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Going to a Restaurant Social Story

Overview

This social story developed by ASERT explains what to do when you go to a restaurant.

A picture of a restaurant

Going out to eat at a restaurant can be fun. I go out to eat at a restaurant to spend time with my family and enjoy the food.

A picture of a bowl of ramen, a taco, and a party horn.

Every restaurant is different. Restaurants have all kinds of food. Some can be noisy and some can be quiet, some can be crowded and some can have less people, some can have bright lights and some can be darker.

A boy and his friend sit on a bench together and talk

When I get to the restaurant, I may be seated at a table right away, or I may have to wait in a line or in a lobby.

A waiter seats the two friends at a table

When my table is ready, the waiter will lead me there. I may be seated at a table or a booth.

The friends look at a menu and decide what to eat

I will decide what I want to drink. I will look at the foods on the menu to decide what I want to eat.

The waiter looks at the boy and writes down his order. The boy makes eye contact and tells him his order.

The waiter will ask what I want to drink and eat. Each person at the table takes a turn. I know it is my turn when the waiter looks at me and asks me what I want.

The boy and his friend wait for their meal. The boy reads a book to pass the time.

I have to wait for my food to arrive. This may be a short or a long wait. I could bring something with me to keep myself busy during this time, such as a book or small game. I should not bring anything that makes too much noise so it does not bother other people in the restaurant.

The boy is served a drink in a mug and a burger. His friend is served a taco.

When the food arrives, the waiter will place my food in front of me on the table.

The boy eats his burger and the friend eats his taco

I eat only my food and not anyone else’s at the table.

The boy waits patiently for his friend to finish eating

When I am done eating, I stay seated and wait for everyone else to finish eating.

The waiter hands the friend their bill. The friend hands the waiter money to pay for their meal.

When everyone is done eating, the waiter will bring a bill and someone at the table will pay for the food with cash or a credit/debit card.

The boy leaves the restaurant

After the bill is paid, I can leave the restaurant.

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Page 1 of 12

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This information was developed by the Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT). For more information, please contact ASERT at 877-231-4244 or info@PAautism.org. ASERT is funded by the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations, PA Department of Human Services.