French restaurant booking phrases (A0–A2) — reserve, arrive, order
French restaurant booking phrases help you secure a table, arrive smoothly, and start the meal with confidence. This A0–A2 guide gives you short bilingual lines with IPA, plus etiquette and pronunciation tips. You’ll learn to book by phone, confirm arrivals, request seating, handle timing, and order basics clearly and politely.
1) Booking by phone (simple model)
State the number of people, day/time, and your name. Finish with a polite thank-you.
🇫🇷 FR — Bonjour, je voudrais réserver une table pour deux, samedi à vingt heures, au nom de Martin. /ʒə vudʁɛ ʁezeʁve yn tabl puʁ dø samdi a vɛ̃t œʁ o nɔ̃ də maʁtɛ̃/
🇺🇸 EN — Hello, I’d like to book a table for two, Saturday at 8 p.m., under the name Martin.
🇫🇷 FR — C’est possible en terrasse ? /sɛ pɔsibl ɑ̃ tɛʁas/
🇺🇸 EN — Is the terrace possible?
Check the dictionary nuance of réserver on Larousse here. Paris’ official tourism board lists restaurant types and customs here.
2) Arriving at the restaurant (confirm politely)
🇫🇷 FR — Bonjour, nous avons une réservation à dix-neuf heures, au nom de Martin. /nu zavɔ̃ yn ʁezɛʁvasjɔ̃ a diznœv œʁ o nɔ̃ də maʁtɛ̃/
🇺🇸 EN — Hello, we have a reservation at 7 p.m., under the name Martin.
🇫🇷 FR — Une table près de la fenêtre, s’il vous plaît. /yn tabl pʁɛ də la fənɛtʁ/
🇺🇸 EN — A table near the window, please.
🇫🇷 FR — Nous serons trois finalement. /nu səʁɔ̃ tʁwa finalmɑ̃/
🇺🇸 EN — We’ll be three after all.
3) Timing, allergies, and small requests
🇫🇷 FR — Nous arriverons avec dix minutes de retard. /ʁətaʁ/
🇺🇸 EN — We’ll arrive ten minutes late.
🇫🇷 FR — Je suis allergique aux noix. /alɛʁʒik o nwa/
🇺🇸 EN — I’m allergic to nuts.
🇫🇷 FR — Une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plaît. /kaʁaf do/
🇺🇸 EN — A jug of tap water, please.
🇫🇷 FR — Pourrions-nous avoir une chaise haute ? /puʁjɔ̃ nu avwaʁ yn ʃɛz ot/
🇺🇸 EN — Could we have a high chair?
4) Start ordering (A1→A2 frames)
Use a simple frame (Je voudrais…) or a slightly richer A2 frame with course names or cooking preferences.
🇫🇷 FR — Je voudrais le menu du jour, s’il vous plaît. /ʒə vudʁɛ lə məny du ʒuʁ/
🇺🇸 EN — I’d like the daily special, please.
🇫🇷 FR — En entrée, une soupe à l’oignon ; en plat, le poulet rôti ; et pour moi, bien cuit, s’il vous plaît. /ɑ̃n ɑ̃tʁe … bjɛ̃ kɥi/
🇺🇸 EN — As a starter, onion soup; for the main, roast chicken; and for me, well-done, please.
🇫🇷 FR — Sans coriandre, si possible. /sɑ̃ kɔʁjɑ̃d/
🇺🇸 EN — Without coriander, if possible.
5) Changing or confirming a booking
🇫🇷 FR — Serait-il possible d’avancer la réservation à 19h30 ? /sʁɛtil pɔsibl davɑ̃se la ʁezɛʁvasjɔ̃ a diznœv œʁ tʁɑ̃t/
🇺🇸 EN — Would it be possible to move the reservation to 7:30 p.m.?
🇫🇷 FR — Nous confirmons pour ce soir, merci. /nu kɔ̃fiʁmɔ̃ puʁ sə swaʁ/
🇺🇸 EN — We confirm for this evening, thanks.
Pronunciation keys (fast wins)
- Nasal vowels: In nom /nɔ̃/ and bon /bɔ̃/, keep air through the nose—don’t add a hard “n”.
- French R: Light throat friction, short and calm, not rolled.
- Liaison: Hear the link in vous‿avez /vu.zave/ when staff speak quickly.
Study glossary (FR → IPA → EN)
| FR | IPA | EN |
|---|---|---|
| Réserver | /ʁezeʁve/ | To book/reserve |
| Une réservation | /yn ʁezɛʁvasjɔ̃/ | A reservation/booking |
| Une table pour deux/quatre | /yn tabl puʁ dø/katʁ/ | A table for two/four |
| En terrasse | /ɑ̃ tɛʁas/ | On the terrace |
| Près de la fenêtre | /pʁɛ də la fənɛtʁ/ | Near the window |
| Allergique | /alɛʁʒik/ | Allergic |
| Carafe d’eau | /kaʁaf do/ | Jug of tap water |
| Menu du jour | /məny dy ʒuʁ/ | Daily special |
| Bien cuit | /bjɛ̃ kɥi/ | Well-done |
| Avancer/Reporter | /avɑ̃se/ · /ʁɔpɔʁte/ | Move earlier/postpone |
| Confirmer | /kɔ̃fiʁme/ | To confirm |
| Au nom de… | /o nɔ̃ də/ | Under the name… |
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