Menu or à la carte?

Menu or à la carte?

If it’s your first visit to a French restaurant, it can be confusing. A menu (list of what’s on offer) is la carte and a menu is a set-priced meal, usually comprising three courses: a starter (entrée) main course (plat) and dessert. Or you can order à la carte, choosing from the list (although usually this will be more expensive).

The menu often has at least two choices for each course, and you can usually just order one or two if you aren’t that hungry, ie entrée + plat, or plat + dessert. If one of the offerings is expensive, it may carry an extra charge (supp. €2) or (+€2). Don’t be afraid to order two entrées or two plats if you want.