![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2010\/03\/restaurant-449952_960_720.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAlthough French restaurants might seem similar to the ones in North America, there are some differences you should know about. Eateries in France are essentially temples for worshiping food. Each part of the country has its own specialties which beguile your nose and tickle your taste buds. But in order to feast like the French do there are a few simple rules to be followed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Meal Times<\/strong><\/p>\n French do not like to rush their meals; they view them as an integral part of their daily plans. Reservations<\/strong> Being Seated<\/strong> Ordering<\/strong> Common Words<\/strong> Other important phrases you may need to use when ordering:<\/strong> The Set Menu<\/strong> Wine<\/strong> Water<\/strong> Bread<\/strong> Paying for the Meal<\/strong> Tipping<\/strong> Although French restaurants might seem similar to the ones in North America, there are some differences you should know about. Eateries in France are essentially temples for worshiping food. Each part of the country has its own specialties which beguile your nose and tickle your taste buds. But in order to feast like the French…<\/p>\n
\nLunch is served between noon and 12:30 pm. Be sure to arrive on time because the restaurants stop seating around 1:30 pm.
\nDinner starts around 7:30 pm, since it is customary to eat at 8:00 pm. Do not arrive later than 9:00 pm or you may not be seated.<\/p>\n
\nIt is most necessary to make reservation for dinner especially if you are dining in the countryside. Call the restaurant in the morning or the day ahead to reserve a table. It is courteous to book ahead, so the restaurant owners can plan accordingly. The great thing about reserving a table in the countryside is having it for the whole night, since the restaurant doesn’t expect a table turnover. Reservations are usually not needed for lunch except for Sundays which is popular day for families to eat out.
\nUpon arriving at the restaurant ask to be seated by saying:
\n\u2022 Je voudrais une table pour<\/em><\/strong> (un, deux, trois), s\u2019il vous plait<\/em><\/strong> (Juh voo-dray oon tah-bluh pohr (uhn, duh, twah), s\u2019eel voo play) \u2013 I would like a table for (one, two, three), please.
\nIf there is a line in front of you, you may want to ask:
\n\u2022 Combien de temps faut-il attendre? <\/em><\/strong>(Com-byan de tohm foh t\u2019eel ah-tohn-druh?) \u2013 How long is the wait?
\nIn response you may hear une heure<\/em><\/strong> (one hour), quarante-cinq minutes <\/em><\/strong>(forty-five minutes), une demi-heure<\/em><\/strong> (a half-hour), or quinze minutes<\/em><\/strong> (fifteen minutes).<\/p>\n
\nUpon arrival to the restaurant, wait for someone to greet you and show you to your table. In France, when couples sit down at the table it is customary to let the woman have the better seat. Example: the man takes the chair that faces the wall; the woman assumes the chair that faces the view of the room. If you do not do this, no one will say anything but they will think it is odd.<\/p>\n
\nMost menus in France offer three of four courses:
\n\u2022 Entr\u00e9e: in North America we call the main course the \u201centr\u00e9e\u201d, but in France this term is used for the appetizer course.
\n\u2022 Plat Principal: this is the main course, which includes meat or fish with a side.
\n\u2022 Cheese: (fromage) small piece of cheese is sometimes enjoyed after the main course.
\n\u2022 Dessert: ice cream, cake, or fruit tart are common choices.
\n\u2022 Coffee: (caf\u00e9) this is served afte the dessert and is ussually espresso.
\nYou are not obligated to order something from each course. You may pick and choose whatever you desire.<\/p>\n
\ncarte \u2013 menu
\nap\u00e9ritif – pre-dinner drink
\ncarafe d\u2019eau – jug of water
\nboisson – drink
\namuse – gueule-appetizer
\nplat principa l- main dish
\nplat d\u2019accompagnement – side dish
\nviande – meat
\nb\u0153u f- beef
\npoulet – chicken
\nfruits de mer – seafood
\npoisson – fish
\nl\u00e9gume – vegetable
\nfromage – cheese<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Je suis un v\u00e9g\u00e9tarien<\/em><\/strong> (Juh swee z\u2019uhn vay-jay-tahr-ee-ehn) \u2013 I am a vegetarian.
\n\u2022 Je suis allergique<\/em><\/strong> (aux noix, aux crustac\u00e9s) (Juh swee z\u2019ah-luhr-jeek (oh nwah, oh croo-stah-say) – I am allergic to (nuts, shellfish).<\/p>\n
\nSome restaurants offer a set menu which is well priced and offers daily speacials. They allow you to select two or three dishes from each course. This is a great way to try new cuisine, although be careful about making substitutions on the set menus. It is an insult to the chef to change his recipe.<\/p>\n
\nRestaurants offer wine by the bottle or glass. Vin de pays wine is less expensive than the AOC wines which are the official wines of the regions.
\nTo ask a waiter\u2019s advice about wine, say:
\n\u2022 Quel vin proposez-vous? <\/em><\/strong>( Kel vehn pruh-poh-zeh voo?) \u2013 What wine do you recommend?<\/p>\n
\nIt is customary to order water with every meal whether it is with gas or flat.<\/p>\n
\nThe bread is brought out after you have ordered the meal. Although, the French do not eat it with butter or oil, and they do not have bread plates either. The bread is eaten with the meal.<\/p>\n
\nAs in most European countries the bill is not presented when you have finished your meal because they do not want you to feel rushed to leave. In order to get the attention of the waiter say:
\n\u2022 S\u2019il vous plait<\/em><\/strong> (please) or S\u2019il vous plait, l\u2019addition<\/em><\/strong> (can I have the bill please).<\/p>\n
\nIn France service is always included in the prices listed on the menu. You do not have to tip, but it is customary to leave a 5-10% tip if the service was good.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2010\/03\/restaurant-449952_960_720-350x233.jpg\")