Berlitz European Menu Reader: For Eating Out in over 25 Countries (Berlitz European Guides) [Paperback]

Berlitz Publishing (Author)

Book Description

Series: Berlitz European Guides | Publication Date: June 1997

A perennial best-seller, this 15-language menu glossary ensures that dining out in a foreign country will be easy, relaxing, and enjoyable. A trusted companion no one should leave behind, the Berlitz European Menu

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A trip to Europe means food, lots of food, wonderful food, strange, foreign, hard-to-pronounce food. Nothing's better than a plate of novel delicacies. Nothing's worse than hunger with an indecipherable menu in hand. Berlitz's pocket-sized book is a precious guide to eating in Europe, providing essential dining vocabulary in Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. For each language, there's a pronunciation guide, useful expressions (such as "I'm hungry," "Do you have a children's menu," and "We'd like to pay separately") and a full lexicon covering food, drink, and other necessary culinary terms. Exceptionally useful, it's a brilliant gift for a trip abroad.

Language Notes

Text: English --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berlitz; Multilingu edition (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2831562457
• ISBN-13: 978-2831562452
• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 3.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,275,161 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Polyglot
  • #53 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Food & Lodging > Dining
  • #67 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Travel > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't leave home without it!, January 14, 2005

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Berlitz European Menu Reader (Paperback)

One of the more vital parts of travelling involves eating, finding things that acceptable and appetising to the taste while abroad. Unless one wants to resort to pointing at things, it is best to learn some of the key words for cuisine (and, unless one wants to be surprised by certain ingredients that are unusual, it is best to know what words mean on the menu).

I've been fortunate enough to travel quite a bit, and I've often had phrase books to help me with some of the rudiments of languages, but have often found that phrase books are less helpful when it comes to menus, as not only does one generally need to know the basic words on menus, but also the regional and local methods of preparation, extra ingredients, and so forth, which are usually specialised enough not to make it into general phrase book listings.

That is where this book comes in handy. While it too will occasionally leave out various items (no one book can account for all local and regional variations), because it specialises in the words and phrases most likely to appear on menus, it comes in very handy.

There are sections for fourteen different languages in this small, pocket-sized edition: Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish, Swedish, and a section on British-American comparisons.

Each section begins with an overview for basic pronunciation, as well as some useful expressions ('I'm hungry,' 'I'd like a table for,' etc.). Then there are lists of basic words for use while ordering, complaining (sometimes it is necessary!), settling the bill, and basic words for food types and adjectives for how things are prepared or served. Each section then includes an extended section on items of food and drink likely to be found on most menus in the particular region. The drink section in French contains a lot of information on wine (as one is likely to find that on the menus in France); the same section in German includes beer and wine; again that same section in Greek includes island and regional variations.

Even if one isn't travelling abroad, having this book will introduce one to a wide variation of types of food one might be able to find a ethnic restaurants more locally located.

Guten appetit!
Bon appetit!
Nauttikaa ateriastanne!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't travel without it!, May 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Berlitz European Menu Reader (European Guides) (Paperback)

A wonderful necessity for travel in Europe. Avoid foods you dislike or are allergic to; enjoy the local "special of the day" menu items while knowing what you are eating!

4.0 out of 5 stars Ended up not really needing it, December 25, 2011

By 

S. Condon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Berlitz European Menu Reader: For Eating Out in over 25 Countries (Berlitz European Guides) (Paperback)

I brought it with me everywhere, but most places in the cities had an english menu or you could figure out what you were ordering or the waiter would help. Not necessary to bring, but it made me feel better to have it anyway.