Arriving at the Restaurant:

1. “Table for two, please” — Table pour deux, s’il vous plaît — Use this when you don’t have a reservation
2. “I have a reservation under [name]” — J’ai une réservation au nom de [nom] — Give the name you booked under
3. “That’s fine, thank you” — C’est bon, merci — Polite response when told there’s a wait

Quick Rules:

1. Always wait to be seated — don’t choose your own table in English-speaking countries
2. The host organizes seating — even if empty tables are visible, wait at the entrance

Understanding the Menu:

1. “What’s in the…?” — Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans… ? — Ask about ingredients in a dish
2. “How is the… prepared?” — Comment est préparé(e) le/la… ? — Find out if it’s grilled, fried, baked, or steamed
3. “Does it come with…?” — Est-ce que ça vient avec… ? — Check what sides or extras are included
4. “What do you recommend?” — Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez ? — Perfect when you can’t decide

Quick Rules:

1. “Entrée” means main course in American English — not the starter like in French
2. “Appetizers” (US) and “starters” (UK) are the small dishes before the main course

Ordering Your Food:

1. “I’ll have the…” — Je vais prendre le/la… — The most natural way to order in English
2. “Could I have the…?” — Pourrais-je avoir le/la… ? — More polite, good for business dinners
3. “Can I get the…?” — Je peux avoir le/la… ? — Casual, very common in American English
4. “For me, the…” — Pour moi, le/la… — Used in groups when confirming your order

Quick Rules:

1. Say “I’ll have THE steak” — not “I’ll have steak.” The article “the” makes it sound natural
2. Never say “I take the steak” — that’s a direct French translation that doesn’t work in English

Making Special Requests:

1. “Could I have… instead of…?” — Pourrais-je avoir… au lieu de… ? — Swap one item for another
2. “Is it possible to make that without…?” — Est-ce possible de le faire sans… ? — Remove an ingredient politely
3. “I’m vegetarian — what do you recommend?” — Je suis végétarien(ne), que recommandez-vous ? — State your diet and ask for suggestions
4. “I’m allergic to… — does this have any…?” — Je suis allergique à… — est-ce que ça contient… ? — Essential safety phrase

During the Meal:

1. “Everything’s great, thank you” — Tout est parfait, merci — Standard response to “How is everything?”
2. “Could I have some more water, please?” — Pourrais-je avoir encore de l’eau ? — Polite way to ask for extras
3. “Excuse me” — Excusez-moi — The only polite way to get the waiter’s attention

Quick Rules:

1. Don’t say “Monsieur!” or “Madame!” to call the waiter — use “Excuse me” with eye contact
2. Don’t snap your fingers — it’s considered rude in English-speaking countries

Paying & Tipping:

1. “Could I have the check, please?” — L’addition, s’il vous plaît — American English
2. “Could I have the bill, please?” — L’addition, s’il vous plaît — British English
3. “Together or separate?” — Ensemble ou séparé ? — The waiter asks this when you’re in a group
4. “Could we split this?” — On peut partager ? — Ask to divide the bill between people

Tipping Guide:

1. USA & Canada — 15-20% is expected, servers rely on tips for income
2. UK — 10-15% is typical, check if service charge is already included
3. Australia & New Zealand — tipping is not expected, servers earn a full wage