Restaurant phrases
How to order food in Greek: 32 restaurant phrases
To order food in Greek, say "Θα ήθελα…" (tha íthela, I'd like…) and finish with "παρακαλώ" (parakaló, please); when you're done, ask for "Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ" (the bill, please). Below are 32 phrases for every stage of a taverna meal, in Greek script with a Latin transliteration, plus the customs that surprise visitors, from fish priced by the kilo to wine ordered by weight.
About the script
Greek has its own alphabet. Each phrase is shown in Greek, as the waiter would read it, with an ELOT-style Latin transliteration; the accent marks the stressed syllable (kalispéra is said ka-lee-SPEH-ra). Transliteration follows the spelling rather than the sound, so a few letters need care: g before e or i sounds like the "y" in "yes" (geia is said "yah"), ch is a throaty "h" as in Scottish "loch", and i, y, ei and oi all sound like the "ee" in "see". The Greek question mark looks like a semicolon (;). The phrases use the polite plural, which is right with waiters.
Arriving
| Phrase | Romanization | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Γεια σας! | Geia sas! | Hello! | Said roughly "YAH-sas". Polite, and fine at any time of day. |
| Καλησπέρα! | Kalispéra! | Good evening! | In the morning: Καλημέρα (Kaliméra). |
| Ένα τραπέζι για δύο, παρακαλώ. | Éna trapézi gia dýo, parakaló. | A table for two, please. | |
| Έχουμε κάνει κράτηση. | Échoume kánei krátisi. | We have a reservation. | |
| Μπορούμε να καθίσουμε έξω; | Boroúme na kathísoume éxo? | Can we sit outside? | |
| Έχετε μενού στα αγγλικά; | Échete menoú sta angliká? | Do you have a menu in English? |
Ordering
| Phrase | Romanization | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Τον κατάλογο, παρακαλώ. | Ton katálogo, parakaló. | The menu, please. | |
| Τι μας προτείνετε; | Ti mas proteínete? | What do you recommend? | |
| Τι είναι αυτό; | Ti eínai aftó? | What is this? | |
| Τι φρέσκο ψάρι έχετε σήμερα; | Ti frésko psári échete símera? | What fresh fish do you have today? | |
| Πόσο κάνει το κιλό; | Póso kánei to kiló? | How much is it per kilo? | Fish and some meats are priced by the kilo. |
| Θα ήθελα αυτό, παρακαλώ. | Tha íthela aftó, parakaló. | I'd like this, please. | |
| Θα τα μοιραστούμε. | Tha ta moirastoúme. | We'll share them. | Meze dishes are made for sharing and arrive when they're ready. |
| Ένα μπουκάλι νερό, παρακαλώ. | Éna boukáli neró, parakaló. | A bottle of water, please. | |
| Μισό κιλό λευκό κρασί, παρακαλώ. | Misó kiló lefkó krasí, parakaló. | Half a kilo of white wine, please. | House wine (χύμα, chýma) is ordered by weight: a quarter, a half or a whole kilo. |
Dietary needs & allergies
| Phrase | Romanization | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Είμαι χορτοφάγος. | Eímai chortofágos. | I'm vegetarian. | |
| Δεν τρώω ούτε κρέας ούτε ψάρι ούτε γαλακτοκομικά ούτε αυγά. | Den tróo oúte kréas oúte psári oúte galaktokomiká oúte avgá. | I don't eat meat, fish, dairy or eggs. | Dishes marked νηστίσιμα (nistísima, for Orthodox fasting) have no meat, dairy or eggs, but can include seafood such as octopus or squid. |
| Έχω αλλεργία στους ξηρούς καρπούς. | Écho allergía stous xiroús karpoús. | I'm allergic to nuts. | Ξηροί καρποί is the everyday word for nuts and usually includes peanuts. Allergen lists call tree nuts καρποί με κέλυφος (karpoí me kélyfos). |
| Έχω αλλεργία στα αράπικα φιστίκια. | Écho allergía sta arápika fistíkia. | I'm allergic to peanuts. | The everyday word a waiter will know; labels say αραχίδες (arachídes). Plain φιστίκια (fistíkia) can also mean pistachios. |
| Έχω αλλεργία στα θαλασσινά. | Écho allergía sta thalassiná. | I'm allergic to seafood. | Θαλασσινά covers shellfish, octopus and squid; fish is ψάρι (psári). |
| Δεν μπορώ να φάω γλουτένη. | Den boró na fáo glouténi. | I can't eat gluten. | |
| Έχει γαλακτοκομικά; | Échei galaktokomiká? | Does it contain dairy? | |
| Έχει κρέας μέσα; | Échei kréas mésa? | Is there meat in it? | Worth asking about stuffed vegetables (γεμιστά, gemistá) and pies, which can contain minced meat. |
| Χωρίς κρεμμύδι, παρακαλώ. | Chorís kremmýdi, parakaló. | Without onion, please. |
During the meal
| Phrase | Romanization | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Συγγνώμη! | Syngnómi! | Excuse me! | Said roughly "seeg-NO-mee". |
| Ήταν πολύ νόστιμο! | Ítan polý nóstimo! | It was delicious! | |
| Ευχαριστώ! | Efcharistó! | Thank you! | |
| Γεια μας! | Geia mas! | Cheers! | Said roughly "YAH-mas". |
Paying
| Phrase | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ. | Ton logariasmó, parakaló. | The bill, please. |
| Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα; | Boró na pliróso me kárta? | Can I pay by card? |
| Μπορούμε να πληρώσουμε χωριστά; | Boroúme na plirósoume choristá? | Can we pay separately? |
| Κρατήστε τα ρέστα. | Kratíste ta résta. | Keep the change. |
Etiquette
- Bread is often brought unasked and charged per person, but only if you accept it; a separate cover charge (κουβέρ, kouvér) isn't allowed. Decline it when it arrives if you don't want it.
- In tavernas dishes arrive when they're ready, not in courses, and everything goes in the middle to share.
- Fish is priced per kilo. You can often choose your fish from the display; ask the weight and the price before it's cooked.
- House wine (χύμα) comes by the quarter, half or whole kilo, in a metal or glass jug.
- Greeks eat late: dinner often starts at 21:00 or later, especially in summer.
- Call the waiter with eye contact or "Συγγνώμη!". The bill only comes when you ask for it.
- Many tavernas bring a small dessert, fruit or a glass of raki or tsipouro at the end, on the house.
- Tipping isn't obligatory. Rounding up or leaving a few euros for good service is common.
Let your phone say the order
If you'd rather not attempt the dish names yourself, scan the menu with MenuGuide, add the dishes you want to your order and tap Speak My Order: the app reads your whole order aloud in Greek. You can also show the order on screen in Greek script or share it. It speaks the full order rather than single words, so the phrases above still help with everything else, from the fish counter to the bill.
MenuGuide also flags dishes that may contain the allergens you've chosen. Allergen and calorie details are AI estimates based on the menu and typical recipes. They can be incomplete — if you have a serious allergy, always check with the staff.
Before you go, read our guide to Greek menus to know what mezedes, mageirefta and grilled dishes will look like on the page.
Frequently asked questions
How do you order food in Greek?
Say "Θα ήθελα…" (tha íthela, I would like…) followed by the dish, and add "παρακαλώ" (parakaló, please). Pointing and saying "Θα ήθελα αυτό" (I'd like this) works everywhere. In a taverna you can order a few dishes at a time and add more later; they arrive as they're ready, for the whole table to share.
How do you ask for the bill in Greek?
Say "Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ" (ton logariasmó, parakaló), meaning the bill, please. Greek waiters won't bring it until you ask, because lingering at the table is normal. If you want to pay separately, add "Μπορούμε να πληρώσουμε χωριστά;" (boroúme na plirósoume choristá?).
How do you say I'm allergic in Greek?
Say "Έχω αλλεργία σε…" (écho allergía se…), I have an allergy to, in the forms used on this page: στους ξηρούς καρπούς (nuts), στα αράπικα φιστίκια (peanuts) or στα θαλασσινά (seafood). For gluten, say "Δεν μπορώ να φάω γλουτένη" (I can't eat gluten). The phrase is the same for men and women.
Why is bread on my bill in Greece?
Many Greek tavernas bring bread unasked and charge for it per person as ψωμί (psomí, bread). It may only be charged with your consent, so if you don't want it, say so when it arrives, before you start eating. A separate cover charge for the place setting (κουβέρ, kouvér) isn't allowed in Greece.
How do you say thank you and cheers in Greek?
Thank you is "Ευχαριστώ" (efcharistó), and thank you very much is "Ευχαριστώ πολύ" (efcharistó polý). For cheers, raise your glass and say "Γεια μας!" (geia mas, roughly "YAH-mas"), meaning "to our health", or the fuller "Στην υγειά μας!" (stin ygeiá mas).
