16 "Unspoken" Rules
The information is listed in alphabetical order.
Avoid
Poor Rating
Overall, avoid any restaurant in France with a rating below 4 stars (with at least 20 reviews) on Google Maps or Tripadvisor.
Unless it’s for something other than the food, such as its view or a special event.
Terrace Price Traps
Be cautious when heading straight to a restaurant or bar terrace in tourist areas. It’s wise to check the menu prices before ordering, as you may encounter significantly inflated prices targeting foreign tourists.
Coffee Type
When ordering coffee in a bar or restaurant, specify the type (espresso, american, etc.) to make it clear for the waiter.
Glossary
allergie = allergy
apéritif = pre-meal drink
buffet = buffet
café gourmand = coffee served with a selection of 3-4 mini desserts.
carte = menu
déjeuner = lunch
dessert = dessert
digestif = after-meal liquor
dîner = dinner
entrée = starter
formule = 2-3 course combination meal at a fixed-price
fromage = cheese
menu = 2-3 course combination meal at a fixed-price
menu dégustation = tasting menu (small servings of multiple dishes)
menu du jour = 2-3 course combination meal of the day, usually only for lunch (often cheaper and with faster service than the dishes on the “carte”)
menu enfant = kids’ menu
midi = lunch
petit-déjeuner = breakfast
plat = main course
plat du jour = main course of the day
soir = dinner
végétalien = vegan
végétarien = vegetarian
Michelin Label
For a restaurant, if you see the “Michelin” label, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a starred restaurant. It can belong to one of the first two Michelin categories listed below:
- Selected Restaurants (Good cooking)
- Bib Gourmand (Good quality, good value cooking)
- 1* (High quality cooking)
- 2* (Excellent cooking)
- 3* (Exceptional cuisine)
Also don’t overvalue this label.
Names
You can find various types of words preceding or following the name of a restaurant, such as:
- Auberge
- Bistro
- Bistrot
- Bouillon
- Brasserie
- Café
- Restaurant
These terms once represented distinct categories of restaurants, but today they are so intermixed that they no longer hold concrete meaning for categorization.
Opening Days
To find out if a restaurant is open on a particular day of the week and whether for lunch and/or dinner, check its hours in its Google Maps profile (to be 100% sure about a restaurant’s opening days & hours, the only way is to call).
If you check a restaurant’s Google Maps profile in advance of your trip and it states “Temporarily closed,” it might not necessarily be the case on the day you plan to visit. And vice versa.
The same principles apply to Tripadvisor, TheFork, and Yelp.
Google Maps is generally the most reliable source of information for opening days & hours compared to the other three.
Prices Include
In France, all prices quoted include VAT and service, by law.
Water and Bread
In any restaurant, you have the right to ask for tap water, which will be served in a carafe or a glass bottle.
It’s drinkable and free.
Specifically ask for tap water and not just water.
In French food restaurants, the same applies to simple bread which is usually served in a small basket.
Price Range
To get an idea of a restaurant’s price range, check its Google Maps profile, Tripadvisor, TheFork, or Yelp and look for either:
- The price range,
- The average price,
- The number of € or $ symbols indicated (usually ranging from 1 to 4).
In France, there is no correlation between price and taste quality.
You can find both good and bad in any range of restaurants or bars.
Reservation
When to Make a Reservation
Whether or not you need to make a reservation at a restaurant really depends on several factors:
- The area
- The time of year
- The day of the week
- The number of people with you
- The restaurant’s occupancy rate
(the number of customers wanting to eat there versus its capacity) – this factor is difficult to know, so focus mainly on the first 4.
⟹ When in doubt, opt to make a reservation.
Some few restaurants may operate without reservations and on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to Make a Reservation
You can make a restaurant reservation via:
- Its Google Maps profile, if you see a “RESERVE A TABLE” or “Find a table” button
- Its page on TheFork, if you see a “Book a table for” section
- Possibly on the restaurant’s website
- Otherwise, the only option is by phone.
If you make the reservation by calling, unless you speak French, it will be made in English. It is very unlikely that you will be understood in any other language.
And the level of English of the person you are speaking to may be average or even basic.
You don’t necessarily have to give your surname, the first name may enough if it is easier for you, unless you are specifically asked.
Special Dates
Some restaurants may offer a special combination meal (“menu” in French) for specific dates such as:
- Valentine’s Day
- Christmas (December 24th and/or 25th)
- New Year’s Eve
Table Selection
When you enter a restaurant, the waiter will direct you to a table. If you’re not entirely pleased with its location, you can ask for another table.
Just because some tables are empty doesn’t mean they’re reserved (if they are, the waiter will inform you), so they might be available.
This is particularly possible when you’re a party of two, as restaurants might try to save certain tables for potential larger groups.
Tipping
It is not customary to leave a tip.
99% of French people don’t tip when eating at a restaurant in their country.
If you really want to leave a tip due to an incredible experience with the waiter, 5% of the total amount is fine.
In some restaurants with a significant foreign clientele, servers may have become accustomed to receiving tips, as their foreign customers replicate the custom from their home countries of leaving one.
However, this in no way justifies that you must leave a tip, nor should the waiter feel aggrieved if you do not.
If in these restaurants, the bill states in English “tips not included,” or if the waiter tells you this, it’s an attempt to manipulate you.
Time
Allow 1h30 in a restaurant to eat a full meal (starter, main course and desert).
Allow 1 extra hour for a fine dining restaurant.
Lunch times are usually from 12pm to 2pm:
it’s recommended arriving between 12pm and 1pm and no later than 1:30pm.
Dinner times are usually from 7:30pm to 10 or 11pm:
it’s recommended arriving between 7:30pm and 9pm and no later than 9:30pm.
In France, it may happen that you come across a day when the service is longer than usual and this can happen in any restaurant on any day.
Most restaurants close in the afternoon or only serve drinks, not meals.
The exceptions are the all-day dining establishments, known as “Service Continu” in French.
Translate Menu
To translate restaurant menus, you can use the photo feature of a translation app, which allows you to translate words from a menu.
Check our dedicated page about Apps, and go to the “Translation” section:
Useful Apps for France Trip
It might not work as well for handwritten words, as is the case in some restaurants that write the menu on a chalkboard.
Wine Advice
For wines, you can ask the server’s opinion (or sommelier in certain restaurants) to make your choice.
You can also be more specific by mentioning certain characteristics you’d like, and they will advise accordingly.
The majority of French people ask servers for advice unless they are well-versed in wine.
You can also use the Vivino App.
Check our dedicated page about Apps, and go to the “Wine” section:
Useful Apps for France Trip
Wine Bars
Wine bars are also an option for a small dinner.
They typically offer food boards: charcuterie, cheeses and some can offer seafood.
They often open earlier than restaurants in the evening, starting in the late afternoon.
