Bistro vs. Brasserie vs. Restaurant vs. Bouillon
A Restaurant serves lunch strictly from 12:00–2:00 PM and dinner from 7:30–10:00 PM. A Bistro offers chalk-board seasonal dishes ('ardoise') and daily lunch specials. A Brasserie or Café serves food continuously all day ('service continu')—lifesaving when you finish a museum at 3:30 PM. A Bouillon is a Belle Époque workers' dining hall serving €3.50 deviled eggs ('œufs mayonnaise') and €12 boeuf bourguignon.
Carafe d'Eau, Service Compris & Steak Cuisson
By French law, every restaurant meal includes free bread, condiments, and tap water—just ask for 'une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît' (asking for 'water' may bring a €7 bottle of Evian or Badoit). Also by law, a 15% service charge ('service compris') is already built into every menu price; round up €1–€2 for coffee or leave €3–€5 on the table for great bistro service. For steak doneness: 'Bleu' = very rare, 'Saignant' = rare (French default), 'À point' = medium-rare, 'Bien cuit' = well-done.
Key Takeaways & Local Tips
- Verify schedules and book high-speed train tickets directly on SNCF Connect or the Bonjour RATP app.
- Save our offline French Phrasebook & Allergy Show-Cards on your phone before boarding your flight.
- Always greet staff with 'Bonjour' before asking a question in English or French.
Official sources & further reading
Rules, prices and schedules change. Confirm details here before you travel: