Ordering at a restaurant in French: the survival guide

[jrineakter]

Are you going to travel to France soon and you can't wait to taste the country's culinary specialties ? Are you dreaming of tasting oysters, snails or beef bourguignon? If you don't know how to get by in French , you risk missing out on delicious gourmet dishes . So, the first thing to do is to learn a few common phrases to order at a restaurant in French !

In this survival guide, you will discover:

Phrases to know when asking for a table
There you go, you enter the restaurant and the waiter comes to greet you. To help you choose a table, he will ask these questions:

Have you booked?
How many of you are there?
Do you want to sit on the terrace or indoors?
If you have already booked over the phone, you can say, for example:

Hello, I reserved a table in the name of Patrick Leclair for 3 people.
If you haven't booked, here are the different phrases to know to find out if there is still room:


It's not that hard to communicate with the waiter, right? But it's still handy to know these French phrases at a restaurant. Sit back and enjoy this moment with your loved ones to savor a wonderful meal! Next step: choose your dishes and order.

Phrases for ordering at a restaurant in French
Restaurant vocabulary

The waiter will seat you at a table and give you the menu. Before taking your order, he may ask about drinks. For example, he will say:


In French-speaking countries, restaurants offer at least three courses: starter, main course and dessert. Dessert is usually ordered at the end of the meal if you are still hungry.

Have you made your choice? Then close the menu and put it on the table to show that someone can come and take your order. The waiter will then say to you:


French dishes are often served with a side dish. Don't be surprised if you are asked to choose between fries or vegetables. If you order meat, you will be asked how it is cooked. Here are the types of cooking, from least to most cooked: blue, rare, medium, well done.

Finally, if you are on a diet, warn the server by saying:

I am allergic to… (gluten, lactose, hazelnut, etc.)
I am vegetarian/Do you have vegetarian dishes?
Questions to ask about dishes
Are you hesitating between two dishes? Do you want to know the ingredients in a dish? Ask the server for details by asking these questions:


Congratulations, you have successfully ordered at the restaurant in French! Now all you have to do is enjoy your delicious meal.

Read: How to ask questions naturally in French?

Useful expressions during the meal
Useful expressions in the restaurant

Gee, did you drop your fork on the floor? Do you need another napkin? Don't hesitate to call the waiter. Here are some examples of useful expressions for this kind of situation at a restaurant:

During or after the service, the server will ensure that the meal goes as it should. To do this, he will ask you:


Good to know: once you have finished your meal, place the cutlery lined up across the plate to the right. This indicates to the waiter that he can clear your plate.

Typical ways to ask for the bill
The meal is coming to an end… The restaurant is saudi arabia whatsapp number data closing soon and it’s time to pay the bill. But how do you ask for the bill in French? You can say: “ L’addition, s’il vous plaît. ” or “ Can I have the bill, please? ”

In general, French restaurants let you choose the method of payment, but this is not always the case. So, you can ask the question: " Can I pay in cash or by card? " When it comes to splitting the bill, each restaurant has its own way of doing things. To find out if you can split the bill, you will ask: " Can we pay separately? "

In France, tipping is not obligatory, but if you appreciated the service, don't hesitate to leave a few euros on the table.