The purpose of this page is to help you navigate your meal, from beginning to end. I hope you will find it useful.
| At the restaurant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You arrive, ask for a table: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Une table pour deux , s’il vous plaît. Or : « Nous sommes deux » |
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| You are shown to a table, and given menus. If not, ask for one: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Excusez-mois, monsieur. La carte, s’il vous plaît. (Menu, please) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You will check the menu du jour or decide if you want to order “à la carte”. The waiter will come back and ask if you’d like an aperitif (before dinner drink, cocktail - a glass of wine or a “kir” is typical) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Je voudrais: I would like Je vais prendre: I’m going to have… |
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| When your order is taken, you might be asked if you want bottled water or tap. If you don’t want to spend the money on bottled water, ask for “une carafe d’eau” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| l’entrée: the appetizer Le plat: the main course Le dessert: dessert (could be a plate of cheese - une assiette de fromage) – Coffee usually comes after dessert – |
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| Wine is usually ordered by the bottle “une bouteille” or the ½ bottle “demi bouteille”. Sometimes it’s by the carafe (house wine). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| “Une bouteille de [name of wine] s’il vous plaît.” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Your check won’t arrive immediately, you usually have to ask for it : | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| “S’il vous plaît, l’addition” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Remember that the tip is included, but it’s customary to leave an extra euro or so. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At the café: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Remember that café life is very important to the Parisians, so there are multiple cafés in every neighborhood. Go before or after dinner, for breakfast, a quick lunch, anytime of the day, as cafés don’t close during the day. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service is usually much quicker in cafés, and waiters don’t have a lot of time because they have so many tables to wait on. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Usually you can seat yourself at an available table. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The waiter will come by immediately. If you want to look at a menu, be sure to ask for one if you don’t have one already: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| “La carte, s’il vous plaît.” | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If you don’t need a menu, and just want a coffee or drink, here’s the typical list to choose from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Remember that the tip is included, but it’s customary to leave an extra euro or so. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
