When youre going out for a meal youll need to ask for various pieces of information, such as where things are and how much they cost. To ask where something is, you can use Où se trouve? (Where is?), and to ask how much it costs, use Cest combien? (How much is?).
Wheres?
Où se trouve le restaurant?Where is the restaurant?Où se trouve le coin change-bébé?Wheres the baby changing area?Excusez-moi, où se trouvent les toilettes?Excuse me, where are the toilets?How much?
Cest combien une bouteille de blanc du pays?How much is a bottle of local white wine?Cest combien une petite salade?How much is it for a side salad?Il est à combien, le menu?How much is the set menu?What?
Quest-ce quil y a comme dessert?What is there for dessert?Quest-ce quil y a dans le cassoulet?What is in a cassoulet?Quest-ce quil y a comme garniture?What does it come with?Many of the questions you will be asking can be answered by yes or no. You can either put est-ce que before what you want to know or alternatively you can raise the tone of your voice at the end of the sentence this will make you sound more informal.
Is it?
Est-ce que cest un plat typique de la région?Is it a local dish?Est-ce que cest compris dans le menu à 15 euros?Is it included in the 15 set menu?Est-ce quil est cher, ce restaurant?Is it an expensive restaurant?Ça convient aux végétariens?Is it ok for vegetarians?ASKING FOR THINGS
When youre out in a French restaurant you will need to be able to ask for what you want. If you want to ask for something in French, use je voudrais (Id like) or on voudrait (wed like). voudrais and voudrait come from the verb vouloir. For more information on vouloir, see here.
Id like
Je voudrais du pain, sil vous plaît.Id like some bread, please.Je voudrais une carafe deau, sil vous plaît.Id like a jug of water, please.On voudrait une autre bouteille de vin.Wed like another bottle of wine.Une table pour deux personnes, sil vous plaît.A table for two, please.When the waiter approaches and you want to say that youre not ready to order, use je nai pas encore décidé. Alternatively, if your order has already been taken, you can say on a déjà commandé, merci (someones already taken our order, thanks).
Ill have
Comme entrée, je vais prendre la terrine de lapin.As a starter, Ill have the rabbit terrine.Comme plat principal, je vais prendre le saumon.For the main course, Ill have salmon.Je vais prendre la mousse au chocolat comme dessert.For dessert, Ill have the chocolate mousse.Comme boisson, nous allons prendre une bouteille deau pétillante.Well have sparkling water to drink.Je ne sais pas quoi prendre.I dont know what to have.When you want to find out if something is available, use Est-ce que vous avez? or Vous avez? (Have you got?). avez comes from the verb avoir. For more information on avoir, see here.