IELTS Formal Letter: Letter to restaurant manager expressing gratitude for service

The task

You recently enjoyed a meal at a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, and you were very pleased with the food and service.

Write a letter to the restaurant manager. In your letter:

→give details of your visit to the restaurant
→mention the reason for the celebration
→say what was good about the food and the service

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear Sir/Madam,

Model answer

Band 8 sample letter

Band 8172 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional experience my family and I enjoyed at your restaurant, The Golden Bistro, last Saturday evening, 14 October.

We visited your establishment to celebrate my parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary. Given the significance of the occasion, we were hoping for a memorable evening, and I am delighted to say that our expectations were exceeded in every regard.

The quality of the cuisine was truly outstanding. We ordered the signature herb-crusted lamb and the pan-seared sea bass; both dishes were cooked to perfection, showcasing fresh ingredients and expert presentation. Furthermore, the service was impeccable. Our server, James, was remarkably attentive and professional, ensuring our glasses were never empty while remaining unobtrusive throughout the meal.

It is rare to find such a seamless combination of culinary excellence and high-calibre hospitality. Please convey our gratitude to your kitchen team and to James for making our celebration so special. We look forward to returning to your restaurant in the near future.

Yours faithfully,

Julian Thorne

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

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Examiner's view

Why this scores well

A Band 8 response fully addresses all three bullet points with a consistently formal tone and sophisticated, natural vocabulary. A common Band 6 error is failing to provide specific details about the food or service, instead relying on vague, repetitive praise like 'the food was good'.

→Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
→If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
→No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

6 phrases

Useful phrases from the letter

exceptional
much better than average or unusually good
significance
the quality of being worthy of attention or importance
impeccable
faultless and in accordance with the highest standards
unobtrusive
not attracting attention in a way that is annoying
high-calibre
of a very high quality or level of skill
culinary
related to cooking or the kitchen

Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?+

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

How many words should an IELTS General Training letter be?+

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

What does the examiner look for?+

Keep practising

More thanks letters

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