Describe a restaurant you enjoy going to
Describe a restaurant you enjoy going to.
You should say:
- where it is
- what kind of food it serves
- how often you go there
And explain why you enjoy going there.
Practise this cue card with a timer Use it in a full mock
One-minute preparation plan
Describe the atmosphere and the people, not just the menu, to show varied vocabulary.
| Cue card point | What to note (keywords only) |
|---|---|
| Where it is | 1–2 specific details: a name, a place, a time, or an example |
| What kind of food it serves | 1–2 specific details: a name, a place, a time, or an example |
| How often you go there | 1–2 specific details: a name, a place, a time, or an example |
| And explain why you enjoy going there. | Your main reason plus how it affected you—save 30 seconds for this |
Sample answer
I'd like to describe a small family-run restaurant near my office, which serves food from the south of my country.
It's on a quiet street, squeezed between a pharmacy and a shoe shop, and it only has about ten tables, so you often have to wait for a seat at lunchtime. The walls are covered in old black-and-white photos of the owner's home village.
The food is simple, home-style cooking: rich vegetable stews, grilled meat, freshly baked flatbread and a spicy lentil soup that's the best I've ever tasted. The menu changes slightly depending on the season, and the portions are huge for the price.
I go there at least once a week, usually with colleagues for lunch, and occasionally with friends in the evening.
I enjoy it mainly because it feels genuine. The owner's mother still does most of the cooking, and the owner remembers regular customers' names and usual orders. Compared with the chain restaurants nearby, it feels like eating in someone's home, and it's become a kind of second kitchen for me.
About 175 words, roughly two minutes at a natural pace. This is an original example written for SpeakingIELTS to show structure and vocabulary—use it for ideas, not as a script to memorise. Real test cards are worded differently, and examiners notice rehearsed answers.
Useful words and phrases
- family-run
- squeezed between
- home-style cooking
- depending on the season
- feels genuine
- a kind of second kitchen
Try using three of these in your own answer. For more topic vocabulary, see the vocabulary helper.
Part 3 follow-up questions
After this cue card, the examiner moves to a Part 3 discussion on the same theme. Give an opinion, a reason and an example for each.
- Why do people like eating out?
- Is eating out healthy?
- How have eating habits changed in your country?
- Should restaurants show calorie information on menus?
- Do people cook at home less than in the past?
Practise these Part 3 questions
Check your own answer
Record yourself, then listen once and ask: did I cover every point, keep talking for close to two minutes, link ideas clearly, and explain my reasons at the end? The self-evaluation checklist covers all four speaking criteria.