Dialogue

A table for two in French: arriving without a reservation

Walk into a restaurant, ask for a table and understand the wait. Practise a complete arrival dialogue and explore the restaurant entrance.

In short

Start with Bonjour, vous avez une table pour deux ? If asked whether you booked, say Non, nous n’avons pas réservé. To check a wait, ask Il y a combien de temps d’attente ?

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Your lines are hidden in practice mode. Say them aloud, then reveal to compare.
  1. You

    Bonjour, vous avez une table pour deux personnes ?

    Hello, do you have a table for two people?

    English

    Hello, do you have a table for two people?

  2. Server

    Vous avez réservé ?

    English

    Have you booked?

  3. You

    Non, nous n’avons pas réservé.

    No, we haven’t booked.

    English

    No, we haven’t booked.

  4. Server

    Pour le moment, c’est complet. Il y a environ vingt minutes d’attente.

    English

    We’re full at the moment. There’s a wait of about twenty minutes.

  5. You

    D’accord. On peut attendre ici ?

    All right. Can we wait here?

    English

    All right. Can we wait here?

  6. Server

    Oui. C’est à quel nom ?

    English

    Yes. What name?

  7. You

    Lina Morel.

    Lina Morel.

    English

    Lina Morel.

  8. Server

    Merci. Je vous préviens quand la table est prête.

    English

    Thank you. I’ll let you know when the table is ready.

  9. Server

    Madame Morel ? Votre table est prête. Suivez-moi, s’il vous plaît.

    English

    Ms Morel? Your table is ready. Follow me, please.

  10. You

    Merci beaucoup.

    Thank you very much.

    English

    Thank you very much.

Change the number; keep the question
SituationFrenchMeaning
You are aloneVous avez une table pour une personne ?Do you have a table for one?
A group of threeNous sommes trois.There are three of us.
You prefer outsideEn terrasse, c’est possible ?Is outside possible?
The wait is too longMerci, nous allons chercher ailleurs.Thank you, we’ll look elsewhere.

Environ vingt minutes means about twenty minutes. The later line Votre table est prête tells you it is time to follow the server. For an immediate table, you may hear Oui, installez-vous (yes, take a seat).

Find your way from the entrance to the table

A welcoming small French restaurant viewed from the entrance in daylight. A host stands by a reception desk, a wooden bench is beside the entrance door, a vacan
Question 1No account needed
What does Nous sommes trois tell the server?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

There are three people in your group.. With people asking for a table, nous sommes trois gives the group size.

Question 2No account needed
Which line invites you to follow the server now?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Votre table est prête. Suivez-moi.. The table is ready, and suivez-moi means “follow me”.