"For here or to go?"

Question

Do you usually say "For here or to go?" when you as a waitress or waiter in a burger shop ask your customer if they would like "to eat their order here or take out?". I am concerned about the phrase "For here" in particular. For what I know is that you usually say "(to) Eat here or (to) take out?" or "(to) Eat here or to go?"
YAMAOKA Michio

Usenet · Accepted Answer

Yamaoka Michio typed thus:
[nq:1]Do you usually say "For here or to go?" when you as a waitress or waiter in a burger shop ... know is that you usually say "(to) Eat here or (to) take out?" or "(to) Eat here or to go?"[/nq]
Well, I don't usually say any of these as I have never worked in a take-away food shop.
This phrase varies around the English speaking world. The standard UK terms are "Eat in or take away?" At least some parts of Scotland have "carry out" in place of "take away".

David
==

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Do you usually say "For here or to go?" when you as a waitress or waiterin a burger shop ask ... that you usually say "(to) Eat here or (to) take out?" or "(to) Eat here or to go?" YAMAOKA Michio[/nq]
Many people do ask it that way, other phrases work too there is no set standard.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Do you usually say "For here or to go?" when you as a waitress or waiter in a burger shop ... know is that you usually say "(to) Eat here or (to) take out?" or "(to) Eat here or to go?"[/nq]
The trouble with "Eat here" is probably that too many people here it as an instruction and not a question. Even if the voice goes up at the end, by the end of the second word, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 percent have formed the opinion that it is an instruction, and won't know what to say when the time comes.
So some places may tell their employees to phrase it that way. But I also don't think "For here" is wrong. It may be short for "For eating here" or maybe not. I can't tell because I don't remember what was else was current when "for here" began. I might well have heard it first unrelated to take-out restaurants or even food. In my home town, where I lived until I was 10 1/2, the only take-out place I had been to was the Dairy Queen, and it had no tables. In fact one stood outside to order. So they had no need to ask anything.

But I've never worked as a waiter, except I took my turn serving food for 2 years in college. But everyone ate in!
[nq:1]YAMAOKA Michio[/nq]
s/ meirman If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
Chicago, 6 years
Brooklyn NY 12 years
Baltimore 20 years

Usenet · Answer

But everyone ate in!
Ate in what?
Gary Eickmeier

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Do you usually say "For here or to go?" when you as a waitress or waiterin a burger shop ask ... that you usually say "(to) Eat here or (to) take out?" or "(to) Eat here or to go?" YAMAOKA Michio[/nq]
Yamaoka, employees at burger joints say "for here or to go" in USA English quite a lot. I don't eat many burgers, but a lot of Mexican food, and I am usually asked if I would like the order "for here or to go" or "for here or to take out". Or "es para aqui o llevar," which is "is it for here or to take (or carry)" in Spanish.
You could also use the other examples you cited. You could say whichever phrase is most pleasing and natural for you. The customer will understand.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Do you usually say "For here or to go?" when you as a waitress or waiter in a burger shop ... know is that you usually say "(to) Eat here or (to) take out?" or "(to) Eat here or to go?"[/nq]
At my place it is: Do you want it parcelled or?

Ayaz Ahmed Khan

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Do you usually say "For here or to go?" when you as a waitress or waiter in a burger shop ... that you usually say "(to) Eat here or (to) take out?" or "(to) Eat here or to go?" YAMAOKA Michio[/nq]
Oh this is a boring question. I ordered three sandwiches the other day and the waitress said, as near as I can remember "Here or to go?" I said I'll eat them here, she looked at me funny and said "Ha Ha, it was a stupid question wasn't it?" Indeed it was. Should I hit send or have I drunken too much beer?

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Oh this is a boring question. I ordered three sandwiches the other day and the waitress said, as near as ... was a stupid question wasn't it?" Indeed it was. Should I hit send or have I drunken too much beer?[/nq]
When in doubt I usually let the beer decide that. Trouble is, with me, it shows. You're in the clear, though.
Mike.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Do you usually say "For here or to go?" when ... out?" or "(to) Eat here or to go?" YAMAOKA Michio[/nq]
[nq:1]Oh this is a boring question. I ordered three sandwiches the other day and the waitress said, as near as ... was a stupid question wasn't it?" Indeed it was. Should I hit send or have I drunken too much beer?[/nq]
One possible answer to the question "To eat here or to take away?" is "Both, I hope".
Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

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