Au restaurant
The grand finale of your first day — ordering a meal in French.
The meal structure
French meals follow a traditional order:
- L'entrée — starter/appetizer (not the main course!)
- Le plat principal — the main course
- Le dessert — dessert
- Le café — coffee (always after dessert, never with it)
Essential restaurant vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une table pour deux | a table for two |
| la carte / le menu | the menu |
| le plat du jour | today's special |
| Je voudrais le plat du jour. | I'd like today's special. |
| Pour moi, la salade. | For me, the salad. |
| Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ? | What do you recommend? |
| C'est délicieux ! | It's delicious! |
| L'addition, s'il vous plaît. | The bill, please. |
Dietary needs
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je suis végétarien(ne). | I'm vegetarian. |
| Je suis allergique à… | I'm allergic to… |
| Sans gluten | Gluten-free |
| C'est épicé ? | Is it spicy? |
Tipping in France
In French restaurants, service is included in the price (service compris). Tipping is not expected, but leaving a euro or two for good service is a nice gesture.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below to mark this chapter as read.
In French dining, "l'entrée" refers to ___.
How do you ask for the bill?
"Le plat du jour" means ___.
Complete: Qu'est-ce que vous ___ ?
Tipping in French restaurants is mandatory.
How do you say "I'm vegetarian" (feminine) in French?