ESL Podcast 618 – Eating at a Casual Restaurant

Russell: Why aren’t you eating? Is there something the matter with your food?

Nadia: No, the food is fine.

Russell: What’s wrong?

Nadia: I’m not sure how to put this. I really like going to diners and hole in the walls with you, and I love mom and pop restaurants as much as you do. For me, it’s the food that counts, not the ambiance, but...

Russell: I thought you’d love this place. It’s my favorite greasy spoon.

Nadia: I do like it. It’s just that when you invited me out for my birthday and said that it would be something really special, I thought you might take me somewhere else.

Russell: Is that why you wore that nice new dress? You thought I was taking you to a fancy restaurant, with tablecloths, mood lighting, and snooty waiters.

Nadia: Well...

Russell: This is much better, don’t you think? We get to sit in this comfortable booth, listen to the jukebox, and watch our food being cooked behind the counter. I can’t think of a better dining experience. Don’t you agree?

Nadia: Uh, sure.

Russell: And don’t think you’re not getting something special for your birthday. I planned it all ahead of time.

Nadia: You did? Really? What is it?

Russell: I ordered you a whole pie!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
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diner [ˈdaɪnɚ] 【主美】餐車式簡便餐廳;路邊小飯店
hole in the wall 狹小陰暗的店鋪（或餐館）
mom and pop 【商】(指商店)小型的
ambiance (地、人、物特有的)氣氛;周圍環境;格調
greasy 多油的；油污的；沾油脂的
spoon 勺；匙；調羹
greasy spoon （不衞生且廉價的）低級餐館；邋遢的小飯館
tablecloth 桌布
mood lighting 情景照明
snooty 傲慢的；目中無人的
booth（餐館中的）火車座，卡座
jukebox（酒吧等的投幣式）自動點唱機
ahead of time 提前;提早