Essential French Restaurant Phrases: Ordering Food Like a Local
Visiting France soon? Get ready to savor the delights of French cuisine!
This guide will equip you with essential French restaurant phrases, helping you order food confidently and enjoy your dining experience to the fullest.
Understanding French Menus
French restaurants often offer two types of menus:
- La carte: The standard menu listing all available dishes.
- Le menu: A fixed-price meal deal, usually including an appetizer, main course, and dessert.
Common Courses in French Restaurants
- L'apéritif: Pre-dinner drink
- L'entrée: Appetizer
- Le plat principal: Main course
- Le dessert: Dessert
- Le café: Coffee
- Le digestif: After-dinner drink
Arriving and Getting Seated
When you enter a French restaurant, you'll likely hear:
- "Bonjour monsieur / madame / messieurs-dames": Hello sir / madam / everyone
- "Vous avez une réservation?": Do you have a reservation?
- "À l'intérieur ou sur la terrasse?": Inside or on the terrace?
If you need a menu, simply ask:
"Puis-je avoir la carte, s'il vous plaît?": Can I have the menu, please?
Ordering Drinks
Your server might ask:
- "Quelque chose à boire?": Something to drink?
- "Une carafe d'eau?": A pitcher of water?
- "La carte des vins?": The wine list?
How to Order Food in French
Use these phrases to place your order:
- "Je voudrais..." or "J'aimerais...": I would like...
- "Je prends..." or "Je vais prendre...": I'll take...
- "Pouvez-vous ajouter...": Can you add...
Always remember to say "s'il vous plaît" (please) and "merci" (thank you).
Modifying Your Order
- "avec": with
- "sans": without
- "en accompagnement": on the side
Dietary Restrictions
Inform your server about any dietary needs:
- "Je suis végétarien(ne)": I'm vegetarian
- "Je suis végan(e)": I'm vegan
- "Je suis allergique au gluten": I'm allergic to gluten
- "Je suis intolérant au lactose": I'm lactose-intolerant
Ordering Meat
When ordering meat, specify your preferred doneness:
- "bleu": very rare
- "saignant": medium-rare
- "à point": medium
- "bien cuit": well done
Interacting with Your Server
Here are some phrases you might hear from your server:
- "Vous désirez quelque chose à boire?": Would you like something to drink?
- "Vous avez fait votre choix?": Have you made your choice?
- "Vous prendrez le menu?": Will you go for the fixed-price menu?
If you need more time, say:
"Non, un instant s'il vous plaît": No, give me a moment, please.
Paying the Bill
When you're ready to leave, ask for the check:
- "L'addition, s'il vous plaît": Check, please
- "On peut avoir l'addition?": May we have the check?
Your server might ask:
- "Par carte ou espèces?": By card or cash?
- "Vous voulez le ticket de caisse?": Would you like a receipt?
Fast Food and Takeout
For quick bites or takeout, use these phrases:
- "à emporter": to go
- "pour ici": for here
- "Je voudrais un repas à emporter": I would like a takeaway meal
- "Est-ce que vous livrez?": Do you deliver?
Practice Makes Perfect
Remember, the key to mastering these phrases is practice. Why not try role-playing restaurant scenarios with a friend or language partner?
Or better yet, use leçon.ai, an AI-powered French learning platform that offers personalized practice sessions tailored to your level.
With leçon.ai, you can practice these restaurant phrases in realistic, simulated conversations. It provides real-time pronunciation feedback and can generate custom listening exercises featuring restaurant dialogues.
Whether you're a beginner or advanced learner, leçon.ai adapts to your needs, helping you gain confidence in real-world French conversations.
By familiarizing yourself with these essential French restaurant phrases, you'll be well-prepared to enjoy French cuisine like a local. Bon appétit!