Knowing how to order food in French can be difficult for native English speakers because some French words have been adopted incorrectly. For example, in English, one says entrée for the main course but in French it is simply the appetizer. A more familiar word for appetizer is hors-d’œuvre. Next there is potage (soup, also known as soupe), plat principal (main dish) and finally dessert.http://www.frenchfoodandcook.com/pages/frenchmenu.htm

Noted French chef Julia Child spoke of the plat de résistance, but that is for formal dining by invitation and therefore you will not order it at a restaurant. The drinks are called boissons and you might also see fromage, which is the selection of cheese, to be eaten almost like a separate course between the plat principal and dessert.http://www.pbs.org/juliachild/

In French restaurants there are typically two menus: un menu prix fixe and à la carte. The fixed price menu consists of a few selected plates, each paired with appropriate sides. Ordering à la carte means to choose plates and sides to your own liking. It is usually better to order from le menu as opposed to la carte for a couple of reasons. First, it is a better value and second, depending on the quality of the restaurant, these dishes are planned and prepared by the chef.http://www.frenchculinary.com/lecole/index.html

There is one final menu known as le menu complet (complete menu). This includes the entrée, potage/salade, plat principal, dessert and un boisson (coffee or tea, taken at the end of the meal). For all other menus, the drink is not included. It is a French culinary tradition to drink at least one glass of wine with dinner.http://www.streetdirectory.com/food_editorials/cuisines/european_cuisine/france_and_their_french_culinary_traditions.html If you prefer not to drink alcohol, you might ask to dilute the wine with mineral water (d’eau minerale). This is a very common preference for the lunch hour.

Menus may change daily. Do not be alarmed when you see multiple prices for the menu prix fixe. Most often there are two prices, one for the entrée and plat (or substitute dessert for the entrée) the other price includes all three. To order, simply indicate that you will have the 19 € menu or the 22 € menu, by saying: Je vais prendre le menu à 22 euros.http://www.french-wine-paris-restaurant.com/

When ordering, it is preferable for one person to order for the group. Common courtesy dictates that you always order for your guest first. In France, one orders the entire meal (including drinks & desserts) at the beginning of the dining experience. Another specific French tradition is for the waiter to bring the check without request when he/she believes you may be finished dining. That is not to say you can't continue to order. If you order more, he/she will replace the check with a new one containing the additional items. In trendy restaurants, you may have to ask for your check, referred to as l’addition.http://www.french-wine-paris-restaurant.com/

After you have reviewed the menus and selected the desired items, you can begin to order. When you are ready, summon the waiter and place the order using some of these common expressions:

Moi, je voudrais…(for myself, I would like….)

Pour commencer, je vais prendre…(to begin, I’ll have…)

En suite, je voudrais…(next, I would like…)