Phrases For In The Restaurant

In this article we are going to teach you a few helpful phrases to use when you’re out in a restaurant in France.

So let’s get started straight away.

Something you may like to ask is “where is the non-smoking section?” This is “Ou se trouve la sale non-fumeurs?”

Another question you may need to ask is “Where are the toilets?” To say this in French is “Ou se trouvent les toilettes?”

If you are a vegetarian, you may need to ask if something on the menu is okay for vegetarians. In French, this is “Ca convient aux vegetariens?”

We recommend the Rocket French online course for beginners who are looking to learn to speak French confidently and naturally, in a very short period of time. To find out more, click here.

To say “I’d like some bread, please” in French, you say “Je voudrais du pain, s’il vous plait”. If you’d like a jug of water you can ask “Je voudrais une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plait.”

Another thing you may like to ask for is another bottle of wine! This is “On voudrait une autre bouteille de vin”.

If you have to ask for a table when you first go into a restaurant, you simply say “Une table pour X personnes, s’il vous plait”. (You replace X with however many people you need a table for).

Here’s how to order from the menu:

To say “As a starter, I’ll have…” you say “Comme entrée, je vais prendre…”

To say “For the main course, I’ll have…” you say “Comme plat principal, je vais prendre…”

To say “For dessert, I’ll have…” you say “Je vais prendre…”

Next, you’ll need to learn how to ask a “Can I have?” questions as well.

Here we go.

Firstly, to say “Can I Have” you say “Je peux avoir”. It’s much clearer and easier to understand to see an example, however.

One of the things you’ll probably need to ask for is the bill. To say “Could I have the bill, please?” you say “Je pourrais avoir l’addition, s’il vous plait?”

If you would like the desert menu, you say “Je peux avoir la carte des desserts, s’il vous plait? Translated, this means Can I have the dessert menu ?

You may like to ask a question beginning with “have you got?” You will use “est-ce que vous avez” for these types of questions.

For example, “Est-ce que vous avez un menu enfants? This means Have you got a children’s menu?

While we’re on the subject, if you have young children, you may like to ask for a high chair. This is “Vous avez une chaise pour bebe?”

For most questions to the waiter, you can just rely on “Je peux avoir” (can I have) or “Je pourrais avoir” (could I have).