Eating out in France

The French tend to eat fairly early, with lunch served from 12.30pm, and dinner from 7.30pm. In country districts you may find it difficult to be served dinner much after 9pm. However, Sunday lunchtimes are particularly popular almost everywhere.

Set menus, which must be displayed outside restaurants, usually provide the best value. Typically they will offer at least three courses and a degree of choice. However, some dishes may require a supplement to the basic price. This will be clearly indicated.

Drinks and coffee after a meal are not normally included in the price, although in some modest restaurants (the well-known Relais Routiers for instance) a basic meal may include wine (vin compris). Many restaurants offer a children’s menu, but where this is not available it is often possible to split one set meal between two youngsters.

How your meat is cooked is very important, and it is useful to know the French terms used. Bleu is very rare, saignant is rare, à point is medium, and bien cuit is well done. As to the matter of tipping, when a service charge is included it will be shown on the menu – service compris. In the absence of this, an absolute maximum of 10% is more than sufficient – depending, of course, on the standard of service you have received.

Cafés

While set restaurant meals are often very cheap, the price of a drink at a pavement café, or a cup of tea and a cake in a smart salon de thé , may come as a shock. Bear in mind that a pavement café offers a privileged view of animated street life. Sip slowly, and people-watch to get your full money’s worth. If you simply need to quench your thirst, you may prefer to use an ordinary bar instead.