Eating in restaurants in France is just a wee bit different than in The States. Learn one or two common phrases, then with proper manners and customs, a visitor's French Cafe experience will be as fabulous as anything imaginable. Without knowledge of common French phrases, the traveler may sit all day waiting for the check, though that could be fun if sitting at a Parisian sidewalk cafe.
Common Phrases for Cafes or Restaurants in France
The correct pronunciation is not as important as attempting to use French manners and customs.
- “Bonjour, Madame.” (boh-zhoor, mah-dahm) - Good Day, Ma’am.
- “Bonjour, Monsieur” (boh-zhoor, muhs-yur) - Good Day, Sir.
- “Bonsoir, Monsieur” (boh-swahr, muhs-yur)- Good Evening, Sir. (Hello after sundown).
- “Un” (uhn) - one
- “Deux” (duh) - two
- “Trois" (twah) - three
- “Quatre” (kah-truh) - four
- “S’il vous plait?” (see voo play) – Please?
- “Merci.” (mehr-see) – Thank you.
- “Encore, s’il vous plait.” (ahn-kor, see voo play)
- “Beurre” (buhr)
- “L’addition, s’il vous plait.” (lah-dee-see-ohn, see voo play) - Remember it’s like asking to add up the bill, the addition.
- “Au revoir. (oh reh-vwahr) – Goodbye. (Casually, this sounds like “ohr-vwah”.)
- “Bonne nuit” (buhn nwee) – Good Night.
Proper Customs and Manners in a Restaurant or Café
Wait at the entrance. Make eye contact with the waiter, maitre-d’, or owner, and say, “Bonjour, Madame,” (Good Day, Ma’am) or “Bonjour, Monsieur” (Good Day, Sir). If one cannot remember the words in French, try saying it in English. This gets the ball rolling and the restaurateur knows what to do next.
Tell him how many people are in the party. Say, “un”, “deux”, or “trois, s’il vous plait”, etc. or use sign language if necessary, but remember that, the index finger means two, so start with thumb for “one”). When being seated In France, the woman gets the seat with the view, or the seat which faces out towards the other diners.
French Manners and Etiquette at Table
Don’t rest one’s hands in the lap during a meal. Keep one’s free hand on the table while eating, though keep elbows off the table. To show one is ready to order, close the menu. Almost everything in Europe is eaten with a knife and fork. When in doubt, eat the sandwich or pizza with cutlery, or follow the others.
To Get the Waiter's Attention
To get the waiter’s attention, never say Garcon (boy) even if the French do it. It doesn’t translate well. Instead, make eye contact (if possible) and say, “S’il vous plait,” or “Monsieur,”
Bread is free with a meal, though most French eat their bread with the meal, not with butter. To get butter, say, “S'il vous plait, beurre.” To get more bread, hold up the bread basket and say, “Encore, s’il vous plait.”
French Manners to Finish the Meal
To let the waiter know to take the plate, put the knife and fork together vertically at the center of the plate. The bill will not be presented when one has finished a meal. Instead, one must ask for it by saying, “S’il vous plait, l’addition.” It’s ok to leave payment on the table, but not when eating outside, because someone could come along and swipe it.
Don’t feel obligated to tip, as it is included in the bill. It's ok to round up to the nearest Euro (or about 5%) for especially good service.
Learn a few common phrases in French before venturing out. If the French words are not on the tip of the tongue, try using English. Knowing the proper manners and customs, along with true courtesy, will get a non-French speaker a long ways in Paris or the rest of France. It's easy. Many people take some simple conversational French lessons and this makes one appear much more civilized in every setting. But, after all is said and done, just go and have a blast. And, don't forget to see the Van Gogh's in the Musee d'Orsay.
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Christina Gregoire - Christina Gregoire writes about divorce, fashion, and baby boomers. Her forte is explaining complex ideas in simple language.
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