This French A1 lesson explains French restaurant vocabulary step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on French restaurant vocabulary and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: To eat out in French, book with Je voudrais réserver une table pour quatre personnes, order with Je voudrais… or Je vais prendre…, choose your steak from bleu to bien cuit, and ask for l’addition. A meal has an entrée (starter), a plat and a dessert.
Level: French A1 (CEFR beginner) · Standards: CEFR A1, Spoken interaction
French restaurant vocabulary: the lesson
How do you book a table in French?
Phone or ask at the door with the polite je voudrais (I would like). The host then asks for three details: how many people, when, and whose name.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je voudrais réserver une table pour quatre personnes. | I’d like to book a table for four. |
| C’est pour quelle heure ? | What time is it for? |
| Pour samedi, à 20 h. | For Saturday, at 8 p.m. |
| À quel nom ? | Under what name? |
| Au nom de Sy. | Under the name Sy. |
| Nous avons une réservation. | We have a reservation. |
How is a French menu organized?
A meal has three courses: une entrée (the starter), un plat (the main course) and un dessert. Two words are easy to mix up. La carte lists every dish; le menu is a fixed-price meal. At lunchtime many places offer une formule, a cheaper deal with two courses.
Watch out
Une entrée is NOT the main course. In France it is the starter, the first dish you eat. The main course is le plat principal.
How do you order politely?
Use Je voudrais… or Je vais prendre…, never Je veux, which sounds like a demand. Ask for advice with Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez ? Both ways of ordering lean on the verb prendre (to have, to take):
| Subject | prendre |
|---|---|
| je | prends |
| tu | prends |
| il / elle | prend |
| nous | prenons |
| vous | prenez |
| ils / elles | prennent |
How do you ask for the steak you want?
The waiter will ask Quelle cuisson ? Choose from four levels, from the rawest to the most cooked.
French levels run slightly rarer than the American names: saignant is close to medium-rare and à point is close to medium. Say Mon steak, à point, s’il vous plaît.
How do you pay, and do you tip?
Catch the waiter’s eye and say L’addition, s’il vous plaît. Waiters do not bring the check on their own.
Tipping in France
Prices on a menu already include service, often shown as service compris. A tip is therefore optional: many diners leave a few coins or round up the amount as a thank-you. Tap water is free if you ask for une carafe d’eau.
Zoé’s tip
Stack your sentences: Bonjour + Je voudrais… + s’il vous plaît + Merci. Four short pieces and you sound polite in any restaurant.
Key points to remember
- Une entrée is the starter, never the main course; the main course is le plat.
- La carte lists all dishes; le menu is a fixed-price meal; une formule is a lunch deal.
- Order politely with Je voudrais…, never Je veux.
- Steak cooking runs bleu, saignant, à point, bien cuit.
- Service is included in French prices, so a tip is optional.
Booking, Ordering and Paying in a Restaurant: frequently asked questions
What does entrée mean on a French menu?
It means the starter, not the main course. The main course is le plat or le plat principal, and the sweet course is le dessert.
What is the difference between la carte and le menu?
La carte lists all the dishes you can choose from, each with its own price. Le menu is a set meal, usually two or three courses, for one price.
How do you say how you want your steak cooked?
Choose bleu, saignant, à point or bien cuit, from rare to well done. Say Mon steak, saignant, s’il vous plaît.
Do you have to leave a tip in France?
No. Service is included in the price, which you may see written as service compris. Leaving a few coins is a polite extra, not a rule.
How do you ask for the check?
Say L’addition, s’il vous plaît. Do not say le chèque: in French that word means a bank check, not the restaurant bill.