How To Order In Restaurants In French

Do you want to learn how to order in restaurants in French?

France is famous across the world for producing high-quality food and drink, including more than a thousand varieties of cheese, exquisite wines, and some of the most delicious pastries in the world.

Regardless of whether the thought of eating snails appeals to you or not, there is no denying the legendary status of French cuisine.

Many people believe that French food is among the best in the world, and this opinion is shared by those who prepare everything from the humble baguette to the decadent Gratin dauphinois.

The contributions that the French has made to cuisine around the world are something of which they are justifiably quite proud. Le bon vivant is a phrase that translates to “the good life,” and it is used to refer to someone who enjoys both good food and good drink. Therefore, if you are going to learn French, you will eventually also learn about the cuisine at some point.

To get you started savoring the pleasures of French cuisine, we’ll learn how to order in French restaurants and explore the basic language linked to food.

How To Order In Restaurants In French

Where to eat?

No matter if you’re in the mood for a hearty meal or a light snack, France has a place for your gastronomic needs. The following is a list of the many restaurants and eating establishments that can be found throughout France:

• La brasserie – craving for some comfort food, a taste of traditional French dishes, or some beer? This is the place for you.

• Le bistro(t) – This is a more casual dining place, perfect for lunch or dinner with friends.

• Le bar  – are you up for some drinks? Here’s where you go for your favorite cocktails and spirits.

• Le bar à vin – France is world famous for its wine that they have bars dedicated to one of their most famous products.

• Le café – Perfect for breakfast, brunch, and snacks, cafes in France serve coffee, tea, and delicious breads and pastries.

• Le restaurant – Lastly French restaurants are where you should go for a more formal dining experience.

When you arrive at the restaurant

When you arrive at a restaurant in France, make use of these expressions to help you ask for a table, check the menu, or ask about the specials of the day.

• Bonjour, une table pour une/deux/trois personnes, s’il vous plaît – Table for one/two/three, please.

• Avez-vous une table vers la fenêtre, s’il vous plaît? – Do you have a table near the window, please?

• La carte, s’il vous plaît? – (Can we have) the menu, please?

• Avez-vous une suggestion/une spécialité? – Do you have a suggestion/a specialty?

• Est-ce qu’il y a un plat du jour? – Is there a daily special?

• Quels sont les plâts du jour, s’il vous plaît? – What are today’s specials?
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• On est prêt(e) à commander) – We are ready to order (add the ‘e’ for feminine)

• Je n’ai pas encore choisi – I haven’t chosen yet.

• Une minute encore, s’il vous plaît – A minute more, please.

• Avez-vous un ménu en anglais? – Do you have a menu in English?

How and what to order in French restaurants

Wherever you decide to dine or drink in France, it’s a good idea to practice a few phrases first to make your experience more enjoyable, not to mention amazing the French locals!

Here are some usual ordering and food vocabulary/phrases to help you order:

How to Order:

• Je voudrais/ J’aimerais/ Je prends – I would like/I would love/I will take

This is what you say when ordering your food. Say this then add any of the food items listed below.

For a multicourse meal:

• En entrée, je voudrais – For the starter, I would like
• Pour le plat, je vais prendre – (For the main dish, I will have)
• En dessert, je voudrais – (For the dessert, I would like)
• C’est Terminé – We’ve finished

This is how you announce to the wait staff that you have finished eating.

• C’était délicieux/très bon – It was delicious/very good

Don’t forget to compliment the food!

• L’addition s’il vous plaît – The bill, please

This is how you ask for the bill when you are ready to pay.

What to Order:

• L’entrée – Starter/Appetizer
• Le pain — Bread
• La soupe — Soup
• Le fromage – Cheese plate

• Le plat principal – Main dish
• Le bœuf — Beef
• Le poulet — Chicken
• Le poisson — Fish
• L’agneau — Lamb
• Le porc — Pork
• Les légumes — Vegetables
• Les pâtes — Pasta
• Le riz — Rice

• Le plat du jour – Dish of the day If you select this item from the menu, it indicates that the sort of dish served varies daily.

• Le dessert -Dessert
• La glace — Ice cream
• La pomme — Apple
• La banane — Banana
• Les fraises — Strawberries
• Gâteau – Cake
• Chocolat – Chocolate
• Salade de fruits – Fruit salad Café gourmand – Coffee with small desserts

• Le digestif — After-dinner drink
• L’eau — Water
• Le café — Coffee
• Le thé — Tea
• La bière — Beer
• Le vin — Wine

When ordering steak

When you order a steak in a French restaurant, the server will ask you, “Quelle cuisson ?” (How would you like your meat cooked?) Your answer should be:

• Rosé – Rare (cooking)
• À point -Medium (cooking)
• Bien cuit – (Well done)

When ordering wine

When you go to a restaurant in France, the waiter will inquire, “Voulez-vous du vin?” (Would you like some wine? You have the option of ordering it “au verre” (which refers to a single glass of wine) or “à la bouteille” (the whole bottle).

A “sommelier” (a wine steward) will give you recommendations based on the type of meat and flavors you’ve ordered in more sophisticated restaurants. The trick is to be as open with the sommelier or waiter as possible.

The sommelier will be able to answer any queries you may have about wine. Take note of the following questions:

• Est-ce que avez la carte des vins s’il vous plait? –Do you have the wine list, please?

• Quelles sont vos suggestions pour le vin? – What are your wine suggestions?

• Quel vin est-ce que vous me recommandez? – Which wine do you recommend ?

• Quel vin est-ce que vous me conseillez pour aller avec ce plat? – Which wine do you recommend to go with this dish?

• J’hésite entre deux vins, lequel est-ce que vous me conseillez? – I hesitate between two wines, which one do you recommend ?

• Est-ce que vous servez du vin au verre? – Do you serve wine by the glass ?)

• Est-ce que vous avez des demies-bouteilles? – Do you offer half-bottles of wine ?

Note that the server may ask about your wine preferences before offering a recommendation. There are a few ways to begin the conversation: he or she may ask if you like a “vin rouge” (red wine) or “vin blanc” (white wine), or a “vin rosé” (rosé wine).

How to ask for the check and leaving tips

As you finish your meal and you need to ask for the bill, try using these expressions. Be mindful that wait staff usually never bring the check to the table unless the customer specifically requests it. It is considered quite disrespectful to bring the check to your table in France if you have not been asked for it.

• L’addition, s’il vous plaît? – Check, please?

• Acceptez-vous des cartes de crédit? – Do you take credit cards? 

• Je peux avoir une facture, s’il vous plaît? – Can I get an official receipt, please?

• Excusez-moi, mais l’addition n’est pas correcte – Excuse me, but this bill isn’t correct.

• Merci, au revoir – Thank you, goodbye.

After you have finished your meal at a restaurant in France, how much tip should you leave? There is a good chance that the customs are different from those in your home country. Read this to know more regarding tipping in France.

Want to learn more French phrases? Check out our language guides below:

• Ways To Say Wow In French
• Please In French : Ways On How To Say It
• 10+ Ways To Say No Problem In French
• Yes In French: How To Say It In 20 Different Ways