Making a Reservation

Booking a table by phone or in person for a specific date and time.

You
Buenas tardes. Quisiera hacer una reservación para esta noche.
BWEH-nahs TAHR-dehs. kee-SYEH-rah ah-SEHR OO-nah rreh-sehr-bah-SYOHN PAH-rah EHS-tah NOH-cheh.
Good afternoon. I would like to make a reservation for tonight.
'Quisiera' (I would like) is more polite than 'quiero' (I want). Use it when making requests.
Host
Con gusto. ¿Para cuántas personas y a qué hora?
kohn GOOS-toh. PAH-rah KWAHN-tahs pehr-SOH-nahs ee ah keh OH-rah?
With pleasure. For how many people and at what time?
'Con gusto' (with pleasure) is widely used in Latin America, especially in Colombia and Costa Rica, as a polite response.
You
Para cuatro personas, a las ocho de la noche.
PAH-rah KWAH-troh pehr-SOH-nahs, ah lahs OH-choh deh lah NOH-cheh.
For four people, at eight in the evening.
Dinner in Latin America is typically late — 8 or 9 PM is normal. Arriving at 6 PM for dinner would be unusually early.
Host
Perfecto. ¿A nombre de quién?
pehr-FEHK-toh. ah NOHM-breh deh kyehn?
Perfect. Under what name?
You
A nombre de García. ¿Tienen terraza disponible?
ah NOHM-breh deh gahr-SEE-ah. TYEH-nehn teh-RRAH-sah dees-poh-NEE-bleh?
Under García. Do you have terrace seating available?
Many restaurants in Latin America have lovely outdoor areas. It does not hurt to ask for 'terraza' or 'al aire libre' (open air).