Cafe and restaurant in Albanian
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen. Play the ten Albanian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Albanian phrases in this lesson
- Një tavolinë për dy, ju lutemnye ta-vo-LEE-ne per dü yoo LOO-tem
- A table for two
- Menunë, ju lutemme-NOO-ne yoo LOO-tem
- The menu, please
- Çfarë rekomandoni?chfa-RE re-ko-man-DO-ni
- What do you recommend?
- Nuk ha...nook ha
- I don't eat...
- Jam alergjik ndaj...yam a-ler-JEEK ndai
- I'm allergic to...
- Mishmeesh
- Meat
- PulëPOO-le
- Chicken
- Peshkpeshk
- Fish
- Është shumë e mirëESH-te SHOO-me e MEE-re
- It's delicious
- Gëzuar!ge-ZOO-ar
- Cheers
Hold up two fingers to reinforce the number. Albanian restaurants range from simple family-run taverns (hanë) to modern city bistros, and all appreciate a polite opener.
Menus are often in Albanian and Italian in tourist areas, or Albanian only in local spots. Pointing and smiling always works as a backup strategy.
Waiters are proud of their kitchen and love this question. You will usually get pointed toward a house specialty or the freshest catch of the day.
"Nuk ha mish", I don't eat meat. Vegetarian is "vegjetarian".
Women say "alergjike" (a-ler-JEE-ke).
Grilled lamb and qofte meatballs are the classics.
On the coast, ask for the fish of the day and expect it priced by weight.
Literally "it is very good." Saying this to the waiter or owner is a genuine compliment that will be passed to the kitchen. Albanian hospitality runs deep and compliments are warmly received.
The Albanian toast, meaning roughly "be joyful." Make eye contact when clinking glasses. Raki, the grape brandy, is the national drink and often offered as a welcome gesture.