Restaurant Recommendations - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Restaurant Recommendations
| Name of restaurant | Location | Reason for recommendation | Other comments |
| The Junction | Greyson Street, near the station | Good for people who are especially keen on 1 | Quite expensive
The 2 is a good place for a drink |
| Paloma | In Bow Street next to the cinema | 3 food, good for sharing | Staff are very friendly
Need to pay £50 deposit A limited selection of 4 food on the menu |
| The 5 | At the top of a 6 | A famous chef
All the 7 are very good Only uses 8 ingredients |
Set lunch costs £ 9 per person
Portions probably of 10 size |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Fish | The food's amazing. If you like fish, it's probably the best restaurant in town for that. It's always really fresh | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the food is very good, especially if you like fish. This means that The Junction is a great place for people who enjoy fish dishes. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Fish.' This means the restaurant is good for people who enjoy eating fish. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Fish' because the man recommends The Junction as a great place for people who like fish. He says it is probably the best restaurant in town for fish and that the food is always very fresh. This shows that people who are keen on eating fish will enjoy dining there. |
| Q2 | Roof | It's got a great atmosphere and before dinner you can go up on the roof and have a drink | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that before eating, you can go to the roof of the restaurant to have a drink. This is where people can enjoy nice views. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Roof'. This means the top part of the restaurant where you can go up for drinks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Roof' because the man mentions that before dinner at The Junction, you can go up on the roof and enjoy a drink. This is a special feature of the restaurant that people can enjoy. |
| Q3 | Spanish | So is all the food they serve Spanish, then? | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says you can order many small dishes at Paloma, which is a common way to enjoy food in Spain, especially when you are with friends. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Spanish', which means the food served at Paloma is from Spain. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Spanish' because the man mentions that Paloma serves lots of small dishes that are typically Spanish. He says, 'Yeah. You can get lots of small dishes to share, which always works really well if you're in a group.' This shows that the restaurant specializes in Spanish food. |
| Q4 | Vegetarian | Not sure I say the selection of those would be quite limited | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript means that the man is not sure about the variety of vegetarian food available and thinks there might not be many options. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Vegetarian', which means food that does not have meat. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Vegetarian' because in the transcript, the woman mentions checking the menu for vegetarian dishes. The man responds that the selection of vegetarian food would be quite limited at the restaurant Paloma. This shows that vegetarian options are important when considering the restaurant choices. |
| Q5 | Audley | A-U-D-L-E-Y. You must have heard of it. There's been a lot about it in the press | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the man is asking if the woman has been to the Audley restaurant. The name is spelled out, and the man mentions it is well-known in the news. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Audley,' which is the name of a restaurant. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Audley' because the woman and man discussed this restaurant as a good option for a celebration. They talked about its great views and the famous chef, Angela Frayne, who focuses on local ingredients. This makes Audley a special choice among the other restaurants mentioned. |
| Q6 | Hotel | MAN: It's in that hotel near Baxter Bridge, on the top floor | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the restaurant is in a hotel that is close to Baxter Bridge, and it is on the highest floor. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Hotel'. This means a place where people stay when they are traveling. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Hotel' because the transcript mentions that the restaurant Audley is located on the top floor of a hotel, which is near Baxter Bridge. This indicates that the place the restaurant is in is indeed a hotel. |
| Q7 | Reviews | Anyway, it's had excellent reviews from all the newspapers | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the restaurant has been talked about a lot and people have given it high praise, which means they liked it. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Reviews'. This means people have talked about the restaurant and said good things about it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Reviews' because the man mentions that the Audley restaurant has had 'excellent reviews from all the newspapers.' This shows that many people think very positively about the restaurant. |
| Q8 | Local | Yes. Everything at the restaurant has to be sourced within a short distance and absolutely nothing flown in from abroad. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says everything in the restaurant comes from places that are not far away, and nothing comes from other countries. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'local'. This means things that come from nearby places. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'local' because the restaurant we discussed only uses ingredients that are from nearby areas. The woman mentioned that the chef likes to cook with local products, which is a key reason for recommending the restaurant. |
| Q9 | 30 | Well, you could go for the set lunch. That's quite reasonable for a top-class restaurant. £30 a head | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the set lunch at the restaurant costs £30 for each person, which means that is what you would pay. Answer Explanation: The answer is 30. This means the restaurant's set lunch costs 30 pounds for each person. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 30 because the woman and man discussed the prices of meals at the restaurant Audley. They mentioned that the set lunch is quite reasonable for a top-class restaurant, costing around 30 pounds per person. This shows that for a special lunch, the price would be 30. |
| Q10 | Average | No, the reviews I've read didn't mention that. I imagine they'd be average | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the man thinks portions at the restaurant are normal, which means not too big or too small, just okay. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Average.' This means that the portion sizes at the restaurant are not small or very large; they are normal. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Average' because the man in the conversation mentions that the reviews for the restaurant did not say the portions were tiny, suggesting they are of normal size. This indicates that the food portions are average, so you won't leave feeling hungry. |
Transcript
WOMAN: I’ve been meaning to ask you for some advice about restaurants. I need to book somewhere to celebrate my sister’s 30th birthday, and I liked the sound of that place you went to for your mum’s 50th.
MAN: The Junction. Yeah, I’d definitely recommend that for a special occasion. We had a great time there. Everyone really enjoyed it.
WOMAN: Where is it again? I can’t remember.
MAN: It on Grayson Street only about a two walk from the station
WOMAN: Oh that good I prefer not to have to drive anywhere But I don want to have to walk too far either.
MAN: Yes, the location’s perfect, but that’s not necessarily why I’d recommend it. The food’s amazing. If you like fish, it’s probably the best restaurant in town for that. It’s always really fresh and there are lots of interesting dishes to choose from But all the food is good there
WOMAN: Is it really expensive?
MAN: It’s certainly not cheap, but for a special occasion I think it’s fine It’s got a great atmosphere and before dinner you can go up on the roof and have a drink It’s really nice up there, but you need to book It’s very popular as the views are spectacular.
WOMAN: Sounds good. So that’s definitely a possibility then. Is there anywhere else you can think of?
MAN: If you want somewhere a bit less formal, then you could try Paloma.
WOMAN:Where’s that? I haven’t heard of it.
MAN: No, it’s quite new. It’s only been open a few months, but it’s got a great reputation already. It’s in a really beautiful old building on Bow Street.
WOMAN:Oh, I think I know where you mean. Right beside the cinema.
MAN: Yes, that’s it. I’ve only been there a couple of times, but I was really impressed. The chef used to work at Don Felipe’s, apparently. I was really sorry when that closed down.
WOMAN: So is all the food they serve Spanish, then?
MAN: Yeah. You can get lots of small dishes to share, which always works really well if you’re in a group.
WOMAN: Hmm. Worth thinking about.
MAN: Yeah. There’s a lively atmosphere and the waiters are really friendly. The only thing is that you need to pay a £50 deposit to book a table.
WOMAN: A lot of restaurants are doing that these days. I should have a look at the menu to check there a good choice of vegetarian dishes. A couple of my friends have stopped eating meat.
MAN: Not sure I say the selection of those would be quite limited.
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MAN: I’ve just thought of another idea. Have you been to the Audley?
WOMAN: No, don’t think I’ve heard of it. How’s it spelt?
MAN: A-U-D-L-E-Y. You must have heard of it. There’s been a lot about it in the press.
WOMAN: I don’t tend to pay much attention to that kind of thing. So where is it exactly?
MAN: It’s in that hotel near Baxter Bridge, on the top floor.
WOMAN: Oh, the views would be incredible from up there.
MAN: Yeah, I’d love to go. I can’t think of the chef’s name, but she was a judge on that TV cookery show recently. And she’s written a couple of cookery books.
WOMAN: Oh, Angela Frayne.
MAN: That’s the one. Anyway, it’s had excellent reviews from all the newspapers.
WOMAN: That would be a memorable place for a celebration.
MAN: Definitely. Obviously it’s worth going there just for the view, but the food is supposed to be really special.
WOMAN: She only likes cooking with local products doesn't she?
MAN: Yes. Everything at the restaurant has to be sourced within a short distance and absolutely nothing flown in from abroad.
WOMAN: I imagine it’s really expensive, though.
MAN: Well, you could go for the set lunch. That’s quite reasonable for a top-class restaurant. £30 a head. In the evening, I think it’d be more like £50.
WOMAN: At least that, I should think. But I’m sure everyone would enjoy it. It’s not the kind of place you leave feeling hungry, though, is it? With tiny portions?
MAN: No, the reviews I’ve read didn’t mention that. I imagine they’d be average.
WOMAN: Well, that’s all great. Thanks so much.