Asking the Server About Food Allergies

Scene: David has a serious peanut allergy. He is having dinner at a restaurant with a friend. Anna, the server, comes to take their order.

ANNA: Good evening! Welcome to Bella Roma. Can I start you with something to drink?

DAVID: Just water for me, please. And I have a question before we order — I have a peanut allergy.

ANNA: Thank you for telling me. Is it a mild allergy or a severe one?

DAVID: Severe. Even a small amount can cause a serious reaction. I carry an EpiPen just in case.

ANNA: I understand. Let me be very careful with your order then. Which dishes were you considering?

DAVID: I was thinking about the chicken parmesan. Does it contain any nuts?

ANNA: The chicken parmesan itself doesn’t, but let me double-check with the kitchen about the breading and the oil they use.

DAVID: I’d really appreciate that. Cross-contact in the kitchen is what worries me most.

ANNA: Of course. I’ll ask them to use clean utensils and a fresh pan for your dish.

DAVID: Thank you. What about the salads? Is the dressing made in-house?

ANNA: Two of them are. The Caesar dressing is made here and it’s nut-free. The other one I’d need to check.

DAVID: The Caesar salad sounds safe then. And for dessert — do any desserts contain nuts?

ANNA: Most of our desserts are made in a kitchen that also handles nuts, so I can’t guarantee they’re completely nut-free.

DAVID: I see. Then I’ll skip dessert to be safe. Better safe than sorry.

ANNA: That’s a smart call. I’ll also put an allergy alert on your ticket so the whole kitchen sees it.

DAVID: What does the alert do exactly?

ANNA: It prints in red on the kitchen ticket, and the chef has to confirm the dish is prepared separately.

DAVID: That makes me feel much better. You’re really thorough — thank you.

ANNA: It’s the most important part of my job. I’ll go check on that chicken parmesan now.

Anna returns from the kitchen a few minutes later.

ANNA: Good news! The kitchen confirmed the chicken parmesan is completely nut-free, and they’ll prepare it separately.

DAVID: Perfect. I’ll have that with the Caesar salad. Thanks for taking this so seriously, Anna.

ANNA: Always. Enjoy your meal, David — I’ll keep an eye on your table.

— THE END —

Vocabulary List

Allergy /ˈælərdʒi/ (n.) a strong bad reaction to a food or substance. Example: I have a peanut allergy.
Severe /səˈvɪr/ (adj.) very serious. Example: Even a small amount can cause a severe reaction.
EpiPen /ˈepiˌpen/ (n.) a device that injects emergency allergy medicine. Example: I carry an EpiPen just in case.
Cross-contact /krɔːs ˈkɑːntækt/ (n.) when allergens accidentally get into safe food. Example: Cross-contact is what worries me most.
Utensil /juːˈtensəl/ (n.) a tool used for cooking or eating. Example: Use clean utensils for my dish.
In-house /ɪn haʊs/ (adj.) made inside the restaurant, not bought. Example: The dressing is made in-house.
Nut-free /nʌt friː/ (adj.) containing no nuts. Example: The Caesar dressing is nut-free.
Alert /əˈlɜːrt/ (n.) a warning notice. Example: I’ll put an allergy alert on your ticket.
Thorough /ˈθɜːroʊ/ (adj.) careful and complete. Example: You’re really thorough — thank you.
Better safe than sorry /ˈbetər seɪf ðæn ˈsɑːri/ (phr.) it’s wiser to be careful than to take risks. Example: I’ll skip dessert — better safe than sorry.

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