I Ordered Food in French (and it went terribly wrong)

Knowing how to order food in a restaurant is one of the most practical skills when learning French. Whether you’re traveling, living in a French-speaking country, or preparing for the TEF/DELF exams, being able to confidently speak to a waiter, order meals, and pay the bill will enhance your experience.

In this video, we take you through a realistic French restaurant conversation, from asking for a table to handling the bill. This lesson is perfect for A1 beginners who want to practice real-world French interactions with natural dialogue.

📌 What You’ll Learn in This Video:
✅ How to ask for a table and interact with a waiter
✅ How to order food, drinks, and ask for recommendations
✅ How to modify an order and ask about ingredients
✅ How to request the bill and understand tipping etiquette in France
✅ Common polite expressions to sound more natural in a restaurant setting
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently order food in French and navigate any restaurant situation with ease!

📚 Vocabulary Recap & Pronunciation Guide
📌 Une réservation – A reservation
📌 Le plat du jour – The dish of the day
📌 Un apéritif – A pre-dinner drink
📌 Une boisson – A drink
📌 Un pourboire – A tip
📌 Un dessert – A dessert
📌 Commander – To order
📌 Payer par carte – To pay by card
📌 L’addition – The bill
📌 Bien cuit / À point / Saignant – Well done / Medium / Rare (for steak)
For more key phrases and pronunciation tips, check out the vocabulary recap at the end of the video!

💡 Pro Tips for Ordering in a French Restaurant
✔ Greet the waiter first. Always say Bonjour ! or Bonsoir ! before placing an order.
✔ Ask for the “plat du jour.” Many restaurants offer a special meal of the day.
✔ Use “s’il vous plaît” and “merci.” Being polite is essential in French culture.
✔ Know tipping customs. In France, service is included, but you can leave a few extra euros for good service.
✔ Be clear about how you want your food prepared. If you order a steak, choose bien cuit (well done), à point (medium), or saignant (rare).

💬 Share Your Experience!
Have you ever ordered food in a French-speaking restaurant? What was your experience like? Did you find it easy or challenging to communicate with the waiter?

Let us know in the comments! If there’s another real-world French conversation you’d like us to cover, drop your suggestions below.

✅ Stay Connected & Keep Learning!
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💬 Comment your favorite phrase from today’s dialogue
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