* * *<\/strong><\/p>\n How to (Politely) Complain in French Restaurants—Or Congratulate the Chef<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Although the stereotypical image of the viciously rude French waiter is no doubt often exaggerated around the world, here at The French Blog<\/strong> we want to make sure you are equipped with all what it takes to face n’importe quelle situation <\/em><\/strong>(any situation) at a French restaurant.<\/p>\n Here are\u00a0quelques exemples <\/strong><\/em>(a few examples) of phrases you may want to use, depending on the nature of the situation that arises (and, of course, if you have a request for a specific phrase or question, you can post it as a comment below!):<\/p>\n * “Si, si, je vous l’assure, nous avons pris une r\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/em>servation cet apr\u00e8s<\/em>-midi” <\/strong><\/em>(“Yes, I assure you, we have made a reservation this afternoon.”)<\/p>\n * “Pouvons-nous nous asseoir plut\u00f4t <\/em>l\u00e0<\/em>-bas?”<\/strong><\/em> (“Can we not sit instead over there?”)<\/p>\n * “Nous pr\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em>f\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em>rons ne pas nous asseoir trop pr\u00e8<\/em><\/strong><\/em>s de la porte<\/strong><\/em>” (“We’d rather not sit too close to the door”)<\/p>\n * “Nous aimerions nous asseoir devant la fen\u00eatre <\/em>s’il vous pla\u00eet<\/em>“<\/strong><\/em> (“We’d like to sit by the window, please”)<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BXsG4AwNXo4<\/a><\/p>\n You may have very little to complain about in this traditional French cooking restaurant!<\/strong><\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n If you have some special food requirements, you can say:<\/p>\n * “Je ne peux pas manger ce qui contient…” <\/strong><\/em>(“I cannot eat what contains…”)<\/p>\n *\u00a0“Qu’avez-vous \u00e0<\/em><\/strong><\/em> proposer aux v\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em>g\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em>tariens?”<\/strong><\/em> (“What do you have to suggest to vegetarians?”)<\/p>\n * “Avez-vous des boissons pour les personnes diab\u00e9tiques<\/em>?<\/strong><\/em>” (“Do you have drinks for diabetic people?”)<\/p>\n Or if you have an allergy, say to nuts, you can say: “Je suis allergique aux noix<\/strong><\/em>” (“I’m allergic to nuts.”)<\/p>\n If you have des enfants<\/em><\/strong> (children) with you, you can ask:<\/p>\n * “Avez-vous des bancs pour enfants?<\/strong><\/em>” (“Do you have seats for children?”)<\/p>\n * “Est-ce que vous avez des portions pour enfants?<\/em><\/strong>” (“Do you have children’s portions?”)<\/p>\n * * * Reinventing French cuisine with “Christine”: Marvelous, unpretentious, discreet<\/strong><\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n If the gar\u00e7on<\/em><\/strong> brings you the wrong dish, don’t panic! You can just say:<\/p>\n * “Ah d\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/em>sol\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/em>, ce n’est pas ce que j’ai command\u00e9<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/em>” (“Ah sorry, that’s not what I ordered.”) “J’ai command\u00e9<\/em><\/em><\/em>…<\/em><\/strong>” (“I ordered…”)<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Other general remarks about the food can be:<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n
\n* “Je m’excuse, mais nous avons r\u00e9<\/em><\/strong>serv\u00e9<\/em><\/strong> une table pour deux personnes, et non quatre” <\/strong><\/em>(“I am sorry, but we reserved a table for two people, not four.”)<\/p>\n\n
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\nhttp:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UoFV1cO59J0<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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