French · Restaurant
French phrases at a restaurant
Ten sentences that cover a whole meal: getting a table, ordering, handling an allergy, and paying. Say them out loud before you go.
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French · lesson preview
Step 4Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a coffee, please.
- Order
- Translate
- Listen
- Speak
Say it out loud. Green landed, yellow was close.
Start free10 French sentences at a restaurant
| # | English | French |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A table for two, please. | Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît. |
| 2 | Could I see the menu, please? | Pouvez-vous m'apporter la carte, s'il vous plaît ? |
| 3 | What do you recommend? | Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ? |
| 4 | I would like the chicken. | Je voudrais le poulet. |
| 5 | I do not eat meat. | Je ne mange pas de viande. |
| 6 | I have a nut allergy. | Je suis allergique aux fruits à coque. |
| 7 | Water, please. | De l'eau, s'il vous plaît. |
| 8 | How delicious! | Quel délice ! |
| 9 | The bill, please. | L'addition, s'il vous plaît. |
| 10 | Can I pay by card? | Puis-je payer par carte ? |
Three phrases that save you
You will not always understand the reply. These work in every situation, so learn them first.
| English | French |
|---|---|
| Could you repeat that, please? | Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? |
| Please speak more slowly. | Parlez plus lentement, s'il vous plaît. |
| I do not understand. | Je ne comprends pas. |
Tips
- Waiters speak quickly. Keep the three rescue phrases at the bottom ready, and use them without apology.
- Order with the polite form (I would like...) rather than a bare demand. It is warmer and it is what locals say.
- Learn your own dietary phrase well. It is the one that matters most.
These sentences use vous, the polite form, which is right for shops, hotels and restaurants. Use tu only with friends, children and people who use it with you first.
More French phrases by situation
How do you say “A table for two, please” in French?
“Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.”.
What are the most useful French phrases at a restaurant?
“Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.” (A table for two, please.) “Pouvez-vous m'apporter la carte, s'il vous plaît ?” (Could I see the menu, please?) “Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ?” (What do you recommend?) “Je voudrais le poulet.” (I would like the chicken.) “Je ne mange pas de viande.” (I do not eat meat.)
What should I say if I do not understand the answer in French?
Say “Je ne comprends pas.” (I do not understand.), then “Parlez plus lentement, s'il vous plaît.” (Please speak more slowly.) or “Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?” (Could you repeat that, please?).
How do I learn these French phrases quickly?
Say each sentence out loud, not just read it. Ten sentences a day for a week is plenty before a trip. 4ToSpeak has you hear each one, build it, and say it aloud with feedback.
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Free · no card · 77 languages
Be ready to speak French
Ten phrases are a start. Practise them in full French sentences, out loud, with feedback. Free, no card.