Eating-out vocabulary covers the essential words and phrases used in restaurants and cafes, enabling you to navigate menus, order food and drinks, interact with staff, and understand the dining culture in French-speaking countries.
- Includes terms for appetizers, main courses, desserts, beverages, and specials.
- Covers roles like waiter (serveur), chef (chef), and manager (gérant).
- Common expressions for making reservations, asking for the bill, and dietary requests.
- Helps avoid misunderstandings and enhances the overall dining experience.
Main course
Serveur
'L'addition, s'il vous plaît' is a common way to ask for the bill.
Key Vocabulary
| French | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Le menu | Menu | |
| L'entrée (f) | Starter/Appetizer | Sometimes 'entrée' means main in NA |
| Le plat principal | Main course | |
| Le dessert | Dessert | |
| Les boissons (f) | Drinks | |
| Le serveur / La serveuse | Waiter/Waitress | |
| Le chef | Chef | |
| Le gérant | Manager | |
| Réserver | To reserve | |
| L'addition (f) | The bill | |
| Une spécialité | A specialty | |
| Sans gluten | Gluten-free | |
| Végétarien(ne) | Vegetarian |
'Une entrée' is the starter or appetizer.
J'ai une réservation
Typical Phrases
- Pourriez-vous nous apporter le menu, s’il vous plaît ?
Could you bring us the menu, please?
- Je voudrais commander...
I would like to order...
- Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez ?
What do you recommend?
- Est-ce que ce plat contient... ?
Does this dish contain...?
- L’addition, s’il vous plaît.
The bill, please.
- Est-ce que le service est compris ?
Is the tip included?
- Avez-vous des plats végétariens / sans gluten ?
Do you have vegetarian / gluten-free dishes?
- C’était délicieux, merci.
It was delicious, thank you.
L'addition, s'il vous plaît
Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez ?
Conclusion
French eating-out vocabulary opens the door to authentic dining experiences and meaningful cultural exchange.
- Know how to navigate a French menu from l'entrée to le dessert.
- Use polite, situational phrases to interact with restaurant staff.
- Understand common dietary terms to accommodate preferences or restrictions.
Drinks
'L'addition, s'il vous plaît' is correct for asking the bill.
J'ai une réservation
'végétarien' means vegetarian.
Le menu, s'il vous plaît
'une entrée' refers to starters like salad or soup.
'Le serveur' is the waiter.
C'était délicieux means 'It was delicious.'