at/in the restaurant

[Winwin2011]

Some people say "at the restaurant" means inside or in front of the restaurant. However, some English topic says "ordering in a restaurant" and " ordering at a restaurant".

What is the difference?

[TomUK]

Not a teacher

I checked "English Grammar In Use" by Raymond Murphy:

In or at for buildings:

You use 'at' when you say where an event takes place (at the restaurant, at the cinema, at the theatre).

You use 'in' when you are thinking about the building itself (the table in the restaurant, the crowd in the cinema, the room in the house).

TomUK

[DJ S-Force]

Yes indeed, it's pretty difficult to understand, but when mean: 'at the restaurant', means in front of it. Not somewhere inside.

And 'ordering at the restaurant', means that you order from outside. From a Drive-In, for example. So 'ordering in the restaurant', means that you order from inside with a waiter or someone else.

[TomUK]

Yes indeed, it's pretty difficult to understand, but when mean: 'at the restaurant', means in front of it. Not somewhere inside.

And 'ordering at the restaurant', means that you order from outside. From a Drive-In, for example. So 'ordering in the restaurant', means that you order from inside with a waiter or someone else.

I am afraid I have to disagree with you. When we want to meet at the local pizza restaurant and I say to you "I'll meet you at five o'clock at the restaurant" you can be pretty sure that I will be sitting inside at a table sipping my vino rossi unless we explicitely agree to meet outside in front of the building.

TomUK

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum, DJ.

Please state that you are not a teacher when attempting to answer questions.

Yes indeed, it's pretty difficult to understand, but when mean: 'at the restaurant', means in front of it., not somewhere inside. This is not true.

And 'ordering at the restaurant', means that you order from outside. From a drive-through, for example. This is not correct, either.

'We'll meet at the restaurant' does not mean outside it, unless by prearranged agreement. Would you stand outside in the pouring rain or biting wind?

I would call my mum on my mobile and say 'We're at the Savoy Grill. We've just ordered champagne'. She would not imagine we were outside it.

Rover

'

[Winwin2011]

Welcome to the forum, DJ.

Please state that you are not a teacher when attempting to answer questions.



'We'll meet at the restaurant' does not mean outside it, unless by prearranged agreement. Would you stand outside in the pouring rain or biting wind?

I would call my mum on my mobile and say 'We're at the Savoy Grill. We've just ordered champagne'. She would not imagine we were outside it.

Rover

'

Can I say 'We're in the Savoy Grill"?

[Tdol]

I see nothing wrong with in the Savoy Grill.