Rank the parts of a meal, starter, main, dessert, the bread, the drinks, in order of how much you actually care about them.

B Natural answer

I'd rank the parts like this: main first, starter second, drinks third, dessert fourth, and bread last. The reason is that the main course is the part that usually matters most in terms of flavor and whether I feel satisfied. I also like a well-made starter because it sets the tone, especially if it's not too heavy. For me, Drinks are mostly practical. I want something that matches the meal, but I don't spend much time thinking about them. Dessert is nice, but I only really care about it when the restaurant does it well. Bread is the least important, unless it arrives fresh and warm. Otherwise, it is just a side thing. So if I were choosing where to focus my attention, I'd spend it on the main and starter first, then everything else after that.

Key phrases in this answer

• main course — the most important part of the meal“The main course usually decides how good the meal feels.”
• well-made starter — a starter prepared carefully and well“A well-made starter can set the tone for the whole meal.”
• mostly practical — drinks are useful more than exciting“For me, drinks are mostly practical during dinner.”
• main dish — the main part of a meal“I care most about the main dish when I eat out.”
• little dessert — a small sweet dish after the meal“I like a little dessert if I still have room.”
• good main course — a main dish that tastes very good“A good main course can make the whole meal memorable.”