| Eating in French restaurants is one of the best | | | | to-go items. If you want to dine in, let a waiter |
| things about traveling in France. In most cases, | | | | know you'd like to be seated. |
| dinner is not something that precedes something | | | | If you're traveling with a cell phone, turn it off. |
| else. It's the evening's main event. | | | | Usually, the waiter will bring you menus and a |
| The food and wine will likely have you swooning. | | | | wine list. Many restaurants offer house wine by |
| But the service may leave you scratching your | | | | the pichet or pitcher. You can order a quarter, |
| head. And without the proper attitude, you may | | | | half, or full liter. And it's invariably good and |
| feel like you've been ignored or treated rudely. | | | | reasonable. So don't feel like you have to order an |
| Doing some homework on the local culture is an | | | | expensive bottle. It's hard to get bad wine in a |
| essential part of trip planning that will help you | | | | French restaurant. |
| enjoy your experiences more. And understanding | | | | Almost every restaurant will bring you un carafe |
| French dining and restaurant service will decrease | | | | d'eau or pitcher of tap water if you ask. This is a |
| your frustration. | | | | great convenience for you and your waiter. |
| Here are some tips to help you enjoy dining in | | | | When the dishes on the menu are a complete |
| France more. | | | | mystery, ask the waiter for help. His English may |
| Before you go to the restaurant. | | | | not be perfect, but you'll probably understand that |
| If you know where you want to eat, by all | | | | cabillaud is fish, not foul. |
| means, make reservations in advance. This is | | | | Try to avoid dressing like a tourist, ordering a |
| especially true in smaller towns where a | | | | soft drink, talking loudly, asking to split an entree |
| restaurant may only have 20 tables, which they | | | | -- it's okay with an appetizer like snails or dessert |
| fill only once an evening. | | | | -- asking for coffee before you're through with |
| Even if there are empty tables available, in | | | | your meal, or requesting a doggie bag. Most of |
| France, making reservations is a sign of respect. | | | | these are considered bad form. |
| It helps the owners and kitchen know how much | | | | Getting the check. |
| to buy at the market and what to expect for the | | | | For Americans, this is where French dining takes a |
| evening. | | | | turn for the worse. In France, it's rude to bring |
| You don't have to make reservations weeks in | | | | your check before you ask for it. As far as |
| advance - except for the most popular places. | | | | they're concerned, you bought the table for a |
| And if you're not comfortable making them over | | | | certain amount of time when you ordered food |
| the phone, ask the concierge at your hotel to do | | | | or a beverage. So rarely will you be given a check |
| it, or stop by during lunch and make them in | | | | just because you look like you're through. |
| person. | | | | Getting the check isn't that hard, though your |
| Allow plenty of time for a nice, leisurely meal. | | | | waiter will probably avoid your glance several |
| Don't make 7:30 reservations if you're going to a | | | | times. Catch his eye and ask for "l'addition, s'il |
| 9:30 show. And try not to dine too early. Most | | | | vous plait " and your check show up. Eventually. |
| Parisians won't arrive until after 8:30. | | | | Sadly, that's only half the battle. Getting the |
| At the very least, be able to say "good evening," | | | | waiter to come back for the check is another. If |
| "please," "thank you," and "I would like" in French. | | | | you're paying by credit card, this will involve |
| When you're at the restaurant. | | | | getting "the machine," -- the credit card reader |
| Once you arrive, wait to be seated. Even if every | | | | that they bring to the table. It seems that every |
| table is empty. Some French servers will find it | | | | restaurant has only one, and it's very elusive. |
| rude if you seat yourself and they'll punish you by | | | | To avoid getting annoyed, you should probably |
| ignoring you. Forever. | | | | count on 30 minutes from the time you ask the |
| Sometimes, it's hard to tell whether you're | | | | waiter for the check, until the time you're all paid |
| supposed to order at a counter or at a table. | | | | up. |
| Most of the time, the counter is where you order | | | | |