Understand the offer · ask precise questions
French restaurant glossary: menus, bookings and service
A term on a menu rarely describes the whole experience. These definitions explain what it means and what to confirm before ordering or booking in France.
À la carte
French term: À la carte
Dishes selected individually at their own prices. Read the accompaniments and extras for each dish.
Ask the venue: Is the side dish included?
Set menu
French term: Menu
In French, menu can mean a combination of courses for a stated price, rather than the whole list of dishes.
Ask the venue: Which courses and drinks are included?
Meal formula
French term: Formule
A combination offered for a particular occasion, such as lunch. Courses, eligible days and serving hours may be limited.
Ask the venue: Is this formula available at our booking time?
Daily chalkboard
French term: Ardoise
Current dishes, often displayed on a board. An old photograph does not establish today’s selection.
Ask the venue: What is on today’s board?
Tasting menu
French term: Menu dégustation
A sequence of courses arranged by the kitchen. Check its duration, possible adaptations and how much choice guests have.
Ask the venue: How long should we allow and what can be adapted?
Food and drink pairing
French term: Accord mets et boissons
Drinks selected to accompany the courses. The pairing may cost extra and is not necessarily limited to wine.
Ask the venue: How many drinks, what serving sizes and what price?
Extra charge
French term: Supplément
An amount added for a specified choice or service. Include it in the base price when comparing the whole order.
Ask the venue: What is the total for our exact selection?
Sharing portion
French term: Portion à partager
A dish intended for sharing. The label alone does not say how many people it will feed.
Ask the venue: How many people would you recommend this dish for?
Brunch
French term: Brunch
A meal combining breakfast and lunch choices. It may be served at the table, à la carte or as a buffet.
Ask the venue: What format, hours and drinks are offered?
Buffet
French term: Buffet
Dishes presented for guests to serve themselves. Confirm replenishment, included drinks and the time allowed.
Ask the venue: What is included and how long can we stay?
Service
French term: Service
A meal-serving period. In pricing, the French word can also refer to service charges; the context matters.
Ask the venue: Until what time does the kitchen accept orders?
Continuous food service
French term: Service continu
Food service between conventional lunch and dinner periods. It does not guarantee the full menu or food until closing time.
Ask the venue: Which dishes are served at our arrival time?
Last food order
French term: Dernière commande
The latest stated time for ordering. It may be earlier than the venue closing time and differ for mains, desserts and drinks.
Ask the venue: Can we order a complete meal at our arrival time?
Booking slot
French term: Créneau de réservation
The time or period assigned to a booking. A late arrival or a second sitting may reduce the time available.
Ask the venue: Do we need to leave the table at a particular time?
Booking confirmation
French term: Confirmation de réservation
The venue’s response confirming an accepted booking. Sending a request alone does not confirm a table.
Ask the venue: Has the venue confirmed our date and party size?
Private hire
French term: Privatisation
Use of an area for a group under agreed conditions. It may cover one room or the entire venue.
Ask the venue: Which area, for how long and with which services?
Counter seating
French term: Place au comptoir
Seats facing the bar or kitchen, sometimes on high stools. Their comfort and access may differ from a regular table.
Ask the venue: What is the seat height and how much space is available?
Open kitchen
French term: Cuisine ouverte
A kitchen visible from the dining room. This layout alone does not establish noise levels, ventilation or seating choices.
Ask the venue: Can we book a table farther from the preparation area?
Wine shop and wine bar
French term: Cave et bar à vins
A wine shop may sell bottles, serve drinks on site or do both. Food service needs to be checked separately.
Ask the venue: Do you serve meals or only small accompaniments?
Alcohol-free choice
French term: Sans alcool
A drink or selection whose details should be checked. Ask about ingredients and the exact product if this requirement is essential.
Ask the venue: Can you confirm the ingredients and exact product?
Vegetarian option
French term: Option végétarienne
A choice without meat or fish, whose ingredients should be confirmed. It does not automatically mean vegan.
Ask the venue: Which ingredients, sauces and stocks are used?
Takeaway
French term: À emporter
Food collected to be eaten elsewhere. The menu, packaging and collection point may differ from dining in.
Ask the venue: Where do we collect and what is included?
Delivery
French term: Livraison
An order transported to an address. Check the area covered, ordering channel, charges and contact for any issue.
Ask the venue: Is our address covered and what is the total?
Partial access
French term: Accès partiel
An indication that access has limitations. Check the entrance, table, terrace and toilets separately for the particular need.
Ask the venue: What is the exact route to the table and toilets?
Put the terms into practice
These are editorial explanations, not promises about individual venues. Ask for the exact offer at your chosen time. Missing information in the directory remains unknown.