You are learning making a reservation: you will read the scene it happens in, learn 10 words and phrases, take apart the pattern behind them (reservation vocabulary), hear them in a conversation, rehearse them, and finish by saying one thing out loud to be graded.
Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet (紫外线) — or any of Shanghai's celebrated restaurants that require advance booking. A phone call, a WeChat message, or a platform reservation. Three Chinese phrases handle all of them.
Xin Rong Ji (新荣记) is one of Shanghai's most celebrated contemporary Chinese restaurants — a Taizhou-style seafood restaurant with a reputation for sourcing extraordinary live seafood and cooking it with almost nothing, allowing the ingredients to speak entirely for themselves.
The stranger calls. The line rings twice. 「您好，新荣记。」 A composed voice. He steadies himself. 「您好！我想订位，两位，明天晚上七点半，有没有位子？」
A pause. Keyboard sounds. 「有的。靠窗的位子好吗？」 Window seat. 「太好了！有没有包间？我们是商务晚餐。」 She checks. A private room is available for four or more — just two, the window it is.
「好的。请问有什么忌口吗？」 Any dietary restrictions? 「没有，谢谢！请帮我确认一下：两位，明天七点半？」 Confirmed. 「我们等您！」