10 Things To KNOW about Restaurants ETIQUETTE in Paris
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- Опубликовано: 26 май 2023
- Do's and don't in a restaurant in Paris. 10 things you should know about etiquette in France.
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As I parisian waiter (sorry in advance for my english) I would like to react on each point :
1 : Yes that's totally fine, feel free to notice it to your waiter, in this way he can gives you the appropriate cutlery.
2 : Yes, I (and I think most of my colleague) prefer to give you a doggie bag, nobody like to throw food (even most of kitchens ask me "didn't they like it?" when I have to throw an unfinished dish to give you an idea).
3 : It depends of what do you want to substitute, sometimes it's just impossible because of the dish itself but I don't agree on one point : It's pretty common to ask for a substitution, otherwise yes feel free to ask.
4 : Totally agree, in most of time, if it's just because you don't like it, you will have to pay the dish, if it's the kitchen or the waiter who did a mistake don't worry you won't need to pay anything.
5 : You can grab a table if you want, but I just let you know that we don't like this, yes you should ask someone to seat you (except if we say something like "sit wherever you like" for sure). It's a way for us to welcome you properly and to keep the control in the restaurant because it can be messy really quick. For the napkins that's false but you should following it (if there is a napkins that's for eat however it's just for a drink) but if you want absolutely one table particularly feel free to ask to your waiter. Except if it booked it should be fine.
Exception for bars and terrace where it's common to just grab a table.
6 : You can let a tip with your card, you have just to tell how much you want to tip before the payment, in this way your waiter will add the amount to the bill. If you still worry about this feel free to ask to your waiter if he accepts tip with credit card.
7 : I never came to USA so I don't know how it works but yes during the service sometimes we really don't have a time (like even 30 second is a large amount of time for us). In any case if you have question feel free to ask them, a good waiter will always answer you with a smile. Yeah, except for taking order or to serve you dishes we don't come every minutes to ask you if everything's doing good. If we have time we try to do it for sure. Just be sure to know what you want to order/ask when you're calling us, people who calls us and are just like "soooo, 2 minutes please" are making us crazy. And no that's not a reason for you to wait, like if you're waiting more than 5 minutes the waiter for taking your order that's not normal (but please be comprehensive if the restaurant is full and you see your waiter running everywhere).
In some restaurant we're pay in the percentage of our work but that's really rare.
8 : In most of restaurant, we don't really look on it. If we see you finish you dish we come to take it, otherwise we don't. Also if you haven't finish you dish but you have finish to eat don't worry, we will notice it. A good waiter knows everything what happens in his tables.
9 : Feel free to eat and put your hands in the way you want, except if you go in a really elegant restaurant like gastronomic and in this case yes : you should learn the french manners.
10 : Feel free to put the bread where you want, but it's common to let the bread in its basket and the sliced bread in your plate. We know that US people use to eat butter with their bread so feel free to ask in the worst case you waiter could be surprise but whatever don't hesitate to ask it. In a casual bistro if we have the time to really take care of you we can serve you even after the first glass but as I said most of time we really don't have the time to do it.
11 : If you want to eat a croissant or drink a coffee while walking, feel free to do it. People doesn't care about what you're doing.
I discover your channel few days ago and I'm really curious about what US people think of France so I'm watching your videos and I really appreciate your content, you're giving really good advices.
Also feel free to contact me if you have more questions and don't forget : it's useless to worry about how to behave or whatever, just be you (and kind) and everything will be fine.
Thank you for clarifying some points from an industry perspective! I am a waiter in a tourist destination in the Caribbean and many of these examples work here as well. We also have a more American clientele, but definitely quite a few tourists from Europe, Asia, and South America. We are planning a visit to your city next year and I am very excited to try new cuisines!
♥♥♥♥ Merci!
Thank you for the additional information. Will keep this in mind when I visit Paris.
When I was in Paris I'm sure I didn't do everything by the book (Australian here) didn't speak French but with a smile and body language I think the French waiters were wonderful to us. We did other countries too and it's true Australia is Down Under, if I lived in Europe I would have got use to all the different languages as they're very close ❤️
Merci for your time to answer all these questions. We are planning a trip to Paris, trying to learn all we can before we leave.
I'm a parisian and all those advices seem rights and wise. And anyway, don't worry too much about the etiquette. if you keep smiling and kind most of situations can be arranged. Most of people will understand you're coming from another country. Paris is so touristical that most of waiters will be pleasant and benevolent. But sometimes you may meet bad waiter with bad manners. In that case, just keep on smiling. Just don't come to that place again and tell your friends. You'll laugh about it a few weeks later. A last advice: to not appear arrogant, if possible, use some french words. A single "bonjour ou bonsoir" can make all the difference.
I'm Parisian too. While I usually don't like The Frenchies, I found this one to be mostly accurate. However, many restaurants do nowadays accept the tip to be paid by credit card. Just ask. And also it's perfectly accepted to walk around eating a croissant or even a sandwich. You don't have to sit down.
yes please if a customer has to worry about being prim and propah while they enjoy a meal in foreign location, most will prefer to take their business elsewhere.
Merci helps too.
Parisian here. Good coverage of important points. Some more for Americans:
- You can choose the accompaniment with some dishes: for example the choice of vegetables, but don’t ‘re-engineer’ the kitchen’s cuisine. I have seen Americans try to make 5 or more modifications to a salad. The maître d’hôtel had to explain to the woman that the menu outlines the dishes that are proposed. If she’d like something else, he invited her to go home and prepare it.
- Don’t speak at 3 times the volume of the tables of French people around you. This is considered quite obnoxious. This may mean you need to consciously keep your voices down.
- Don’t use these phrases, which are even considered impolite in English outside the US:
- I’ll DO… or I’ll GET…. The staff are the ones doing and getting, not you. Say, ‘I would like’ or ‘Could I have..’
- Bring me… Hopefully don’t need to explain
- Not using Please and Thank You (or even S’il vous plait and Merci)
- A meal is a ritual in France, not a functional transaction. Be ready to spend at least an hour over a meal. Ideally two. Take your time choosing and when ready CLOSE THE MENUs. Many Americans leave them open and when the waiters continue to walk by they immediately decide they are the victim of a xenophobic passive agression. No, the servers are respecting your time and space to decide. They will likely be with you within a minute once you close the menus.
- Don’t expect the bill (check) to come unless you ask for it. This is again to respect your time and space. It is not bad service but good service.
- Don’t interrupt a server when they are focused on another table, even if there is some going back and forth to deliver or clear items. Choose the moment to attract their attention and then make eye contact and raise you hand slightly. Don’t loudly call out, but use ‘ S’il vous plait’ (Not ‘Excusez-moi)
- Ask the server’s opinion on something related to the menu or wine list. Not necessary a recommendation, but an explanation or a comparison between two options. This will usually engage them as the ‘expert’ and they will enjoy serving you more.
- Smile.
Good points, but "I'll get" is fine ("je prendrai..." or "pour moi ça sera..." are typical wordings). With a thank you and a smile 😊
@@wsw70 It’s the difference between “I’ll take” Je prendrai and “I’ll get” J'obtiendrai. See?
Just thank you!🌺
Love the doing and getting remark. I'm old, 83. in UK would say 'I should like' Je voudrai. Really irritates, Can I get? Want to reply. 'I don't know, can you?'
@@irenejohnston6802 I agree, and as an American it's partly the way American English has developed. We have pretty much dropped the subjunctive and a lot of conditional tenses in everyday uses (would, could, should.) So polite forms of "Could I have/I would like" become "can I get a croissant with my coffee?", typical of the informal American style of communicating. Which many of us take as being polite because it is so informal and chatty...I'm treating you, the waiter or barista like my friend, which is a compliment in the US. When we use the conditional as in "I would like" it seems stilted and formal and frequently is saved for an imperative context when we don't like something. As in "I would like to go....now!" or "I could do that, but I refuse." I live in Italy and some of the same issues get confused in translation when Americans speak Italian.
You missed two important things: 1. When ordering with a 'menu' (entree+plat+dessert ou fromage), do you tell the waiter everything you want up front (yes), or decide course-by-course? 2. With the credit card processing for a US-issued card, when the machine gives you a choice of $ or €, ALWAYS pick the local currency. If you pick Dollars, the vendor's card processor will do the currency exchange and it will be much worse than if you pick Euros and let your own bank do the currency exchange. ( Always pick local currency everywhere, not just in France.)
I think they covered this in other videos
@@carolamick8303 Suggestion: Instead of simply saying, "I think they covered this in other videos," why not just point the responder to another video that covers that topic! That would be more helpful.
@@heleneg525 I am sure it would. But I do not have them memorized.
You generally order the entrée plus plat at the same time. Dessert after you have finished your plat. Except for desserts that take a long time to prepare. In that case the waiter will tell you to order dessert at the same time.
@@carolamick8303 I guess I was a little snarky. Best.
#4, On my first trip to Paris, I was feeling homesick and wanted pizza. I was staying at the St. Yllen and there was a Speed Rabbit Pizza place just across the street. My reading French is pretty good and I'm vegetarian (allergy) and I ordered what I thought was a vegetarian pizza on a two for one deal and only after about 10 minutes realised that there was lardon (fatty bacon) on it. I tried to explain the problem (my spoken French is... not so good, alas) and luckily one of the customers could speak English and French and explained. I made it clear that it was entirely my error and I was ok paying for the first order and a replacement - but to my surprise, they offered a free replacement. I said that that wasn't fair to them - it was MY mistake - and he replied "It's ok - Marcel and I will have it for dinner!" :)
Genuinely awesome! Sadly, that location of the chain has permanently closed. :(
It’s all in the way you asked for your change : you admit your error, apologize and propose to be charged. They are understanding.
What is not made clear in the video is that the customer sense is not the same in our two cultures. To get at the end the same thing, in France we put the forms, we must remain courteous, even with someone “at our service” like a waiter. The way Americans sometimes behave thoroughly “client is the king and is always right” in Paris, France and Europe is seen or can be felt as rude.
To add on what @@mariev3797 said waiters are not at your OWN PERSONAL service. They are at the service of all their clients equally. And as it is said in the video they have 2x or 3x the number of tables a US waiter usually has. So they will do their best to fulfill your special requests within reasonable limits. They won't degrade the quality of service to all others customers just for you.
If you expect them to act like your personal slave you won't get a warm welcome. And if you lie or insult them you should be ready for retaliation in some form or another. And if you're particularly despicable and annoying to other customers you can be thrown out.
But if you act the way a normal person is expected to in front of another normal person - aka polite, responsible, reasonable and understanding - you'll get everything you need and a wonderful experience.
@@mariev3797 And it should be rude in the US to treat service staff as if they're peons. That's a strong indication that you're dealing with a bad person if they mistreat staff. And what you said is exactly what I experience, you can get the same results in France as you might think in the US by being polite and not acting entitled. I love living in France, and I find the French to be extraordinarily polite and kind. Including in Paris. But, I do speak French pretty well (albeit with a very strong accent), so I'm told that's why. I think just being open to what is available, and not having rigid expectations helps.
Hello ! I'm a waiter in Paris and what you're saying here is absolutely true. However, don't bother to tip 10% of the meal. It can be enormous depending on what you ordered. 2 to 5 euros is perfect. I'v helped many tourists to understand the menu (sometimes for a very long moment) and the simple gesture of the tip is appreciated. And you can add a tip by asking an extra when you pay by credit card ;)
And YES, thank you to explain that: if you need a waiter, just call him. We try to do the best to prevent any of the customer's needs, but when we are full, it can be a bit tricky.
So if the bill is E37, we can just say 'make it E40', pay by credit card and that E3 will eventually be shared amongst the waiters? In the Netherlands 'rounding' the bill is a common practice. Sometimes you're lucky as 36 may round to 40, but 39 would also round to 40 and people are less inclined to do maths and ponder if they should give 41 or 42.
Some waiters shoot them selves in the foot by this because the moment we say we want to pay by credit card they type in the bill amount before we even could round it up. And it's awkward to ask them to remove the number and type in the new number.
@@Funkytrip73 No, the tip must be left on the table not when paying with a credit card.
Hi i was a waiter in a brasserie for 7 years, and you can definitly tip with the credit card. You have tell the waiter how much you want to add before the actual transaction is done on the machine. The extra will be added to our tips at the end of the day. Great videos merci !
I would add that i would be very hard to make a good day with tips if it was only cash nowadays. Nobody carries cash anymore, and spreading the idea that tips are cash only lowers our income !
@@LesFrenchiesTravel We have done this, but then had a waiter tell us they don't always get the tip when the management "forgets" to split it off. Others have told us they prefer cash for obvious other reasons... 1-3€ is average, 4-6€ if good service, 20€ or 10% if exceptional (and surprisingly exceptional happens all the time in France!).
We had the same experience in Paris - we just asked what they preferred. I'm glad to know this was okay. All of a sudden I thought "oh no..."
C’est exact .
Mais certains serveurs occasionnels ne le savent pas ! Et donc demandent du cash. Demandez le responsable de salle si cela arrive…
@@MrDabaazPlenty of people carry cash, esp when going abroad. Another person that doesn't use cash thinks no one else uses it anymore!!!
I was born next to France, Belgium, known Paris well, lived in the US and known the ‘nuance’ differences between both dining cultures. This video explains it all, short and to the point.
Une moment sil vous plait!
I really love and appreciate the reverence and care the French take with food and the enjoyment of eating. ❤
Antoine and Colleen: We are still in Paris and found a jewel today. La Forge Restaurant in Les Goublins neighborhood. 14 Rue Pascal. I went for the cassoulet, and all the menu we tasted was fabulous! The warm goat cheese salad was to die for also. Wonderful couple that runs the restaurant and we highly recommend!! Joni & Steve Johnson
Will have to remember this for my next trip; Inlove cassoulet.
Thank you for this important video. As an American drilled in my manners, they are not always correct when traveling. Taking the time to research customs, etc. is a quintessential part of travel preparation, in my humble opinion. Immersing myself in the culture is why I travel.
Apropos of immersing oneself in the culture - the French take great pride in table manners and how they use their flatware (cutlery/silver) at table from the humble Bistro to the a la carte menu of the high end restaurant - decorum and elegant application are key elements in how one consumes any dish, a true compliment to fellow diners and the kitchen team who prepared it.
I felt compelled to post a comment to the hosts of this video drawing attention to the importance of table manners be it in a formal or informal setting particularly in France..
I ordered whelks as a starter. I'd never tried them before but after eating one or two I just could eat the rest. The waitress was very kind and brought me another starter. I was not charged for the whelks which I thought was very gracious. I got the impression that the waitress thought it was more important for me to enjoy what I was eating rather than dwell on me wasting a portion of their food. That's why I keep going back to France.
@@catherinemori4986 I wanted to try them, especially as they came with a garlic dip! However, I'll avoid doing that in future and will try to stick to what I know as I did feel a bit bad about sending them back. But the young waitress was really kind;)
@@LesFrenchiesTravel Thank you so much for your videos. They really help smooth the way for us tourists!
Yeah, "bulots" were one of my very very few bad food experiences in France. Not disgusting as such, but not appetising at all, for my money. (But I ate them because I'd ordered them!)
Definitely an acquired taste. The French also love Rouget -red mullet-which is a very bony, fishy tasting dish. I only ordered that once.
@@brianhynds6201Please don't refrain yourself from tasting new things. The key is when in doubt just ask. If you tell the waiter upfront that you are not sure, they will make their best to describe the taste, maybe go to the kitchen and bring you back a sample to help you decide, or any other solution they can come up with to help you to their best.
But we're also living a dangerous life. Taking risks is part of the thrill. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, every time you learn and improve.
You both are awesome. You both speak in such a soothing and relaxing way, I could listen to you two all day. My partner and I are visiting France this week from Miami. Your videos have been very helpful. Thank you for everything!
If you're still here next Thursday, join our meet-up!
@@LesFrenchiesTravel oh man, that would’ve been awesome, but we are leaving on Monday. Next time we come to Paris, we will let you know in advance. Thank you!
Bravo Colleen and Antoine, your content totally hits the sweet spot where information and entertainment meet! 👏👏👏
I love that you clearly enjoy food. The delight on your faces when each meal arrives!
Great vid! I might add, as a local, the payment process: there is a "logic" to know, when just going to the counter and pay there instead of waiting for the waiter. For lunch, most people do that, since the waiters are as you say, very busy. Also, I never tip! But, when for example in the US, I am a great tipper! Eating with your hands-- actually both the posh and the no posh, tend to pick up some frittes with their hands and the way we clean the plate with the bread, can actually be considered "to much" for outsiders...
I never tip either unless the service is outstanding. Tipping is definitely not that common in France :)
@@LesFrenchiesTravel no please do not bring tipping culture to France
I’m pleased you provided correction on these points.
@@marionarda2790 I don't think there is any risk of introducing a 'tipping culture' outside the US, but I think it's a great way to show your appreciation if your waitstaff gives you extra service.
When I travelled around France, I really appreciated the extra time that staff spent explaining the menu to me. Having been a server in my own (non-tipping) country, I appreciated the tips that that I was given for doing extra things.
You do What you want but you should tip, at least a bit, 2 or 3€, if staff is friendly of course
I own a restaurant and I’m always sad for the team when a table doesn’t tips
When I go to thé restaurant I always give 5, 10 or 20, dépends of the amount
Hi Frenchies. I am danish and I love Paris/France. Haven’t been to Paris for years, so your vlogs help compensating a lot👍. Thanks and keep ‘em coming.
Thank you for this video, so helpful when in France. I was just there and was very conscious of remembering to put my hands on the table in between courses as coming from Anglo culture I was always taught to do the opposite and told by my parents it was rude to rest your elbows on the table so naturally will put them on my lap.
Your channel and Paris travel guide was so helpful in my recent travels and made such a difference this time in my trip to France knowing where to go and how to engage with the locals. 👏 🇫🇷
There is a difference between your hands or your elbows on the table.
I am European and for the life of me I have no idea what I do with my hands at a restaurant. We must not exaggerate. If you eat at a 5 stars restaurant you dress up and you keep your hands on the table. If you eat at the restaurant down the street you enjoy yourself and nobody will check your hands.
@@alisonfraser8231 Agreed.
@@fds1805 if I'm at a pub or cafe with friends, I don't worry about where my elbows are, but if I'm somewhere less casual or with people I don't know well, I'll keep my elbows off the table. I don't have to think about it, it comes naturally. It's just like how you change the way you talk when talking to different people.
I'm in New Zealand BTW.
Felice…….I was raised the same, elbows, arms, hands off the table
Just got back from France after having a wonderful time. All your pointers are so logical. Love watching all that lovely food in your vid. My favourite cuisine. 🇦🇺🇫🇷
I found this vlog exceedingly helpful for my trip next spring. Although a lot of the places I chose are from your previous videos, including bakeries, outdoor markets, La Jacobine for french onion soup, Creperie Francais, La Louchebem for profiteroles, my absolute favorite dessert. I'm not a fancy restaurant eater, more budget and markets.
I lived in Montpellier and Paris in the 80's and loved eating out (although it was rare being a starving student), so I was only half listening to the etiquette rules...I was mostly loving watching the different meals! Wow! Some of those meals looked absolutely delicious and brought me way back! Fond memories.
My goodness! I have to see this again and takes notes! There are so many things to consider and be considerate of. Tipping, for me, is a given. It is always about gratitude for the service. In preparation for my upcoming trip I read all the menus, in French, from various restaurants. I print them out and use them to study. I started with the printable you provided from the video on how to order in a French restaurant. I now know many words and meals and practice saying them as well. I am a guest in any country I travel to. I never forget that. This video is a constant watch for me. Great work. Thank you!
You sound delightfully well prepared - i feel encouraged to read menus now!
And you are so on the ball practising saying it - correct pronunciation is so important, or people can't decipher what's being said.
Love les Frenchies❤ so grateful to you Colleen and Antoine for helping navigate and enjoy Paris! Your videos are so charming so much fun to watch! It brings more ooh la la into my life, merci🌹
Excellent advice as always. Most of these rules are really about having consideration, courtesy, and class. Been going to Paris for years and didn't realise the the napkins on the outside tables rule, but always thought it's pretty inconsiderate to just have a coffee when it's the evening hours for dinner. One thing I did learn recently though - if you have a couple drinks and l'addition is under 10 Euros, a lot of cafe's won't except payment by card - cash only.
A decade ago I was having dinner with a Parisian friend in a quiet bistro. Nearby there was an American woman very painfully trying trying to communicate with the waiter using a pocket dictionary. The waiter noticed that my friend and I were switching between English and French, and asked for our help. It seems the American woman was asking for a "bag of dogs" which puzzled the waiter. My Parisian friend explained the concept of a doggie bag to take home leftovers. The waiter replied "Really? Why would she want to do that?"
It s so stupid to ask for a doggiebag
Haha, that is so hilarious!
It would perhaps be helpful if travellers tried a different way to explain the concept. Often English speakers use idiom and seem clueless about how to switch to plain direct language instead.
The concept and the word "doggiebag" are very new in France.
And it's really not common to ask for one because usually meals are prepared for one regular serving (not too little, not too much).
In North American, portions tend to be much bigger and hard to finish in one meal.
@sylviaspijkers4349 Stupider still to not understand that someone wanted what they paid for.
That was a decade ago. Now it is very much an ingrained practice and people will ask for a doggie bag (litteraly, "je peux avoir un doggiebag s'il-vous-plaît" ?
Great work! This video is very insightful and presented in a pleasant way. Dining in Paris seems like a cultural experience as well as a meal.
thanks. Perfect timing, hubby and I are flying out from DC to Paris later today and we will be there tomorrow morning. We can use some of your “tips” while we are there. Thanks again.
As always, great information! Thank you!
As always, wonderfully useful. Thank you so much.
Thank you for another informative video ❤
Thank you so much for sharing being there in Paris.
Wow! Things that are good to know! And some of which I would not have even thought of. Thank you!
French Law since 1985 states that a Customer is not required to Tip after a meal. The 15%Service Charge is added to the Bill. This is because the Staff now have a Living Wage so can no longer, legally, expect to increase their wages through Tipping. They earn the same as the woman working at a Le Clerc Till, and she cannot rely on Tips.....
Just thought I'd point it out as Law.
That said, its entirely up to the Individual, of course. ( I live in Southern Feance and have never seen a French person tip whilst I was with them)
Loved this Video , as always. Thank you both
Canadian here. I find the tipping culture in North America is getting outrageous. I hope that the Americans do not export their tipping culture to France where service is included and tipping not required ( but appreciated of course who would not like some extra $ ). But at least you are not expected to pay anything more that the price on the menu ( tax and service included ).
@@uyen-phuongnguyen8757 Just back from the US and was astounded to see in some places a 3% 'medicare(?)' charge on top of the required gratuity. In effect, paying the employers health insurance obligations!! Seriously.
France is the best. thanks for the video
Amazing video as always 💛
Love your videos!!! Thank you for doing them. Paris is on my bucket list!!!
Yeah another enjoyable and helpful video! 💙💙💙
Excellent advice as usual! Thank you!
*You two are pure gems for providing us with this information. Thank you and keep up the good work!* 😊
Thanks much for sharing this! Really informative!
Loved the tip about tables to drink only.
Vous êtes sympa tous les deux, je vous regarde souvent. Bonne vidéo pour prévenir, les étrangers sur ce que l'on peut ou ne pas faire en France. Very important !!!
Great video and super informative! Thank you!
❤ so helpful and informative merci👏💕
Thanks for this immensely useful information!
Your channel is so helpful! Thank you so much for this 😊
Thank you for these videos! They’re a life saver. Would love to see a video about shopping in Paris! How to ask for the price of something, ask whether there’s a changing room etc
Great advice and to the point, thank you!
I spend a few days in Paris twice per year... and I still learned a lot from this video! Thank you.
BTW, I find Parisian waitors generally very helpful and friendly. It was that way back in the day -- just check out the movie "Garcon" with Yves Montand -- and it's that way now. But note that many restaurants have a shortage of personnel nowadays, and times are getting quite stressful for all kinds of restaurant staff. In early September near Denfert Rocherau, I even saw an over-worked waitress turn chairs upside down to prevent more patrons from coming to a full place. That's just how it is.
very true
Thank you for the informative but not overly dramatic video.
I will be in Paris in August for the first time in many years, and found this video most helpful! Thank you!
Very helpful!! Merci! ☺️
It is now possible to give a tip when you pay the meal with a credit card but not every restaurant have updated their payment terminals to accomodate for that new feature.
Aside from this, great tips and great video. I loved the Bourguignon benchmark in the beginning :)
I stumbled upon your channel today, and now i feel like i've watched all of your videos! Merci for this content!
Loved all the food that was brought to you!
Thank You 🙏 and Much Love..❤❤❤❤
You are true lovers of Paris, which I love about your videos. You spend time there with an appreciation for French culture. You even speak the language. Many people go abroad and come back complaining expecting people from other cultures to accommodate them and not vice versa. That's called arrogance. You go there with curiosity and appreciation.
Excellently presented, thanks.😃
Most useful...will certainly reference this video before my next trip..Merci
Merci beaucoup pour cette nouvelle e très jolie themè du debut de dimanche
Anotine and Colleen, thank you so much for this useful video! You really provide us with so much valuable content, it's incredible. My husband and I are going to Paris in 3 weeks and we are huge foodies! It's great to know that we can share meals too, because we would like to visit a number of places in the 5 days we'll be there. Also, it's normal to be able to grab a seat at most restaurants in the Netherlands, so it's good to know that this is considered rude in Paris. And I'll definitely be keeping my hands on the table! By the way, would sharing meals be allowed at Chez Rene, Chez Germain and Le Jacobine? I thought since you've been there, you may already know or be able to suss it out. Thank you!
Great vid and information.
The tips are general for at least southern Europe. I was taught from an early age to sit and eat, never eat whilst walking.
You both are amazing and we can’t wait to come back to Paris! 2024 🎉❤
Merci!
Great info, as usual!
Brilliant.
(Love the addition of the film clips.)
Another great video. Very helpful and very straighforward
I just adore your videos! I want to go to France, it has been years since I have been… the food is to die for!
Thanks very much for this. May I add something? I just spent two months in Paris (March and April 2023) and, because I rarely carry cash with me now, I made it a habit to ask if I could add the tip to my total. The servers did not have a problem with that. So if my meal with a friend were €40, I would ask to add €5 - and they gave me the receipt for €45 and we were done! When I realized I could do this for every meal, I asked every time. I got a nice big smile and “thank you,” because they were happy I was leaving a tip, and that was that!
Love all of your videos ❤ wonderful information, practical and very useful. Merci ❤❤❤
I also loved the movie clips 😄
Thank you for posting this, I didn't know it was so complicated to just get something to eat while travelling in France.
Actually, it's simpler in France, or seems so to me. It's just different, not more complicated.
another good video! keep it up! merci❤🇨🇵
This was super helpful. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the excellent tips, I didn't know about them
Merci beaucoup! Your videos are sage and hold me over until the next time I can visit France. Allez, on y va!
I’m drooling just looking at your plates!
Great video...thank you for the tips. I would add that an exception is while eating Tarte Flambee...you do so with your hands.
I saw Colleen cutting a burger in half & eating the half with her hands... I was thrilled because thats exactly how I eat mine. I now know that its ok to do so in Paris. My grandson & I will be visiting in September this year... from South Africa 🇿🇦
Funny and so true: When I moved to the US I was so confused about the NO hands on the table rule that was opposite to the hands ON the table rule growing up 😅!?!? The knife “gymnastics” is also important to note in France: No switching knife and fork back and forth between hands.
Great term “knife gymnastics”.
Yes as British people, we were always taught to never put our elbows or hands on the table. I didn't know about placing your hands on the table and I live in France ,😢
I'd never noticed people around me doing this,so will definitely need to pay better attention!
I'll adopt this practice from now on.
Only Americans eat with a fork and use it to cut food. Most people in Europe use a knife and fork when eating - I’m from the Uk and we definitely do. I’ve noticed how many American RUclipsrs use one hand which is so very odd haha
Many people now in trying to look posh hood k Ives like pens , haha , just showed themselves up as chavs , knives should be held with handle in palm of hand . .
Most of this is just good manners in UK too.
At first, sorry for my bad english and I wanna say thank you for yours videos. Im estonian and living in Finland. We are travel to Paris for a first time and i get a lot important informarion from your videos.
Excellent video and very informational. When I visited Paris last year and with only survival French, I would get a little afraid when in a restaurant. Therefore, I ate lots of street food. Your videos will help me more when I visit Paris in October. Thank you very much and Muchas gracias.
Ih how interesting about the right placing your knife and fork while you’re not done eating and when you’re done - that’s so helpful, what a great tip! Fantastic information overall, to no surprise - somehow you never seize to come out with great content, love it! ❤️
Canadian here, the placement of utensils to signify whether you are finished eating is a normal dining etiquette rule.
@@denysenielsen8115 Also used whilst dining out in UK. Well, that's how my husband and I were taught, anyway😊
Bread ON the table ??
Catering server here (Canada), we are so appreciative when people know how to place their cutlery! It just makes our lives so much easier- and stops us from trying to remove your plate before you are done!
@@Brightangel55We wash the table
Great tips for dining like the locals ❤
Thanks for the tips
Excellent video! 🤗
The last few videos have been perfect timing. We leave for France in less than 4 weeks!
great tips as usual
We enjoy your videos. Thanks
I enjoy your videos. I have a maison secondaire in Antibes and still enjoy hearing your explanations.
Great video thoroughly enjoyed it and some of those meals looked tres bien 👍 😊
Good thing I watched this! Did a few of these the last time I was there. Will do better next time!
French food looks so delicious! Catching a jet on Saturday.
Great tips
THX for the information - tipping is the most divers subject which confuses me most.... I heared many different things - but about10% seems the right way - Thanks
Great channel! Looking forward to my first trip to Paris (and Europe!) this summer with my family.
Much more useful than the many boring French lessons you get on-line (moi, je parle français).
I'll recommend you to my friends.
Let's see what you come up with next.
À la prochaine.
Hi ! Lovely video. About butter: my granddad would always ask for butter and prepare « tartines » while we waited for starters. I kept this habit until my late 20s. Was never turned down, charged for it or even given a weird look. It may be out of fashion today, but in any restaurant, brasserie or cafe worth their salt, you should be able to get butter free of charge if you ask for it. This excludes fine dining, where they want you to save your appetite for what comes out of the kitchen, and foreign cuisines.
I always start with "On va partager des..." How do you say "doggie bag" (order the leftovers to go) in French. Thanks for your helpful videos. We watched them every time we go to France and we always learn something new.
Thank you for this video! You've helped me feel less intimidated by the restaurants in Paris. I learned about terrace seating and plain water (although isn't okay to ask for a carafe d'eau?)
Thank you, you're stars, appreciate all of your advice and videos. X :)