How to Order From Menus in French Restaurants
Ordering from a French menu needn't be difficult. Knowing a little bit about the order of courses and how to order can make your meal more enjoyable. You can order items individually, as a pre-arranged special, or the special of the day. To order individual items in a French restaurant, look for a dishes listed "a la carte"--or "from the menu." Ordering a "menu"--a pre-arranged meal plan usually featuring three courses--is generally much cheaper than ordering "a la carte." For the best deal, ask your server about the "plat du jour," or "dish of the day." Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Take in a pre-meal cocktail--known as an "aperitif"--while you contemplate your menu. For example, you might enjoy a "kir," which is white wine with a blackcurrant liquor called crème de cassis.
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Ask your server if any of the dishes you are contemplating take a long time to prepare. For example, if you wish to have a souffle for desert, the time to order it is at the beginning of the meal as it takes 90 minutes to prepare. Checking for time with your server will save a lot of confusion and frustration for both of you.
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Pick an entrée. Remember that an entrée is not the same in French as it is in English -- in French it means the entering dish or appetizer. Appetizers include a gallette (a savory tart) or a small quiche, or any number of attractive light dishes.
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Follow your appetizer with one of the "plats principaux," or main dishes. This is the meat course, often featuring poultry or beef. Generally, this dish includes a vegetable--the French word for vegetables is "légumes."
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Enjoy the cheese course after your main dish. You will probably be shown a cheese cart and allowed to pick what you like. It is in bad form, however, to pick more than three or four. Remember, it's a course, not a buffet.
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Select your desserts from the menu or a dessert cart and enjoy one of any number of crepes, mousses or cakes. The desert is often accompanied by a "digestif," a liqueur thought to aid in digestion. You will also be offered coffee at the end of your meal.
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Acquire your bill by asking for "l'addition."
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Tips & Warnings
Remember that a French meal is expected to take at least two hours, even for lunch. If you are in a hurry, it's a good idea to let your server know up front.
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