# Surviving French Bakeries and Bistros

**Language:** French  
**CEFR Level:** A1  

> Master essential French for ordering baguettes, requesting tap water, and asking for the bill. Practice listening and speaking on the go to sound polite and confident in Paris.

**Setting:** The charming streets of Paris, moving between a bustling local boulangerie and a classic corner bistro. You will navigate ordering food, interacting with waitstaff, and paying the bill.

## Lessons

### 1. Basic politeness in France

Learn the essential greetings to use when entering any French shop.

**Vocabulary:**
- bonjour (hello)
- merci (thank you)
- s'il vous plaît (please)
- au revoir (goodbye)
- monsieur (sir)

**Objectives:**
- Greet shopkeepers appropriately
- Say please and thank you

### 2. At the boulangerie

Step into a French bakery and learn how to ask for bread politely.

**Vocabulary:**
- la boulangerie (the bakery)
- la baguette (the baguette)
- le pain (the bread)
- je voudrais (I would like)
- une tradition (a traditional baguette)

**Objectives:**
- Identify a bakery
- Order a traditional baguette

### 3. Ordering French pastries

Expand your bakery order to include classic French morning treats.

**Vocabulary:**
- la viennoiserie (the pastry)
- le croissant (the croissant)
- le pain au chocolat (the chocolate croissant)
- avec (with)
- et (and)

**Objectives:**
- Order common pastries
- Use basic conjunctions to link items

### 4. Paying at the bakery

Specify how many items you want and ask for the total price.

**Vocabulary:**
- un (one)
- deux (two)
- trois (three)
- ça fait combien ? (how much is that?)
- l'euro (the euro)

**Objectives:**
- State numbers one to three
- Ask how much something costs

### 5. Arriving at the bistro

Catch a server's attention politely when you arrive at a busy bistro.

**Vocabulary:**
- le bistro (the bistro)
- pardon (excuse me)
- excusez-moi (excuse me)
- oui (yes)
- la serveuse (the waitress)

**Objectives:**
- Get a waiter's attention
- Use polite interruption phrases

### 6. Asking for a table

Request seating for your group and ask to see the menu.

**Vocabulary:**
- la table (the table)
- pour (for)
- la personne (the person)
- la carte (the menu)
- regarder (to look)

**Objectives:**
- Ask for a table for a specific number of people
- Request the menu

### 7. Ordering drinks and water

Learn how to order coffee, tea, and specifically ask for free tap water.

**Vocabulary:**
- la boisson (the drink)
- la carafe d'eau (the jug of tap water)
- le café (the coffee)
- le thé (the tea)
- le vin (the wine)

**Objectives:**
- Order hot drinks
- Request a complimentary jug of tap water

### 8. Needing more time

Tell the waiter you need another minute to look at the menu.

**Vocabulary:**
- une minute (one minute)
- encore (still/more)
- choisir (to choose)
- je prends (I'll take)
- d'accord (okay)

**Objectives:**
- Ask for more time to decide
- Indicate you are ready to order

### 9. Ordering your meal

Use the correct verbs to order your lunch or dinner politely.

**Vocabulary:**
- le plat (the dish)
- le déjeuner (the lunch)
- le dîner (the dinner)
- manger (to eat)
- la faim (the hunger)

**Objectives:**
- Order a main dish
- Express that you are hungry

### 10. How to order steak

Navigate the French preferences for cooking meat to get your steak just right.

**Vocabulary:**
- le steak (the steak)
- la viande (the meat)
- saignant (rare)
- à point (medium)
- bien cuit (well-done)

**Objectives:**
- Order meat
- Specify how well-done you want your steak

### 11. Side dishes and seasonings

Ask for classic bistro sides and request salt or pepper.

**Vocabulary:**
- les frites (the fries)
- la salade (the salad)
- le sel (the salt)
- le poivre (the pepper)
- délicieux (delicious)

**Objectives:**
- Order side dishes like fries or salad
- Ask for basic condiments

### 12. Asking for the bill

Remember that the bill won't come automatically—you have to ask for it!

**Vocabulary:**
- l'addition (the bill)
- payer (to pay)
- par carte (by card)
- en espèces (in cash)
- l'argent (the money)

**Objectives:**
- Request the bill
- Discuss payment methods

### 13. Tipping and leaving

Understand how service charges work in France and when to leave a tip.

**Vocabulary:**
- le pourboire (the tip)
- le service (the service)
- compris (included)
- très bien (very good)
- à bientôt (see you soon)

**Objectives:**
- Understand that service is included
- Decide whether to leave an extra tip

### 14. Reviewing your bistro experience

Wrap up your meal, express your satisfaction, and wish the staff a good day.

**Vocabulary:**
- bon (good)
- mauvais (bad)
- aimer (to like)
- le repas (the meal)
- bonne journée (have a good day)

**Objectives:**
- Express whether food is good or bad
- Wish someone a good day