French for Ordering a Full Meal: Appetizer, Main, and Dessert at a Restaurant
Learn core French phrases to order a three-course meal at a restaurant, from appetizer to dessert, with polite questions and a realistic dialogue.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
Ordering a full meal in French means moving through courses: une entrée, un plat principal, and un dessert. This lesson gives you reusable sentence patterns to order each course, ask questions about dishes, and respond to your server. You will practice polite requests using the conditional and the essential phrase 'je vais prendre' (I'll have). The focus is on a sit-down restaurant with multiple courses, not a quick café order.
By the end, you can…
- order an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert in French using polite phrases.
- ask staff simple questions about menu items and understand basic responses.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Comme entrée, je vais prendre la soupe à l'oignon.
As an appetizer, I'll have the onion soup.
kum ahn-TRAY, zhuh vay PRANDR lah soop ah loh-NYON
Use 'je vais prendre' to state your choice for a course. 'Comme entrée' means 'as a starter' and helps the server follow the order.
Comme plat principal, je prends le poulet rôti.
As a main course, I'll have the roast chicken.
kum plah pran-see-PAL, zhuh PRAN luh poo-LAY roh-TEE
'Plat principal' is the main dish. 'Je prends' is slightly more direct than 'je vais prendre' but still polite in a restaurant.
Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez comme dessert ?
What do you recommend for dessert?
kess-kuh voo ruh-koh-mahn-DAY kum day-SAIR
A polite way to ask for a recommendation. The server may name a dessert or say 'la tarte aux pommes' (apple tart).
Est-ce que la tarte aux pommes contient des noix ?
Does the apple tart contain nuts?
ess-kuh lah tart oh POM kon-TYAN day nwah
Use 'Est-ce que... contient... ?' to ask about ingredients. Replace 'des noix' with other items like 'du gluten' or 'des produits laitiers'.
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
The bill, please.
lah-dee-SYON, seel voo PLEH
Said at the end of the meal to request the bill. In some regions, 'l'addition' is standard; in others, you might hear 'la note'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 'Comme [course], je vais prendre [dish]' lets you order each course clearly. For example: 'Comme entrée, je vais prendre la salade verte.' 'Comme plat principal, je vais prendre le poisson du jour.' 'Comme dessert, je vais prendre la mousse au chocolat.' You can also use 'je prends' instead of 'je vais prendre' with no change in politeness in most restaurants. The word 'comme' here means 'as' or 'for' and helps organize your order.
When to use it
Use these phrases when the server comes to take your order. If you need more time, say 'Je ne suis pas encore prêt' (I'm not ready yet). To ask about a dish, use 'Est-ce que c'est servi avec... ?' (Is it served with...?) or 'Qu'est-ce qu'il y a dans... ?' (What's in...?). For recommendations, 'Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?' works for any course. Avoid saying 'Je veux' (I want) directly; it can sound abrupt. Use 'Je voudrais' (I would like) or 'Je vais prendre' instead.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonsoir, vous avez choisi ?
Good evening, have you chosen?bon-SWAHR, voo zah-vay shwa-ZEEOui, comme entrée, je vais prendre la soupe à l'oignon. Et comme plat principal, le poulet rôti.
Yes, as an appetizer, I'll have the onion soup. And as a main course, the roast chicken.wee, kum ahn-TRAY, zhuh vay PRANDR lah soop ah loh-NYON. ay kum plah pran-see-PAL, luh poo-LAY roh-TEETrès bien. Et comme dessert ?
Very good. And for dessert?tray BYAN. ay kum day-SAIRQu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?
What do you recommend?kess-kuh voo ruh-koh-mahn-DAYA little context goes a long way
In France, a full meal often follows the order entrée, plat, dessert, but the word 'entrée' means appetizer, not main course. In Quebec, 'entrée' can sometimes mean the main dish, so listen for context. Tipping is not obligatory in France as service is included, but leaving a small extra is common for good service. In Belgium, 'la note' is more common than 'l'addition'.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Je veux' to order, as in 'Je veux le poulet.'
Try this instead: Use 'Je voudrais' or 'Je vais prendre' instead. For example: 'Je voudrais le poulet, s'il vous plaît.' 'Je veux' can sound demanding; the conditional 'je voudrais' is polite and standard in restaurants.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you order the fish soup as an appetizer using 'je vais prendre'?
Show a sample answer
Comme entrée, je vais prendre la soupe de poisson.
This follows the pattern 'Comme entrée, je vais prendre...' and correctly names the dish. You could also say 'Je vais prendre la soupe de poisson comme entrée' with a slight change in word order.
2Ask the server what they recommend for the main course.
Show a sample answer
Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez comme plat principal ?
This uses the polite question form and specifies the course. 'Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez comme plat principal ?' is also correct and equally polite.
3You want to know if the chocolate mousse contains eggs. How do you ask?
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que la mousse au chocolat contient des œufs ?
This uses 'Est-ce que... contient... ?' to ask about ingredients. You could also ask 'Il y a des œufs dans la mousse au chocolat ?' in a more informal tone.
Use 'Comme [course], je vais prendre...' to order each part of a full meal, and 'Je voudrais' for polite requests. Ask about ingredients with 'Est-ce que... contient... ?' and request the bill with 'L'addition, s'il vous plaît.'
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