Eating Out
🍽️ Eating Out — Au Restaurant
Six conversations covering everything from booking a table to ordering a takeaway — with some intermediate-level traps to watch out for along the way.
① Making a Reservation — Réserver une table formal
A:
Bonsoir, je voudrais réserver une table pour deux personnes, s'il vous plaît.
Good evening, I'd like to reserve a table for two, please.
B:
Bien sûr. Pour quel soir, et vers quelle heure ?
Of course. For which evening, and at what time?
A:
Pour ce vendredi soir, vers vingt heures.
This Friday evening, around eight o'clock.
B:
Très bien, c'est noté. À quel nom ?
Very good, noted. Under what name?
② The Menu — La Carte formal
A:
Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'on pourrait avoir la carte, s'il vous plaît ?
Excuse me, could we have the menu, please?
la carte = the à la carte menu. Le menu = the set menu. Not interchangeable!
B:
Bien sûr, voilà. Vous avez choisi ?
Of course, here you are. Have you chosen?
A:
Pas encore, donnez-nous encore quelques minutes.
Not yet, give us a few more minutes.
③ Ordering — Commander formal
A:
Je vais prendre le steak frites, s'il vous plaît.
I'll have the steak and chips, please.
B:
Et pour la cuisson ?
And how would you like it cooked?
A:
À point, merci. Et une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît.
Medium, thank you. And a jug of water, please.
saignant = rare · à point = medium · bien cuit = well done
④ Dietary Requirements — Allergies et Régimes
A:
Est-ce que ce plat contient des noix ? Je suis allergique.
Does this dish contain nuts? I'm allergic.
B:
À ma connaissance, non — mais je vais vérifier en cuisine.
To my knowledge, no — but I'll check with the kitchen.
A:
Merci beaucoup, c'est très gentil.
Thank you very much, that's very kind.
⑤ The Bill — L'Addition
A:
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
The bill, please.
Always l'addition in a restaurant — not la facture (that's for business invoices)
B:
Tout de suite. Vous avez passé une bonne soirée ?
Right away. Did you have a good evening?
A:
Excellente, merci. Le repas était délicieux.
Excellent, thank you. The meal was delicious.
⑥ Ordering a Takeaway — À Emporter
A:
Bonjour, je voudrais commander une pizza à emporter, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, I'd like to order a pizza to take away, please.
à emporter = to take away. This is the phrase you need — see the tip below!
B:
Bien sûr. Laquelle vous fait envie ?
Of course. Which one takes your fancy?
A:
Une margherita, s'il vous plaît. Dans combien de temps sera-t-elle prête ?
A margherita, please. How long will it be?
B:
Environ vingt minutes.
About twenty minutes.
📖 Vocabulary — Vocabulaire
20 key words and phrases for eating out. Verbs are in the infinitive; nouns include their gender. Watch out for the false friends!
| # | French | English | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | la carte | the (à la carte) menu | noun | NOT "the map" in this context — that's also la carte, but context makes it clear |
| 2 | le menu | the set menu | noun | ⚠ false friend — le menu ≠ "the menu" in general |
| 3 | l'entrée (f) | the starter | noun | ⚠ false friend — NOT the entrance (l'entrée = starter in food contexts) |
| 4 | le plat principal | the main course | noun | le plat alone = a dish/course |
| 5 | l'addition (f) | the bill | noun | always this in a restaurant, never la facture |
| 6 | le pourboire | the tip (gratuity) | noun | less obligatory in France than in the UK/US |
| 7 | la cuisson | how the meat is cooked | noun | saignant / à point / bien cuit |
| 8 | une carafe d'eau | a jug of tap water | noun | free in French restaurants — always ask for this |
| 9 | le serveur / la serveuse | waiter / waitress | noun | never call them "garçon" — considered rude today |
| 10 | à emporter | to take away / takeout | phrase | the essential phrase — see tip below! |
| 11 | sur place | to eat in / for here | phrase | opposite of à emporter |
| 12 | le régime | diet / dietary restriction | noun | ⚠ false friend — also means "political regime"! |
| 13 | délicieux / délicieuse | delicious | adj | masc/fem forms |
| 14 | savoureux / savoureuse | tasty / flavourful | adj | a step up from bon — sounds more sophisticated |
| 15 | compris(e) | included | adj | service compris = service included |
| 16 | réserver | to book / reserve | verb | je réserve, nous réservons |
| 17 | commander | to order | verb | je commande — not "ordonner" which means to order someone around |
| 18 | recommander | to recommend | verb | Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ? = What do you recommend? |
| 19 | apporter | to bring | verb | Pouvez-vous m'apporter… ? = Could you bring me…? |
| 20 | se tromper | to make a mistake / be wrong | verb | Je crois que vous vous êtes trompé = I think you've made a mistake (polite complaint) |
False Friend Alert — à emporter vs. emmener quelqu'un chez soi: This one is dedicated to a famous Brussels incident. « Je voudrais une pizza à emporter » = I would like a pizza to take away. « Vous voulez m'emmener chez vous ? » = Do you want to take me home with you? The key phrase you always need in a takeaway context is à emporter — it is unambiguous, universally understood, and will not result in any unintended dinner invitations. While we're here: la carte vs. le menu is the other classic trap — asking for le menu in a French restaurant means you want the fixed-price set meal, not the full list of dishes. If you want to browse everything on offer, ask for la carte.