Ordering in French takes only a few phrases. Start with Bonjour, then Je voudrais… (“I would like…”), and finish with s'il vous plaît.
— Bonjour ! Je voudrais un crème et un croissant, s'il vous plaît. — Sur place ou à emporter ? — Sur place, merci.
(“Hello! I'd like a coffee with milk and a croissant, please.” “For here or to take away?” “For here, thanks.”)
Coffee words
- un café: an espresso, small and strong.
- un crème (un café crème): espresso with steamed milk.
- un café au lait: coffee with milk, usually more of a breakfast-at-home drink.
Reading a menu
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la carte | the menu (everything) |
| le menu, la formule | a set meal at a fixed price |
| l'entrée | the starter |
| le plat principal | the main course |
| le plat du jour | today's special |
The two traps: le menu isn't the whole menu, and l'entrée isn't the main course.
Water and the bill
Ask for une carafe d'eau and you'll get free tap water. When you're ready to go, say L'addition, s'il vous plaît: French waiters don't bring the bill until asked. Service compris means service is included, though leaving a little extra for good service is common.