français · A2 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
At a restaurant
Read the menu, order each course, and settle the bill politely.
Understand the choice
French restaurant vocabulary distinguishes le menu, often a fixed-price combination, from la carte, the complete list of dishes. Short established phrases sound more natural than literal translations of “I will have.”
Core rule: Use en entrée, comme plat, and en dessert to organize an order; ask for the bill with l’addition, s’il vous plaît.
Notice it in context
En entrée, je prends la soupe et, comme plat, le poisson.
For a starter, I am having soup and, as the main course, fish.
Prendre is idiomatic for choosing food; en entrée and comme plat label the two courses.
L’addition, s’il vous plaît.
The bill, please.
The fixed noun phrase is a complete courteous request in context.
Nous avons réservé une table pour deux.
We reserved a table for two.
Pour deux gives the party size; réserver takes the table directly.
What to remember
- Service is usually included in France; a pourboire is an additional discretionary tip.
- Serveur and serveuse refer to staff; servir is the verb to serve.
Common trap: Do not ask for la facture at an ordinary restaurant unless a formal invoice is intended. The dining bill is l’addition.