Food & Drinks

1. Un café, s'il vous plaît

   A coffee, please

   Usage

   Basic café order. In France, "un café" typically means a short espresso

   Grammar Note

   Indefinite article "un" for one cup. Café au lait means coffee with milk

2. L'addition, s'il vous plaît

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Standard phrase to request the bill at a restaurant or café

   Grammar Note

   "Addition" literally means arithmetic addition but in restaurants means the bill

3. Je voudrais un croissant

   I would like a croissant

   Usage

   Polite way to order food. Commonly used at a boulangerie (bakery)

   Grammar Note

   "Voudrais" is the conditional form of vouloir (to want), more polite than "je veux"

4. C'est délicieux !

   It's delicious!

   Usage

   Expression of delight at a meal. A great compliment to a chef or host

   Grammar Note

   Basic structure "c'est + adjective". Délicieux is masculine; feminine is délicieuse

5. Avez-vous une table pour deux ?

   Do you have a table for two?

   Usage

   Used to ask for a table at a restaurant upon arrival

   Grammar Note

   "Avez-vous" is the inverted question form, used in polite/formal inquiries

6. Je suis végétarien(ne)

   I am vegetarian

   Usage

   Tell restaurants or hosts about your dietary restriction

   Grammar Note

   Masculine: végétarien, feminine: végétarienne. Also useful: "végane" (vegan)

7. Je suis allergique aux fruits à coque

   I am allergic to nuts

   Usage

   Communicate a food allergy. Replace "fruits à coque" with other allergens as needed

   Grammar Note

   "Être allergique à" means to be allergic to. "Aux" = "à + les" (before plural nouns). The cover term for tree nuts is "fruits à coque" (the EU INCO allergen label, also used in fr/the Dietary & Allergies category). "Noix" strictly means walnuts only, so it is not used for nuts in general

8. Avez-vous un menu du jour ?

   Do you have a set menu of the day?

   Usage

   In French restaurants, the "menu du jour" is a set daily menu that is often great value

   Grammar Note

   "Menu du jour" is a common French dining term. "Du" = "de + le" (masculine definite article)

9. Quelle est la spécialité de la maison ?

   What is the house specialty?

   Usage

   Ask for the chef's signature dish or the restaurant's specialty

   Grammar Note

   "De la maison" literally means "of the house" — in a restaurant context it means the restaurant's own

10. Sans gluten, s'il vous plaît

    Gluten-free, please

    Usage

    Request gluten-free food for celiac disease or gluten intolerance

    Grammar Note

    "Sans + noun" means without. Apply similarly: sans lactose (dairy-free), sans sucre (sugar-free)

11. le riz

    Rice

    Usage

    Point to this to order rice; French uses "le riz" for both raw and cooked rice, so show it in a mealtime context

12. le pain

    Bread

    Usage

    Point to this to ask for bread; a baguette is "la baguette"

13. les nouilles

    Noodles

    Usage

    The word for Asian-style noodles; Italian pasta is "les pâtes"

14. piquant

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Point to this to check for chili heat; "épicé" can merely mean well-spiced, so "piquant" is the unambiguous word for hot

    Grammar Note

    Adjective; feminine "piquante". "Not spicy, please" is "Pas piquant, s'il vous plaît"

15. sucré

    Sweet

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether a dish is sweet; "no sugar" is "Sans sucre"

    Grammar Note

    Adjective; feminine "sucrée"

16. cru

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Point to this to check whether something is uncooked; "well cooked, please" is "Bien cuit, s'il vous plaît"

    Grammar Note

    Adjective; feminine "crue" (e.g. "viande crue"). The identical noun "cru" refers to a wine growth, so use it about ingredients

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