Walking into a French restaurant can feel intimidating if your French is limited. The good news: a handful of polite phrases covers the whole meal. Use these at bistros, cafés, and brasseries from Paris to Lyon.
Entering the restaurant
| Bonjour | Hello |
|---|
| Bonsoir | Good evening |
| Une table pour…, s'il vous plaît | A table for…, please |
| Nous sommes… personnes | We are… people |
| Je voudrais réserver | I would like to reserve |
Ordering
| La carte, s'il vous plaît | The menu, please |
|---|
| Je voudrais… | I would like… |
| Je vais prendre… | I’ll have… |
| Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez? | What do you recommend? |
| Quelle est la spécialité? | What is the specialty? |
Dietary requests
| Je suis végétarien(ne) | I am vegetarian |
|---|
| Je suis végétalien(ne) | I am vegan |
| Sans gluten, s'il vous plaît | Gluten-free, please |
| Sans…, s'il vous plaît | Without…, please |
| Je suis allergique à… | I am allergic to… |
Paying and leaving
| L'addition, s'il vous plaît | The bill, please |
|---|
| Puis-je payer par carte? | Can I pay by card? |
| C'était délicieux | It was delicious |
| Merci, au revoir | Thank you, goodbye |
Pronunciation tip
French spelling is less forgiving than Spanish, but a few rules help. The final consonant of a word is usually silent (e.g. “s'il vous plaît” ends with a soft -ee). When in doubt, speak quietly and ask the waiter if they can repeat: “Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît?”
Practice before your trip
You can drill these French restaurant phrases in the Tango Lingo French pack. The pack turns the phrases into sentence puzzles so they stick before you land.
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Put this into practice
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