TheCarol

Dining in a restaurant in France is pretty much the same as in the US, or is it? Looks can be deceiving. In fact, eating out in France is quite different from the typical North American restaurant experience.

I often relive with humor a French family vacation filled with my family showing up for dinner at 7 pm famished (an ungodly late hour for a family used to eating at 5 pm) to find restaurants not yet open or the employees dining before their shift. I also remember often being the last to leave even though we were the first to arrive as we could not figure out how to get the check and pay (despite putting on coats, stacking plates and brandishing credit cards).

Bonnaf

In France, as opposed to the US, you can’t just show up to a restaurant at any hour of the day or night expecting to be served. Meals occur at particular times; outside those given hours, you will be loathe to find anything except unappealing brasseries, shriveled sandwiches, and fast food. To spare you the hassle of some of my early experiences, here are a few tips on French restaurant etiquette:

Hours – French restaurants mostly follow the following schedule:

  • Breakfast is not often eaten out in France (a quick coffee and croissant at the local café will do)
  • Brunch is becoming more popular in Paris. Normal brunch hours are 11am-3pm.
  • Lunch is 12-2pm with most Frenchies showing up at 1 (some restaurants serve till 3).
  • Dinner is 8-10 pm. Some restaurants open at 7:30 and some serve until 11 pm or later.
BurgTender

Ordering – In France, diners don’t always order their entire meal at once. Instead, the waiter will often go around taking appetizer orders first, then go around again for the main course. Only after all food orders have been taken will drinks be ordered. Note: Aperitif orders will be taken upon arrival.

Coffee – Coffee is never ever served with dessert — it is always served after dessert, at the very end of the meal. You can try to get coffee and dessert at once. Good luck. Note: New trend Café gourmand –  a coffee and a few small pastries. This just might be the ideal solution!

Cafe Gourmand – Erica Berman

Liquid levels -– The French only fill the glass half way. A full glass is simply bad manners.

Refills – To the French it does not make sense to put more liquid in a glass that is not almost empty. If you are not yet finished with what you are drinking, why add more?

Erica Berman

Silverware and Glasses – These are placed in a similar yet subtly different order to the way we place them in North America. The glasses in France go on the left, whereas in the US it is the right. In the US knives face out and in France they face in. In France, if you find a small spoon and small knife  placed above your plate, it means you are all set for cheese and dessert!

Tipping – In France, tipping is a tricky thing. It is not required, but it is greatly appreciated. If you are happy with the service, a token amount of 1€ to 5% of the meal price, depending on the quality of the restaurant, might be in order.

Erica Berman

Napkins – Some French will immediately put their napkin on their lap, and some will not. After all these years, I still have not quite figured it out. I have come to understand that is has nothing to do with class or education, and (unlike the U.S.) you will not be poorly looked upon for not placing a napkin on your knees immediately.

Changes to the menu – What you see is what you get.  The French will not change your dish by adding things in, taking things out or asking for things that are not on the menu.  This could be the single most important difference between North American and French dining etiquette. The French chef has prepared this dish for you with love and put a lot of thought into the end product. The flavors all make sense together. You cannot make any changes without truly vexing the chef, the server and subsequently all of the Frenchies with whom you are dining. In the US the client is king, but in France the chef commands. It’s a hard point to grasp, and despite what the French will argue, I can see both sides of this dilemma.

Erica Berman

Doggy Bags – When I arrived in France many a year ago, Doggy Bags were taboo. Things have not changed much since. Doggy bag is a word to whisper among friends and ask for only if you are prepared to face scorn and rejection (NOTE: Ethnic restaurants seem to be much more open to the concept).

I am still not quite certain what it this is all about and I admit that I just do not understand. Throwing away perfectly yummy food upsets me greatly. (If the restaurant doesn’t have anything to wrap the food for you, you could try to ask for aluminum foil. Even better, bring Tupperware) Insist, and don’t be shy or embarrassed even when your waiter, and your friends, look at you like you are slightly nuts for wanting to enjoy that amazing blanquette de veau – tomorrow!

Hands on the table – For the French it is important to see your hands at all times. Otherwise, who knows what you might be doing with them?

Erica Berman

Ca va? Ca c’est bien passé? – If your waiter asks if all is OK they usually don’t really care. From what I can tell asking is a formality for which you are to reply “oui ca va,” but if things are not OK it’s not usually worth mentioning as the waiter probably will not do anything to rectify the problem.

Little Brown Pen

Leaving and paying – This is not as easy as it might seem. As the concept of tipping is not a necessity, there is less pressure for quick table turnover. In France you may enjoy your meal as long as you wish — your waiter will not want to hurry you out. When you are ready for the check, don’t be shy. Ask. If you are not successful, stand, go to the front of the restaurant and if you are really desperate, make as if you are leaving. Strangely, the check will appear!

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Written by Erica Berman for the Hip Paris Blog. For our amazing rentals in Paris, Provence & Tuscany check out our website Haven in Paris.

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Erica Berman

Erica Berman grew up in Lexington, Mass. After graduating from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Journalism and an intensive summer at Middlebury College (Vermont), Erica went to Paris with hopes of submerging herself in French culture and perfecting her French — and she stayed 20 years. Erica is the founder of the HiP Paris Blog and Haven In her former company. She now splits her time between Paris (Montmartre) and Maine (Midcoast). She recently started a non-profit growing organic produce for the food insecure in Maine called Veggies to Table. In her all-too-rare free time, Erica likes to travel off the beaten track, explore Paris and Maine, read, take photos, cook, kayak, hike and enjoy long Sunday brunches with her friends.

39 Comments

  1. Thanks for this helpful info. I’m making a plan to go tour to Paris city as I feeled so much bore in this lock down.
    However, I am a foodie and love to taste french foods and recipes. But I was confused on which restaurant I should go when I visit Paris.
    Thankfully, now I have a handfull of options. Thanks for sharing this indepth info.
    One question- is there any restriction to visit your country due to Covid-19? Are the restaurants open?
    Waiting for your response…

  2. My husband’s birthday is coming up, and he wants to celebrate at a high end restaurant. Your article had great tips we could use to practice the proper manners and etiquette at a place like this, and I liked how you said that if we’re at a french restaurant, we should be aware that a glass half full is the norm, as a full glass is seen as bad manners. Thanks; we’ll keep this in mind when behaving properly at an upscale restaurant.

  3. I am travelling to France in the upcoming summer and this etiquette would help me a lot, although I don’t think I will have time to think about it.

  4. Erica, I only just found this post but probably wasn’t subscribed at that time anyway.
    I do agree with some of your points and disagree with others.
    Disagree: The order of ordering; In over three years of eating out in France we have never ever been asked for only one course at the time, it was always the starter and main course together – but never the dessert EXCEPT when it says on the menu that they need extra time to prepare it.
    ‘Ca c’est bien passé?’ – Usually, the waiters DO care about your reply. I even give a feedback when I am not asked – and have been known to speak to the cooks about a particularly pleasant and wonderful experience. Cooks are people too, with pride, feelings, having a good or maybe a bad day – and like any home cook deserve a word of praise.
    Today I went to a modest but buzzing resto in my town. When paying I said that today’s menu gets a toque from me for ‘quality for money’… the owner was very pleased and cracked her first smile of the day (at 1.30h!)!
    Doggie bags: Most definitely not a good thing to ask in France, and again I have a BUT… Last week I had such a yummy and huge dessert (a millefeuille of gargantuesque size and millions of lovely calories), so I asked the waiter what we could do about the half I couldn’t possibly eat after a already wonderful menu! He asked me with a grin if I had brought my ‘tupper ware’ – I thought he just didn’t know about the term ‘doggie bag’… He did however and after a bit of a banter he came back and had my millefeuille wrapped up like a perfect large Christmas cracker…. It’s all about talking, smiling, asking and then thanking.
    Paying: It’s funny the question has never occurred to me, although it’s true that I’ve never ever waited for a bill anywhere but in France. When we are well and truly ready to leave and can’t get the waiter to do the sums, we just go to the bar and announce our willingness to pay. Works a treat, no fuss, no bother and you can leave your small extra tip there too.
    DO give it in cash; or else it goes in the ‘pool’ and might never be distributed to the person who gave you a good service.
    For an espresso I give 20c, for a meal alone €1 and when we’re ‘dining’ we give a bit more – but never overdo it. It’s – after all – YOUR appreciation of the waiter’s service.

  5. Love all this vital info!
    When are you in Damarascotta?
    Wanna get a doggie bag?
    I’ll be in Owl’s Head/Rockland the 3rd week in July.
    merci
    Carolg

    1. Hi Carol. Awww I am going to miss you. I won’t be in Damariscotta until October. I am jealous you will be there for the fabulous summer weather. I am excited to be there for fall though. I guess you can’t have it all. -Erica

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