A compact set of restaurant phrases can take you from asking for a table to ordering and paying in Serbia and Montenegro. Start with sto za dvoje (table for two), Ja bih… (I'd like…) and Račun, molim (the bill, please), then add the phrases that fit what you want to order.
Published 8 June 2026 · Updated 11 September 2026
Vocabulary lists help, but a real meal has a sequence: arrive, ask for a table, order, respond to questions and pay. Here is that sequence, phrase by phrase.
The most flexible ordering frame is Ja bih... ("I'd like...") followed by the dish. It gives you a complete, polite sentence instead of relying only on pointing.
A useful rule of thumb: say the phrase even if your endings are not perfect. Ja bih… plus the dish gives the listener much more to work with than pointing alone.
The phrases above are only useful if they come out recognisably. Here's a pronunciation crutch for the core set — stress the part in capitals; it's a stand-in until you've heard the words, not a replacement for hearing them.
| Serbian / Montenegrin | Say it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| sto za dvoje | sto za DVO-ye | a table for two |
| Ja bih… | ya bee | I'd like… (then the dish) |
| Šta preporučujete? | shta pre-po-ROO-choo-ye-te | What do you recommend? |
| bez luka | bez LOO-ka | without onion |
| Da li je ovo ljuto? | da lee ye O-vo LYOO-to | Is this spicy? |
| Račun, molim. | RA-choon, MO-leem | The bill, please. |
| Odvojeno, molim. | od-VO-ye-no, MO-leem | Separately, please. |
Two sounds to watch: č in račun is close to an English "ch", and lj in ljuto is treated as one letter and one sound. If those letters are still unfamiliar, use the Serbian pronunciation guide to practise them.
You: Dobro veče, sto za dvoje, molim.
Waiter: Naravno, ovuda. (Of course, this way.)
You, five minutes later: Ja bih ćevape, a ona bi salatu. Bez luka za mene. (I'll have ćevapi, she'll have the salad. No onion for me.)
Waiter: Nešto za piće? (Something to drink?)
You: Jednu kiselu vodu, molim. (One sparkling water, please.)
That whole exchange is maybe fourteen words of actual grammar. It's not the language that's hard here — it's not knowing the script.
Picture yourself walking into a konoba. Cover the answers and produce the Serbian:
Answers: 1) Sto za dvoje, molim. 2) Ja bih pljeskavicu, bez luka. 3) Račun, molim.
Can I rely on English in restaurants? Do not assume every member of staff will speak English. A local greeting and a few ordering phrases give you a reliable way to begin.
How do I ask for the bill? Say Račun, molim. It means “The bill, please.”
How do I order politely? Use Ja bih… (“I'd like…”) followed by the dish or drink: Ja bih pljeskavicu, molim.
If phrases are your focus, our guide to ordering coffee covers drinks, the money phrases begin where the bill lands, and the food vocabulary guide helps decode a menu. To continue in the course, try Gora for seven days free with no card: search “Gora Academy” in the Apple App Store or Google Play, or open app.gora.academy.