How to Choose a Restaurant and Order in France

Overwhelmed by the sheer number of restaurants in Paris, or worried that Parisians will be unfriendly? Start by learning the main types of eateries. Our guide always checks Google reviews and skips any place whose recent reviews complain about the food or service. The three main types in France are the brasserie, the bistro and the restaurant.

A brasserie originally meant a brewery, but today it is a traditional restaurant serving food all day. The menu is the same from morning to night and features French classics: steak frites, beef tartare, and charcuterie platters of assorted hams and sausages. Brasseries became fashionable in 19th-century Paris, and many still have big halls, high ceilings, large mirrors and ornate decor. The atmosphere is lively and bustling, with waiters in formal attire dashing between tables and service that tends to be quick. Many stay open late, making them a good choice after a show or a film.

A bistro was originally a small tavern and now means a small neighborhood restaurant. It serves home-style traditional dishes at relatively low prices from a short menu: onion soup or the stew of the day, for example, served quickly and without fuss. Bistros usually open only for lunch and dinner and may close in between. There is even an anecdote that the word "bistro" comes from the Russian word for "quickly," so expect food to arrive promptly.

"Restaurant" is the broadest term, covering everything from casual spots to high-end fine dining. In practice it often refers to a place that is more formal than a bistro or brasserie and serves a full meal. Many restaurants open only at set lunch and dinner hours and close in the afternoon. They tend to put more care into service and menus, and are where people go to celebrate or to dine formally. Some require reservations, and the smaller the restaurant, the more essential booking becomes. France also has a well-developed rating culture led by the Michelin Guide, and starred restaurants offer the finest dining experiences. But you don't need to spend a lot: a small neighborhood restaurant can serve a wonderful French meal.

Beyond these, a café mostly serves coffee and drinks along with light food such as a croque-monsieur or a sandwich, while a bar focuses on drinks and snacks and opens from around 4 or 5 p.m. Pick whichever suits the kind of meal you want. Locals are also enthusiastic about the neobistrot, a modern reinterpretation of the traditional bistro. Neobistrots offer good value and fresh styles of cooking, which appeals to locals tired of classic dishes. When our guide visited, many of them were reworking Asian spices and seasonings in their own way.

Our guide's rules for picking a good restaurant: choose the type of place that fits your schedule and budget, and favor places full of locals, since regulars are proof that a restaurant is consistently loved. Avoid places with overly long menus; restaurants with a few signature dishes have usually been more satisfying. Aim for somewhere neither too expensive nor too cheap. The Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand category, which highlights good-value restaurants, is also a useful reference.

French restaurants are famous for slow service. Traditionally, the next course is cooked only after you finish the previous one, so each dish arrives at its best temperature and flavor and you can focus on it. If you are short on time, you can ask in advance for your dishes to be served together.

A few more tips. Bread is often unlimited in France, and the French mop up every last bit of sauce with it. If you are still hungry, feel free to ask for more.

Tap water, a carafe d'eau, is free, while still water (l'eau plate) and sparkling water (l'eau gazeuse or l'eau pétillante) cost money. To get free water, ask for "Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît."

You usually pay at your table, although this is changing a little. When you are ready to leave, catch your server's eye and say "L'addition, s'il vous plaît" (the bill, please). Say "Par carte" to pay by card or "En espèces" for cash. Since French prices already include VAT, tipping isn't expected. If the service was truly outstanding, leaving a little spare change is plenty.