How To Order Food In French — The Easiest Way To Master The Language

CCube Academy
3 min readFeb 21, 2023

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When travelling to a new country, one of the most important things you can do is learn the local language. Although it might seem daunting at first, learning how to ask for menu at restaurant in French is one of the easiest steps you can take. In this guide, we’re going to outline the entire process for you, from choosing your restaurant to declaring your preferences. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced traveller, read on and get started!

What is the French Ordering System?

In France, there is an ordering system which is slightly different from the one used in English. The French word for “order” is ordonnance, and when ordering food in French, you will usually use this word followed by a number to indicate what type of dish you would like.

For example, if you wanted to order a salad, you would say: “Je voudrais un salad.” (I want a salad.)

If you wanted a main course, you would say: “Je voudrais un plat principal.” (I want a main course.)

If you wanted dessert, you would say: “Je voudrais une tarte.” (I want a cake.)

Remember that the French word for “number” is numéro. So if you want to order anything other than a salad or main course, you will need to use the numéro instead of the word ordonnance. For example, if you wanted to order a slice of cake with ice cream, you would say: Je voudrais une tarte aux fraises et au chocolat numéro deux. (I want a slice of cake with ice cream number two.)

How to Order food at a restaurant in French?

When ordering food in French, the easiest way to master the language is to follow some basic rules.

When selecting a meal at a restaurant, always start by asking for the prix fixe menu. This will give you a list of dishes that are all priced at the same amount.

Next, decide what type of cuisine you would like to order. There are three main types of restaurants in France: traditional French, Italian, and Spanish. When ordering food from one of these types of restaurants, always be sure to ask for the plat du jour (daily special).

From there, it’s time to choose your dish. The French word for dish is plat (pronounced plaht). When ordering a plat, always specify whether you would like it cooked à la carte (on the side) or entrée (entree). If you would like it cooked à la carte, be sure to mention this as well; otherwise, your dish will most likely come with side dishes and a dessert.

If you’re looking for something more substantial than a side dish or dessert, be sure to ask for une entrée plutôt qu’un plat (an entrée instead of a plate). This will tell your server that you’d like your dish served as an individual portion instead of as part of a plate.

Finally, add any extras that you might want; this includes sauces or drinks. Be aware that

How to order food from a take-out window in French?

To order food from a take-out window in French, you will need to know the following phrases: “Je voudrais une commande,” “Pouvez-vous me donner une liste des plats?” and “Je vous prie de m’excuser.”

“Je voudrais une commande” means “I want a order.” To get a list of the menu options, you can say “Pouvez-vous me donner une liste des plats?” This phrase will give you a small selection of the items on the menu. If you would like to see the entire menu, you can say “Oui, je veux voir le menu complet.” Finally, if you would like to place your order, you can say “Je vous prie de m’excuser.”

Conclusion

If you want to master the French language, ordering food in French is one of the easiest things you can do. By following these simple steps, you will be able to order your dinner with ease, making your stay in France that much more enjoyable.

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