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French phrases for ordering food in a restaurant in France

Say “Bonjour”. If you haven’t booked, ask “Vous avez une table ?” or say “Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît”. When the waiter asks “Vous avez choisi ?”, order with “Je prendrai le poulet, s'il vous plaît”, or ask “Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez ?” if you’re not sure.

Try it · about two minutes

You arrive at a restaurant without a booking, get a table, ask the waiter what they recommend and order.

Sound on: the waiter speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

  1. Waiter

    Vous avez réservé ?

    Do you have a reservation?

    You

    Non, mais vous avez une table pour deux ?

    No, but do you have a table for two?

  2. Waiter

    Suivez-moi, s'il vous plaît.

    Follow me, please.

    You

    On pourrait avoir une table près de la fenêtre ?

    Could we have a table by the window?

  3. Waiter

    Voici la carte.

    Here is the menu.

    You

    Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez ?

    What do you recommend?

  4. Waiter

    Vous avez choisi ?

    Have you decided?

    You

    Je prendrai le poulet, s'il vous plaît.

    I’ll have the chicken, please.

  5. Waiter

    Eau plate ou eau gazeuse ?

    Still or sparkling water?

    You

    De l'eau plate, s'il vous plaît.

    Still water, please.

  6. Waiter

    Tout se passe bien ?

    Is everything all right?

    You

    Merci, c'est très bon.

    Thanks, it’s very good.

Which French phrases do you need?

  • Vous avez réservé ?

    Do you have a reservation?

  • Vous avez une table ?

    Do you have a table?

  • Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.

    A table for two, please.

  • Suivez-moi, s'il vous plaît.

    Follow me, please.

  • On pourrait avoir une table près de la fenêtre ?

    Could we have a table by the window?

  • Voici la carte.

    Here is the menu.

  • Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez ?

    What do you recommend?

  • Vous avez choisi ?

    Have you decided?

  • Je prendrai le poulet, s'il vous plaît.

    I’ll have the chicken, please.

  • Eau plate ou eau gazeuse ?

    Still or sparkling water?

What is worth knowing in France?

Getting a table

  1. 1

    Say “Bonjour” and wait just inside the door. Staff usually show you to a table.

    Do you have a table?
  2. 2

    Say how many you are.

    A table for two, please.
  3. 3

    Follow the waiter, sit down and take your time with the menu.

Ask for advice

Waiters are glad to suggest a dish. The plat du jour is often chalked on a board and worth asking about.

Quel est le plat du jour ?

What’s the dish of the day?

Still, sparkling or tap

Waiters often ask whether you want eau plate or eau gazeuse. If you just want tap water, ask for a carafe d’eau: it’s usually free with a meal.

Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît.

A jug of tap water, please.

Questions about this situation

Which French phrases matter most here?
“Vous avez réservé ?” (Do you have a reservation); “Vous avez une table ?” (Do you have a table); “Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.” (A table for two, please). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?
Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?
Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in France. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in French

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Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.