French for Beginners: Asking 'What do you recommend?' or 'What's good here?'
Learn to ask for recommendations in French cafés and restaurants, focusing on seeking advice rather than ordering.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you're at a café or restaurant in a French-speaking area, you might not know what to order. Instead of just pointing at the menu, you can ask for a recommendation. This lesson teaches you how to say 'What do you recommend?' and 'What's good here?' in French, so you can get helpful suggestions from the staff. You'll learn key phrases, how to use them politely, and what to expect in response. We'll focus on standard French, but note regional differences where relevant.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'What do you recommend?' in French.
- ask 'What's good here?' in French.
- understand and respond to a recommendation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?
What do you recommend?
kess-kuh voo ruh-koh-mahn-day
Use this in a restaurant or café when speaking to a waiter or staff member. It's polite and standard.
Qu'est-ce qui est bon ici ?
What's good here?
kess-kee ay bohn ee-see
A casual way to ask for recommendations, suitable for informal settings or when you're familiar with the place.
Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ?
What do you advise me?
kess-kuh voo muh kohn-say-yay
A slightly more formal alternative, often used when you want a personal recommendation.
Qu'est-ce que vous avez comme spécialité ?
What do you have as a specialty?
kess-kuh voo zah-vay kohm spay-see-ah-lee-tay
Ask this to find out about the house specialty or signature dish.
Vous avez une suggestion ?
Do you have a suggestion?
voo zah-vay ewn soog-zhess-tyon
A straightforward way to ask for a suggestion, useful in many contexts.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for recommendations, use 'Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?' or 'Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez ?'. Both mean 'What do you recommend/advise?' The structure is: Qu'est-ce que + subject + verb. For example, 'Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?' (What do you recommend?) and 'Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez ?' (What do you advise?). You can also ask 'Qu'est-ce qui est bon ici ?' (What's good here?) using 'qui' because it's the subject of 'est'. Remember to use 'vous' for politeness with strangers or staff.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you want advice on what to order, not when you're ready to order. For example, after being seated, you can ask 'Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?' to get suggestions. If you're in a casual setting, 'Qu'est-ce qui est bon ici ?' works well. Avoid using them if you already know what you want; then you'd order directly. Also, if you're in a hurry, you might skip recommendations and order quickly. In Quebec, you might hear 'Qu'est-ce que vous suggérez ?' as an alternative, but the standard phrases are widely understood.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, vous avez une table pour deux ?
Hello, do you have a table for two?bohn-zhoor, voo zah-vay ewn tabl poor duhOui, bien sûr. Voici la carte. Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?
Yes, of course. Here's the menu. What do you recommend?wee, byan sewr. vwah-see lah kart. kess-kuh voo ruh-koh-mahn-dayJe ne connais pas bien la cuisine. Qu'est-ce qui est bon ici ?
I don't know the cuisine well. What's good here?zhuh nuh koh-neh pah byan lah kwee-zeen. kess-kee ay bohn ee-seeLe plat du jour est excellent. C'est un bœuf bourguignon.
The dish of the day is excellent. It's a beef bourguignon.luh plah doo zhoor ay tek-say-lahn. say tun buhf boor-gee-nyonA little context goes a long way
In France, it's common to ask for recommendations, and staff are usually happy to help. However, in more formal restaurants, it's polite to use 'vous' and perhaps 's'il vous plaît' when asking. In Quebec, service might be more casual, and you might hear 'Qu'est-ce que vous suggérez ?' Tipping is not expected in the same way as in North America, but service is included. Always say 'merci' after receiving a recommendation.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Qu'est-ce que c'est bon ici ?' to mean 'What's good here?'
Try this instead: 'Qu'est-ce que c'est bon ici ?' means 'What is this? It's good here?' which is not what you want. The correct phrase is 'Qu'est-ce qui est bon ici ?' where 'qui' is the subject. Alternatively, say 'Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask 'What do you recommend?' in French?
Show a sample answer
Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?
This is the standard polite way. You could also say 'Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez ?' which is equally correct.
2What is the difference between 'Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?' and 'Qu'est-ce qui est bon ici ?'?
Show a sample answer
The first asks for a recommendation, the second asks what is good here. Both are used to seek advice, but the second is more general.
Both are valid; the first is more direct, the second more casual. You can use either depending on context.
3How would you respond if a waiter recommends 'le plat du jour'?
Show a sample answer
Je vais prendre le plat du jour, s'il vous plaît.
This means 'I'll have the dish of the day, please.' You could also say 'Je prends le plat du jour' or 'Je vais essayer le plat du jour.'
To ask for recommendations in French, use 'Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?' or 'Qu'est-ce qui est bon ici ?'. Remember to be polite with 'vous' and 's'il vous plaît'.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s French into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr