French waiters: The most common questions
Don't want frogs legs in your soup? French waiters can be a bit snooty if you don't speak their language. Show them who's boss with our 30 essential phrases for restaurants. They'll be impressed!
((THIS LESSON IS REPEATED!! - this should be an audio/conv lessons. Also need two classes on questions to ask the waiter!!))
French-speaking waiters tend to be fairly formulaic;
- Bonjour messieurs-dames !
Welcome ladies and gentlemen! - Bonjour messieurs!
Welcome gentlemen! - Bonjour mesdames !
Welcome ladies!
That's the easy part out of the way...
- Vous avez une reservation ? Á quel nom ?
Do you have a reservation? In which name? - Très bien, suivez-moi s'il vous plaît.
Very good. Follow me, please. - Je vous apporte la carte tout de suite.
I'll bring you the menu straight away.
Taking the order...
- Qu'est-ce que vous prenez ?
What would you like to have? - Vous allez prendre un apéritif pour commencer ?
Would you like an appetiser to start with? - Vous avez choisi ? Vous désirez commander ?
Have you chosen? Are you ready to order? - Et pour vous monsieur?
And for you sir? - Et pour vous madame?
And for you madam? - Et pour vous mademoiselle ?
And for you miss? - Qu'est-ce que vous prenez comme dessert ?
What would you like for dessert?
Dishes of the day and recommendations
Now comes the tricky part:
- Aujourd'hui, comme plat du jour, il y a du poulet rôti. Il y a aussi le menu de midi avec une entrée, un plat et un dessert.
Today's dish of the day is roast chicken. We also have a set menu with a starter, main course and dessert. - La boisson n'est pas comprise dans le menu. La bebida no está incluida en el menu
The drink isn't included in the set menu. - C'est une spécialité de la maison, je vous la recommande.
It's a speciality of the house. I recommend it. - Je vous apporte quelque chose à boire ?
Can I bring you something to drink? - Comment vous voulez le steak/ la viande ? À point ?
How would you like your steak? Medium? -
Vous désirez la carte des desserts, un café?
Would you like the dessert menu, or coffee?
Typical French foods
Here are some typical French (and not very French) dishes
- Des spaghetti bolognaise - Spaghetti bolognese
- du lapin avec garniture au choix - Rabbit with a choice of sauces
- du poisson grillé - Grilled fish
- du poulet au curry - Chicken curry
- une salade verte - Green salad
- l'entrée - The starter
- le plat principal - The main course
- le dessert - The dessert
- du pain et du beurre - Bread and butter
- du rôti de bœuf - Roast beef
- des légumes au four - Grilled vegetables
More phrases...
- Bon appétit messieurs-dames.
Enjoy your meal - Tout va bien messieurs-dames ?
Is everything OK ladies and gentlemen? - Bien sûr. Je vous apporte ça tout de suite.
Of course; I'll bring it to you straight away - Vous avez fini mademoiselle ?
Have you finished miss? - Tout de suite !
Straight away!
And finally...
- Voilà, vous payez comment ?
- Here you are. How would you like to pay?
- Merci, au revoir et á bientôt.
- Thank you and goodbye.
Thanks for visiting!
Some other stuff here
This Course
Travel French
All the French you'll need (well, nearly all) when you are travelling in a French-speaking region.
Other sections in this course
General Travel French
There's a little bit of everything in this section. We politely draw readers' attention to our fantastically comprehensive class on giving and asking directions in French. It's a real belter!
In the Hotel
Going to a French-speaking country on holiday or for business? Here's our language survival guide to hotels and other forms of accommodation.
Restaurants and Bars
Welcome to our section on French for restaurants and bars. In the classes on this course we'll cover all the French we need to successfully communicate with the waiter or barman. In passing, we'll also learn tonnes of French vocabulary related to food and cooking.
Transport
sec intro
Shopping
Who doesn't visit a shop when they are on holiday? Whether it's shopping for Cartier jewellery on a plush Paris boulevard or just buying your daily bread from the local baker, you'll need a minimum of French in order to get by.
Restaurants and Bars
Other classes in this section:
Essential french waiter phrases
French waiters can be a bit snooty if you don't speak their language. Show them who's boss with our 20 essential phrases for restaurants. They'll be impressed!
French waiters: The most common questions
If you don't want to end up eating the extremities of some more amphibian, you'll need to understand what the waiter is saying to you. In this class we'll look at the classic phrases and questions which waiters use in French-speaking countries.