Describe A Restaurant That You Enjoyed Going To: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Where was the restaurant?
Why chose this restaurant?
What type of food did you eat in this restaurant?

73 unique answers with expert feedback

What makes a restaurant memorable for you?

A restaurant becomes memorable for me due to its unique ambience, delicious food, and excellent service. When I have a great experience, like the one I had in Madurai, it stays with me. The atmosphere and the way I feel welcomed play a significant role in how I remember a place.

How do you usually choose a restaurant to visit?

I usually choose a restaurant based on recommendations from friends or family, online reviews, and the type of cuisine I’m in the mood for. I also consider the restaurant's ambience and whether it fits the occasion, like a casual meal or a special celebration.

Do you prefer dining out or cooking at home? Why?

I prefer cooking at home because it allows me to experiment with different recipes and control the ingredients. However, dining out is a nice treat occasionally, especially when I want to enjoy a special meal or experience a different cuisine that I can't easily make at home.

Band 7

00:00

We visited a restaurant called People's. It is a rooftop restaurant and they had a variety of dishes on their menu. We started off with a starter which was gobi manchuri and it was really well made. Then we had pasta and a veg pizza. They were all delicious. If I have to say about the ambience of the restaurant, it was completely covered with greens, all type of plants and flowers. So, with the fresh breeze and the greens around us, we felt very relaxed and we definitely enjoyed the food really well. So, it was a great experience for me and I really loved the food there and lastly with the dessert, we finished our meal.

Follow up questions

What other dishes would you recommend from that restaurant?

I would definitely recommend trying their paneer tikka and the chocolate lava cake for dessert. The paneer tikka is perfectly spiced and grilled, while the chocolate lava cake is rich and gooey, making it a perfect end to the meal.

How does the atmosphere of a restaurant affect your dining experience?

The atmosphere plays a huge role in how much I enjoy my meal. A pleasant ambiance with good lighting and decor can enhance the flavors of the food and make the experience more enjoyable. It helps me relax and appreciate the meal more.

Do you prefer dining in restaurants or cooking at home?

I enjoy both, but dining in restaurants offers a chance to try new cuisines and enjoy a different atmosphere. Cooking at home allows me to experiment with recipes and control the ingredients, but sometimes I just love the convenience and experience of eating out.

Band 7

00:00

Red Chillies is a restaurant in Auroville that I thoroughly enjoy going to every single time. I have been there a couple of times, around 3-4 times, and it is not that far away from home which makes it convenient to go to. Secondly, the reason why I enjoy it so much is because of the food itself. Being a pizza lover, they have one of the best pizzas that I have ever eaten in my life out of all the other pizza restaurants that I have tried. Their pizzas are really amazing because their pizzas have a thin crust which I absolutely love. They are not, they put their vegetables and cheese and all the toppings very liberally without holding back. And they have other food varieties also like a lot of seafood, a lot of pastas, a lot of drinks, desserts, which are all things that I absolutely love. And it's not the food itself that I love, but the way they cook it there, the quality and taste of the food is absolutely amazing. And it tastes extremely fresh, not something that's stale and that they are using after a long time. And their service is also pretty quick. They don't take a huge amount of time to serve the food and cook the food, which is another plus point. Next, another reason why I love the restaurant is because of the seating. The seating is in nature, on pebbles, in the open, so one feels a lot of fresh air and yeah, sometimes there are mosquitoes, but that is still okay. It's very quiet, there are dim lights, which make the environment even better.

Follow up questions

What other types of cuisine do you enjoy besides pizza?

I enjoy a variety of cuisines, especially Italian and Mediterranean. I love trying different pasta dishes and seafood, as well as exploring local street food when I travel. Each cuisine has its unique flavors and cooking styles, which I find fascinating.

How important is the ambiance of a restaurant to you?

The ambiance is very important to me. A good atmosphere enhances the dining experience. I appreciate places that are cozy and have a nice decor, as well as outdoor seating that allows me to enjoy nature while eating. It makes the meal more enjoyable.

Have you ever recommended this restaurant to others?

Yes, I have recommended Red Chillies to many friends and family. I often share my experiences and tell them about the delicious pizzas and the lovely outdoor seating. It's great to see them enjoy it as much as I do when they visit.

Practice other cue cards

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country .

View answers

Band 7

00:00

I recently visited a restaurant which was at a walkable distance from my home. I chose that restaurant because it was new in the town and also it was known for its famous Maharashtrian food. As we went there, we saw that the build of the restaurant was like old Maharashtrian house and it gave very colourful and cultural feel. We ordered Pav Bhaji and Misal Pav in that hotel and the best thing about the hotel was we were not just welcomed in a Maharashtrian style but the sitting in the restaurant was also in Maharashtrian and there were many photos of deities and gods and the important thing that we can't miss that was every waiter and the owner himself was wearing Kurta or a traditional outfit and we felt very nice and it gave us home like feel and we were happy to enjoy our meal.

Follow up questions

What other dishes would you recommend from that restaurant?

Apart from Pav Bhaji and Misal Pav, I would recommend trying their Vada Pav and Puran Poli. Both dishes are traditional Maharashtrian favorites and are prepared with authentic flavors. The Vada Pav is a spicy potato fritter in a bun, and Puran Poli is a sweet flatbread that pairs well with ghee.

How does the atmosphere of a restaurant affect your dining experience?

The atmosphere plays a crucial role in my dining experience. A culturally themed environment, like the one I visited, enhances the meal by making it more enjoyable and immersive. It creates a sense of connection to the food and culture, making the experience memorable.

Have you visited any other restaurants with a cultural theme?

Yes, I have visited a few other restaurants with cultural themes. One that stands out is a South Indian restaurant that had traditional decor and served authentic dishes like Dosa and Idli. The ambiance was similar, with cultural music and attire, which made the experience unique and enjoyable.

Band 7

00:00

A restaurant that I loved visiting was called Mahal which is situated right in front of Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, Rajasthan. I visited the restaurant as it was one of the restaurants listed in the offer in the newspaper and I had a 50% off coupon for trying out the restaurant. The restaurant simply astonished me and I was flabbergasted by my experience. They served for starters Mughlai Mutton which was finger licking good. For main course I received a Butter Chicken with Rumali Roti which is a dish traditional to Rajasthan. The Butter Chicken is made from puree of tomatoes and breast of chicken which has been marinated over 8 hours. The Rumali Roti on the other hand has been made of flour mixed with water and kneaded till it is thin like a napkin and it is placed over a large cooking vessel to make it very very thin almost transparent. For desserts I tried the traditional Phirni which is a milk dessert made from sugar and milk with a little of Kesar which is also called Saffron in English. It was simply delightful and I enjoyed my meal a lot. I would love to visit there again with my friends and family. Thank you.

Follow up questions

What other types of cuisine do you enjoy besides Mughlai?

I enjoy a variety of cuisines, including Italian and Chinese. Italian dishes like pasta and pizza are favorites, while I love the flavors of Chinese stir-fries and dumplings. Each cuisine offers unique tastes and experiences that I find fascinating.

How important is the ambiance of a restaurant to your dining experience?

The ambiance plays a crucial role in my dining experience. A pleasant atmosphere enhances the meal, making it more enjoyable. I appreciate restaurants with good decor, lighting, and music, as they contribute to a memorable outing.

Do you prefer dining out or cooking at home? Why?

I enjoy both dining out and cooking at home. Dining out allows me to explore new flavors and relax, while cooking at home gives me control over ingredients and the joy of creating something delicious. It depends on my mood and the occasion.

Show all 73 answers

Cue 1:Where was the restaurant?

Begin by mentioning the name and location of the restaurant, providing some context about the area.
Describe the ambiance and setting of the restaurant to give a vivid picture.

Example

The restaurant I enjoyed going to is called 'Spice Route', located in the bustling area of Connaught Place in New Delhi. It has a vibrant atmosphere with colorful decor and traditional Indian music playing softly in the background, making it a perfect spot for a delightful dining experience.

Cue 2:Why chose this restaurant?

Share your personal reasons for choosing this restaurant, such as recommendations or past experiences.
Mention any unique features that attracted you to this place, like its reputation or special events.

Example

I chose 'Spice Route' because it came highly recommended by my friends who praised its authentic Indian cuisine. Additionally, I had visited it once before for a family celebration, and the food and service were exceptional, which made me eager to return.

Cue 3:What type of food did you eat in this restaurant?

Describe the specific dishes you ordered and highlight any that stood out to you.
Explain how the food tasted and any memorable experiences related to the meal.

Example

During my visit, I ordered their famous butter chicken and garlic naan, along with a side of biryani. The butter chicken was rich and creamy, bursting with flavors, while the naan was soft and perfect for dipping. I also enjoyed a refreshing mango lassi that complemented the spices beautifully.

Conclusion

Example

Overall, my experience at 'Spice Route' was delightful, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a taste of authentic Indian cuisine in a warm and inviting atmosphere. I look forward to visiting again soon.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Being Too Vague

Candidates often give very general answers without specific details. This can make the response less engaging and informative.

Tip

Include specific details about the restaurant's location, atmosphere, and unique features to create a vivid picture.

2: Neglecting Personal Experience

Some candidates fail to share their personal feelings or experiences related to the restaurant, which can make their answer less relatable.

Tip

Discuss your personal experiences, such as memorable moments or favorite dishes, to make your response more engaging.

Ignoring the Cues

Candidates sometimes overlook the specific cues provided, leading to incomplete answers that do not fully address the topic.

Tip

Make sure to answer all the cues clearly, addressing the location, reasons for choosing the restaurant, and the type of food you enjoyed.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.