Must-Know Vocabulary for French Restaurant Dining

Knowing how to conduct yourself and order food in a  French restaurant can be a little tricky. There are some  important differences between restaurants in France and other countries, including what foods are offered and how they are prepared. Even the way dishes are listed on most  French menus  is a little different. Knowing the terms to use in most French restaurants—and especially learning how to pronounce them correctly—is the key to ensuring that your restaurant experience is enjoyable and that you receive the food you want. Understanding what your waiter is asking you or what the menu says—from Quest-ce  que  je  vous  sers? (What can I get you?) to service  compris (tip included)—will soon have your server and others wishing you:  Bon appà ©tit! (Enjoy your meal!). French Restaurant Terms and Pronunciations The table below contains key French restaurant terms followed by their English translations. Click on the French words and phrases to hear how to pronounce them correctly. French Term English Translation commander to order Vous avez choisi? Have you decided? Que voudriez-vous? Vous dsirez? What would you like? Je vous coute. What would you like? (Literally, Im listening to you.) Que prenez-vous? What are you having? Quest-ce que je vous sers? What can I get you? Je voudrais... Jaimerais... I would like... Je vais prendre... Je prends... Ill have... Combien cote...? How much does ... cost? Cest votre got? Do you like it? Is everything ok? Cest termin? Have you finished? a a t? Was everything ok? Je suis... I am... allergique ... allergic to... diabtique diabetic vgtarien / vgtarienne vegetarian vgtalien / vgtalienne vegan Je ne peux pas manger... I cant eat... bleu, saignant very rare ros rare point medium-rare bien cuit well done le serveur (not garon) waiter la serveuse waitress le/la chef cook le menu fixed-price meal la carte menu la carte side order laddition check/bill le socle base of credit card machine le pourboire tip service compris tip included service non compris tip not included A la vtre! Cheers! Bon apptit Enjoy your meal dfense de fumer no smoking les animaux sont interdits no pets allowed A Typical French Restaurant Dialogue Now that you know the key terms you might need to know to dine in a French restaurant, scan the table below to study a typical dialogue that might occur between a serveur  (server) and à ©tudiant  (student). The first column lists the speaker, the second gives the French dialogue, and the third provides the English translation. Serveur Bonsoir Monsieur/Madame. Good evening sir/maam. tudiant Bonsoir Madame/Monsieur. Je voudrais une table pour trois personnes, pour dner, sil vous plat. Good evening maam/sir. I would like a table for 3, for dinner, please. Serveur Vous avez une reservation? Do you have a reservation? tudiant Non, je nai pas de reservation. No, I dont have a reservation. Serveur Pas de problme. Voici une table pour 3 personnes, et voici la carte. No problem. Here is a table for 3, and here is the menu. tudiant Merci Madame/Monsieur. Sil vous plat. Thank you maam/sir. Excuse me? Serveur Oui Monsieur/Madame ? Yes sir/maam ? tudiant Je voudrais de leau. I would like some water. Serveur Oui Monsieur/Madame. Et pour dner, vous avez choisi ? Yes sir/maam. And for dinner, have you decided? tudiant Je voudrais le menu 15 Euros. I would like the set price menu for 15 Euros. Serveur Oui. En entre ? Yes. For the appetizer? tudiant Je voudrais le pat. I would like the pat. Serveur Et en plat principal. And for your main course? tudiant Je voudrais le steak frites. I would like the steak with French fries. Serveur Bien Monsieur/Madame, quelle cuisson ? OK sir/maam, how would you like it cooked? tudiant Bien cuit, sil vous plat. Non, point, sil vous plat. Well done please. No, medium rare, please. Serveur En dessert? For dessert? tudiant Une glace la vanille. Et, excusez-moi Madame/ Monsieur, o sont les toilettes ? Vanilla ice cream. And, excuse me maam/sir, where is the restroom? Serveur Au sous-sol. In the basement. tudiant Je ne comprends pas. Vous pouvez rpter sil vous plat ? I dont understand. Could you repeat please? Serveur Au sous sol. Vous descendez lescalier. In the basement. Go down the stairs. tudiant Oh, je comprends maintenant. Merci. Ah, now I understand. Thank you. Serveur Comment vous trouvez votre steak frites ? How is your steak? tudiant Cest dlicieux. Cest parfait. Its delicious. Its perfect. tudiant Laddition sil vous plat. May I have the check, please? Serveur Bien Monsieur/Madame. Vous pouvez payer la caisse. OK sir/maam. You can pay at the register.