Ordering in a French Restaurant: Menu Words, Phrases and Etiquette

How French menus are structured, the vocabulary for courses, cooking levels and dietary needs, and customs such as free tap water and service compris.

Eating out in France is an experience, and a little vocabulary makes it relaxed and enjoyable. Here's how to read a menu, order confidently and avoid common surprises.

Meals of the day

le petit-déjeuner — breakfast
le déjeuner — lunch
le goûter — afternoon snack (especially for children)
le dîner — dinner

Note: in Belgium, Switzerland and Quebec, déjeuner means breakfast, dîner means lunch and souper means dinner.

Structure of a French menu

l'entrée — the starter (in France; in North America "entrée" means main course)
le plat principal — main course
le fromage — cheese course
le dessert
le café — coffee, usually after dessert

Types of menu

la carte — the à la carte menu
le menu / la formule — a fixed-price set meal (starter and main, or main and dessert, or all three)
le plat du jour — dish of the day, often good value at lunch
le menu enfant — children's menu

Lunch set menus (formule du midi) are popular and often better value than dinner.

Common menu terms

poisson — fish; viande — meat; volaille — poultry
boeuf, porc, agneau, poulet, canard, veau — beef, pork, lamb, chicken, duck, veal
légumes — vegetables; pommes de terre — potatoes; frites — chips/fries
salade, soupe, fromage, tarte, glace
maison — homemade
du jour — of the day
de saison — seasonal
au choix — your choice

Cooking levels for meat

bleu — very rare
saignant — rare
à point — medium
bien cuit — well done

French à point is close to medium-rare in English terms, and bien cuit often arrives less well done than British and American expectations.

Ordering phrases

Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît. — A table for two, please.
Nous avons réservé. — We have a reservation.
La carte, s'il vous plaît. — The menu, please.
Je voudrais... — I'd like...
Je vais prendre... — I'll have...
Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ? — What do you recommend?
Qu'est-ce que c'est ? — What is it?
Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît. — A jug of tap water, please.
L'addition, s'il vous plaît. — The bill, please.

Tap water

In France, restaurants must provide a jug of free tap water if you ask for une carafe d'eau. Ordering bottled water (eau plate or eau gazeuse) is your choice.

Dietary needs

Je suis végétarien / végétarienne. — I'm vegetarian.
Je suis allergique à... — I'm allergic to...
Sans gluten. — Gluten-free.
Sans lactose.
Est-ce qu'il y a de la viande dedans ? — Does it contain meat?
Je ne mange pas de porc. — I don't eat pork.

Paying and tipping

In France, service compris means service is included in the price by law. Leaving a small extra tip is optional, and appreciated for good service, typically a few euros or rounding up. The bill isn't brought until you ask for it, since lingering is normal.

Customs

Say Bonjour when you enter, and Au revoir when you leave.
Bon appétit ! is said before eating.
Santé ! is a toast.
Bread is served with meals, usually free.
Meals are unhurried, and the waiter won't rush you.
Lunch is typically noon to 2 p.m., and dinner from around 7:30 p.m.

Drinks

un verre de vin rouge / blanc / rosé
une bière, une pression (draught beer)
un jus d'orange, un citron pressé
un café (espresso), un café crème (with milk)

Common mistakes

Expecting a "starter" to be called starter: it's entrée.
Ordering steak bien cuit and expecting it well done.
Waiting for the bill without asking.

Look up menu words offline with English French Dictionary →