs and restaurants in Georgia value politeness and warm interaction. Useful expressions:
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แแแแแแแแ. | gmadlobt. | Thank you. (formal / plural) |
| แแแแแแแ. | madloba. | Thanks. |
| แแแฎแแแ. | gtโkhovt. | Please. |
| แซแแแแแ แแแแ แแแแแแแ. | dzalian didi madloba. | Thank you very much. |
| แซแแแแแ แแแแ แแแแ แแงแ. | dzalian gemrieli iko. | It was very tasty. |
| แแแ แแแ แแงแแแแ. | kargad iyavit. | Take care. / Goodbye. |
Mini exit dialog:
A (customer): แแแแแ แแจแ, แแแฎแแแ.
Translit: angarishi, gtโkhovt.
Eng: The bill, please.
B (waiter): แแ, แแแแแงแแ.
Translit: ai, getaqva.
Eng: Here you are.
A: แซแแแแแ แแแแ แแแแ แแงแ, แแแแ แแแแแแแ.
Translit: dzalian gemrieli iko, didi madloba.
Eng: It was very tasty, thank you very much.
B: แแแแแแแแ, แแแ แแแ แแงแแแแ.
Translit: gmadlobt, kargad iyavit.
Eng: Thank you, take care.
Short Model Dialogs
1. Simple Coffee Order
Waiter: แแแกแแแแ.
Translit: gisment.
Eng: I am listening.
Customer: แแ แแ แงแแแ แแ แแ แแ แฉแแ, แแแฎแแแ.
Translit: erti qava da erti chai, gtโkhovt.
Eng: One coffee and one tea, please.
Waiter: แจแแฅแ แแ แแฃ แฃแจแแฅแ แแ?
Translit: shakrit tu ushakrod?
Eng: With sugar or without sugar?
Customer: แงแแแ แจแแฅแ แแ, แฉแแ แฃแจแแฅแ แแ.
Translit: qava shakrit, chai ushakrod.
Eng: Coffee with sugar, tea without sugar.
2. Ordering a Meal with Questions
Waiter: แแแแ แฎแแ แ แจแแแแแแแกแแแแก?
Translit: mzad khart shekvettistvis?
Eng: Are you ready to order?
Customer: แแแแฎ. แแก แ แ แแแ แซแแ?
Translit: diakh. es ra kerzia?
Eng: Yes. What dish is this?
Waiter: แแก แฎแแญแแแฃแ แแ.
Translit: es khachโapuria.
Eng: This is khachapuri.
Customer: แซแแแแแ แชแฎแแ แแ?
Translit: dzalian tskharea?
Eng: Is it very spicy?
Waiter: แแ แ, แแ แแ แแก แชแฎแแ แ.
Translit: ara, ar aris tskhare.
Eng: No, it is not spicy.
Customer: แแแ แแแ. แแ แแ แฎแแญแแแฃแ แ แแ แกแแแแแ แแแแแ.
Translit: kargia. erti khachโapuri da salati minda.
Eng: Good. I want one khachapuri and a salad.
3. Asking for the Bill and Paying by Card
Customer: แฃแแแชแ แแแแ, แแแแแ แแจแ, แแแฎแแแ.
Translit: ukโatsravad, angarishi, gtโkhovt.
Eng: Excuse me, the bill, please.
Waiter: แแ, แแฅแแแแ แแแแแ แแจแ.
Translit: ai, tkveni angarishi.
Eng: Here is your bill.
Customer: แแแ แแแแ แแแแแแแฎแแ.
Translit: baratit gadavikhdi.
Eng: I will pay by card.
Waiter: แแแ แแ, แแแแแแแ.
Translit: kargi, madloba.
Eng: OK, thank you.
Customer: แซแแแแแ แแแแ แแแแแแแ, แแแ แแแ แแงแแแแ.
Translit: dzalian didi madloba, kargad iyavit.
Eng: Thank you very much, take care.
Vocabulary List for This Chapter
| Georgian | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| แ แแกแขแแ แแแ | restorani | restaurant |
| แแแคแ | kโape | cafรฉ |
| แแแแแแ | magida | table |
| แแแแแฃ | meniou | menu |
| แกแแญแแแแ | sachmeli | food, dish |
| แกแแกแแแแ | sโasmeli | drink |
| แฎแแญแแแฃแ แ | khachโapuri | khachapuri |
| แฎแแแแแแ | khinkali | khinkali dumplings |
| แกแแแแแ | salati | salad |
| แฌแแแแแแ | tsvniani | soup |
| แแแกแแ แขแ | deserti | dessert |
| แฉแแ | chai | tea |
| แงแแแ | qava | coffee |
| แฌแงแแแ | tsโqali | water |
| แแแแแ แแแฃแ แ แฌแงแแแ | mineraluri tsโqali | mineral water |
| แฆแแแแ | ghvino | wine |
| แแฃแแ | ludi | beer |
| แจแแฅแแ แ | shakari | sugar |
| แแแ แแแ | marili | salt |
| แแแแแแแ | pilpili | pepper |
| แฉแแแแแแ | changali | fork |
| แแแแแ | kovzi | spoon |
| แแแแ | dana | knife |
| แแแคแจแ | tephshi | plate |
| แฎแแแกแแฎแแชแ | khelsakhotsโi | napkin |
| แแแ แชแแ | portsia | portion |
| แคแฃแแ | puli | money |
| แแแฆแแ แคแฃแแ | nagdi puli | cash |
| แแแ แแแ | barati | card |
| แแแแแ แแจแ | angarishi | bill, check |
| แแแแ แแแแ | gemrieli | tasty |
| แชแฎแแ แ | tskhare | spicy |
| แชแแแ | tsivi | cold |
| แชแฎแแแ | tskheli | hot (temperature) |
| แแ แแแ | ertad | together |
| แชแแ-แชแแแแ | tsal-tsalke | separately |
| แแแฎแแแ | gtโkhovt | please |
| แแแแแแแ | madloba | thank you |
| แแแแแจแแ | bodishit | excuse me / sorry |
| แฃแแแชแ แแแแ | ukโatsravad | excuse me |
Use these phrases and words to practice imaginary visits to Georgian cafรฉs and restaurants, saying the full sentences aloud to build confidence.
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