E n g L i s h jenni Currie Santamaria

Eating In, Eating Out
RESTAURANT REVIEWS
I. PRE-READING
A.
Background information
These brief restaurant descriptions are from the website videocityguide.com. 
You can ind video reviews of attractions for several cities on the site. The 
videos that go with these reviews show the restaurant interior and images of the 
food. These restaurants are in Austin, Texas.
B.
Words to know before you read
Match the words to their definitions.
____ 1.
Cajun 
a. a person employed to park cars
____ 2.
chic 
b. from French-speaking Louisiana
____ 3.
valet 
c. restaurant customers
____ 4.
twist 
d. places where ish are grown
____ 5.
diners 
e. fashionable
____ 6.
isheries 
f. an unexpected development
C.
Reading strategy
Quickly read the following restaurant descriptions. Then answer the question.
How many of the descriptions mention steak?
II. READ
Read the text. Mark the words you don’t know, but don’t stop reading to look 
them up.
Freda’s
is a locally owned restaurant specializing in steak and seafood with a 
Cajun lair. Located near Lakeline Mall, Freda’s is upscale yet casual with 
exceptional food at reasonable prices.
Carmelo’s Italian Restaurant
is Austin’s answer to an authentic Sicilian 
kitchen, spiced with continental chic. Carmelo’s is located in downtown Austin 
and offers complimentary valet parking.

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III. COMPREHENSION CHECK
Match the restaurant name to the food it specializes in.
____ 1.
Freda’s 
a. Sicilian food
____ 2.
Carmelo’s Italian Restaurant 
b. fresh crab
____ 3.
Rivals Steakhouse 
c. barbeque
____ 4.
Truluck’s Austin Arboretum 
d. Cajun food
____ 5.
County Line on the Hill 
e. steak
IV. VOCABULARY BUILDING
A.
Identifying referents
The words below are adjectives. Adjectives describe nouns. Look at the 
restaurant descriptions, and write the noun (restaurant name) that each 
adjective describes.
1.
upscale 
Freda’s_________________________
2.
casual 
_______________________________
3.
exceptional 
_______________________________
4.
authentic
_______________________________
5.
continental 
_______________________________
6.
complimentary 
_______________________________
7.
stylish 
_______________________________
8.
juicy
_______________________________
9.
succulent 
_______________________________
10.
lean(est) 
_______________________________
11.
stellar
_______________________________
Rivals Steakhouse
in Downtown Austin offers diners a new twist on the 
classic steakhouse, featuring the most delicious steaks available in today’s 
market and a stylish comfortable environment.
Welcome to 
Truluck’s Austin Arboretum
. We are all about fresh seafood, 
juicy steaks, succulent crab and delicious wines. We are so committed to fresh 
crab, we have our own isheries in Naples, Florida. Come enjoy our outdoor 
patio!
County Line on the Hill
has been serving up the biggest, leanest, most 
awesome barbeque in Texas. Located in the Texas Hill Country we offer 
outdoor seating with a stellar view!
Source: Austin Restaurants Guide, videocityguide.com

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B.
Identify meaning
Choose the words that have the same meaning as the underlined words.
1.
I can’t afford to buy a house in that neighborhood. It’s a little upscale for me.
a. 
crowded
b. 
expensive
c. 
old
2.
I love the casual atmosphere at that coffee shop. You can sit on a sofa, read 
a book, and drink coffee all day.
a. 
relaxed
b. 
elegant
c. 
exciting
3.
This dinner is truly exceptional. I’ve never tasted anything like it.
a. 
large
b. 
complicated
c. 
unusual
4.
The food here is very authentic. It’s just like what my mother used to make.
a. 
unusual
b. 
surprising
c. 
real
5.
A 
continental breakfast is usually just bread and coffee. An English 
breakfast includes eggs and meat.
a. 
healthy
b. 
European
c. 
typical
6.
The waiter spilled some water on me. He apologized and brought me a 
complimentary drink.
a. 
delicious
b. 
free
c. 
sweet
7.
That place has old wooden tables and soft chairs. It’s not stylish, but it’s 
comfortable.
a. 
chic
b. 
cheap
c. 
interesting

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8.
This orange is so juicy. I really need a napkin.
a. 
heavy
b. 
moist
c. 
dry
9.
Can I have a piece of that succulent orange?
a. 
warm and spicy
b. 
juicy and delicious
c. 
dried-up
10.
He’s watching his weight, so he always looks for lean beef.
a. 
low in fat
b. 
high in fat
c. 
low-priced
11.
All of the food was good, but the ish was just stellar.
a. 
expensive
b. 
exceptionally good
c. 
overcooked
V. UNDERSTANDING GRAMMAR: PARALLEL STRUCTURE
A.
Read about parallel structure
When writers link parts of sentences with coordinators like 
and
, they use the 
same parts of speech, and phrases of the same length.
Carmelo’s is located in downtown Austin and offers valet parking.
(present tense verbs)
We are all about fresh seafood, juicy steaks, succulent crab and delicious 
wines. 
(one adjective + noun)
Rivals Steakhouse features the most delicious steaks available in today’s 
market and a stylish comfortable environment.
(longer noun phrase)
B.
Identify meaning
Complete the sentences with one of the words or phrases from the box.
was terrible listen to loud music 
wave our hands 
warm
left 
the server didn’t take our 
looking 
fresh crab 
order

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1.
I’m never going back to that restaurant. The service was slow and the food 
__________________________.
2.
The soup was cold and the salad was __________________________ .
3.
We had to sit in uncomfortable chairs and __________________________ .
4.
The hostess didn’t seat us right away and __________________________.
5.
We had to call out and __________________________ to get the server’s 
attention.
6.
She was busy talking to the cook and __________________________ at a 
magazine.
7.
We ordered the large salad, the soup of the day, and 
__________________________.
8.
We __________________________ early and promised ourselves that we 
wouldn’t come back.
VI. READ IT AGAIN
Read the descriptions again. Answer the question.
In addition to describing the food, each description says something about the 
restaurant. Write one thing about each restaurant that is not related to the food.
1.
Freda’s ___________________________________________________________
2.
Carmelo’s Italian Restaurant _________________________________________
3.
Rivals Steakhouse __________________________________________________
4.
Truluck’s Austin Arboretum __________________________________________
5.
County Line on the Hill _____________________________________________
CHOICES ON A DENNY’S
®
MENU
I. PRE-READING
A.
Background information
The food descriptions below come from a Denny’s restaurant menu. There are 
Denny’s restaurants all over the United States. They have a very large menu and 
serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner 24 hours a day.
B.
Words to know before you read
Do you know these food words? Look up any you don’t know. Then write each 
word in the correct category.
spinach
caramel
bacon

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sausage
prime rib
garlic
pickle
herb
dressing
cucumber
chicken breast
meatball
pasta
mushroom
sauce
toast
shrimp
pot roast
celery
gravy