As we're quick to point out in our extensive food vocab section, France is synonymous with excellent cuisine; fine
restaurants; and menus to equally tickle the most eclectic and discerning of tastebuds.
Here in our phrases channel, we reveal the expressions and turns of phrase needed to reserve a table at a restaurant; pose question(s) to a
waiter;
highlight any special requests or dietry restrictions; and provide your company with a de rigueur food-related running commentary. When all is said and done, hopefully you'll be happy to pay the bill (payer l'addition)
but if the grub isn't up-to-scratch, you'll be able to clarify the chef's faux pas.
Making Reservations | Faire des Réservations
| English | French | |
| I would like to reserve a table... | Je voudrais réserver un table... | |
| ...this Friday night... | ...ce vendredi soir... | |
| ...for four people... | ...pour quatre personnes... | |
| ...at 8.30pm. | ...à huit heures et demie. |
Asking Questions | Poser les Questions
| English | French | |
| What is the house special? | Quelle est la spécialité de la maison? | |
| What is today's special? | Quelle est la spécialité du jour? | |
| What's the menu today? | C'est quoi le menu aujourd'hui? | |
| What do you recommend? | Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez? | |
| Please bring me... | Apportez-moi, s'il vous plaît... | |
| Can I have...? | Puis-je avoir...? | |
| I would like... | Je voudrais... | |
| I will have... | Je prendrai... | |
| Could you give me...? | Pourriez-vous me donner...? | |
| Where are the knives and forks? | Où sont les couverts? |
Special Requests | Demandes Spéciales
| English | French | |
| I'm on a diet | Je suis au régime | |
| I'm a vegetarian | Je suis végétarien | |
| I can't eat anything made with... | Je ne peux rien manger de cuisiné au (à la)... | |
| I can't have... | Je ne tolère... | |
| ...any alcohol-based products | ...aucun produit alcoolique | |
| ...any dairy-based products | ...aucun produit laiter | |
| ...any shellfish | ...aucun fruit de mer | |
| ...any saturated fats | ...aucune matière grasse animale | |
| I'm looking for a dish... | Je cherche un plat... | |
| ...without preservatives | ...sans conservateurs | |
| ...high in fibre | ...riche en fibre | |
| ...low in cholesterol | ...léger en cholestérol | |
| ...low in fat | ...léger en matières | |
| ...salt-free | ...sans sel | |
| ...sugar-free | ...sans sucre | |
| ...non-dairy | ...non-laitier |
At the Table | À la Table
| English | French | |
| I'm dying of hunger! | Je meurs de faim! | |
| I'm hungry (I have the flagstone / hooks) | J'ai la dalle / les crocs | |
| I'm starving (I have a stomach in the heels) | J'ai l'estomac dans les talons | |
| Enjoy your meal! | Bon appétit! | |
| You've more chips than me | Tu as plus de frites que moi | |
| I prefer my mum's cooking | Je préfère la cuisine de ma mère | |
| Give me your vegetables if you don't like them | Donne-moi tes légumes si tu ne les aimes pas | |
| Would you like some bread? | Vous voulez du pain? / Tu veux du pain? | |
| Can you pass me...? | Vouz / Tu peux me passer...? | |
| Do you take sugar? | Vouz prenez / Tu prends du sucre? | |
| Help yourself | Servez-vous / Sers-toi | |
| who is going to foot the bill? | Qui va regler la note? | |
| Is it good? | C'est bon? | |
| Yes, it's delicious | Oui, c'est délicieux | |
| It's alright | C'est passable | |
| It's disgusting | C'est dégoûtant | |
| I'm stuffed | Je suis calé | |
| Don't gobble your food! | Ne bouffe pas! | |
| Let's drink to that! | ça s'arrose! | |
| I had to loosen my belt | J'ai dû lâcher ma ceinture |
Problems | Des Problèmes
| English | French | |
| it tastes like... | il a le goût de... | |
| it's cold | c'est froid(e) | |
| it's too rare | il n'est pas assez cuit(e) | |
| it's over-cooked | c'est trop cuit(e) | |
| it's burned | c'est brûlé(e) | |
| it's too spicy | c'est trop épicé(e) | |
| it's a little salty | c'est un peu salé(e) | |
| it's too sweet | c'est trop sucré(e) | |
| it's a little bitter | c'est un peu aigre |
