Café and Restaurant French
Ordering is where most travellers first use their French. These phrases cover a café stop, a sit-down meal and paying at the end.
Getting a table
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît | ewn TAH-bluh poor DUH, seel voo PLAY |
| Do you have a table outside? | Vous avez une table en terrasse ? | voo za-VAY ewn TAH-bluh on tair-RASS |
| We have a booking | Nous avons une réservation | noo za-VON ewn ray-zair-va-SYON |
Say “Bonjour” to whoever greets you before anything else. Starting a request without it comes across as abrupt in France.
Ordering
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| The menu, please | La carte, s'il vous plaît | lah KART, seel voo PLAY |
| The set menu | Le menu | luh muh-NEW |
| A coffee | Un café | un ka-FAY |
| A white coffee | Un café crème | un ka-FAY KREM |
| A glass of red wine / white wine | Un verre de vin rouge / blanc | un VAIR duh van ROOZH / BLON |
| A jug of tap water | Une carafe d'eau | ewn ka-RAF DOH |
A plain “café” is a short black. In French, “la carte” is the full menu, while “le menu” usually means a fixed-price set meal.
Dietary needs
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| I am allergic to… | Je suis allergique à… | zhuh swee za-lair-ZHEEK ah |
| …nuts / peanuts | …aux noix / aux cacahuètes | oh NWAH / oh ka-ka-WET |
| Gluten-free | Sans gluten | son glew-TEN |
| I am vegetarian | Je suis végétarien (m) / végétarienne (f) | zhuh swee vay-zhay-ta-RYAN / vay-zhay-ta-RYEN |
For a serious allergy, carry a written card in French as well. Showing it to staff is clearer than relying on pronunciation.
Paying
| English | French | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaît | lah-dee-SYON, seel voo PLAY |
| Can I pay by card? | Je peux payer par carte ? | zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART |
| It was delicious | C'était délicieux | say-TAY day-lee-SYUH |
Waiters in France rarely bring the bill until you ask for it. “Service compris” on the menu means service is included in the price. Leaving a little extra for good service is welcome but not expected.