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Lesson 84 of 240

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Getting a table in French

Saturday lunch at Café des Tilleuls is packed. Sam wants a table for two, and he has a name on a list.

Odile still will not put anyone at the window table. Gaspard sits next to it, café crème untouched.

By the end, you'll say you have a reservation, give the name, ask for a table for two, book one, and ask how long the wait is.

Staff get vous. The window table stays empty.

By the end of this lesson

Ask for a table, a booking, and how long the wait is.

  • J'ai une réservation.I have a reservation
  • C'est à quel nom ?Under what name?
  • Au nom de ___.Under the name ___
  • Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.A table for two, please
  • Il faut attendre combien de temps ?How long is the wait?
  • Je voudrais réserver une table.I'd like to book a table

Scene — the café is packed

Same café, a busy Saturday. Sam pushes the door. Odile is at the zinc counter with a list in her hand.

The window table is empty, blank brass sign in place. Gaspard sits at the next table on two chairs, croissant and café crème still waiting.

Sam pushes the door of the busy zinc café while Odile stands at the counter and Gaspard sits by the window.

Learn — a name and a wait

Six short lines cover a booking, the name on the list, a table for two, and how long you wait.

You'll use vous with staff at the door.

  1. Sam plants a palm on the zinc counter, facing Odile as if claiming a reserved table.

    J'ai une réservation.

    I have a reservation

    When to use it: Say this when you booked a table and you arrive.

    Une goes with réservation because the word is feminine.

    Say it: The on in réservation is a nasal sound.

  2. Odile looks up from a sheet of paper behind the zinc, waiting for a name.

    C'est à quel nom ?

    Under what name?

    When to use it: Staff ask this to find your booking on the list.

    You answer with a name after de, not with I am.

    Say it: The t in C'est can link into à.

  3. From behind Odile, Sam leans in and taps the sheet of paper on the counter.

    Au nom de ___.

    Under the name ___

    When to use it: Give the name the booking is under.

    Au is à plus le, said as one piece before a name.

  4. Sam opens a palm toward two empty chairs at the window while Gaspard sits on two chairs at the next table.

    Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.

    A table for two, please

    When to use it: Ask staff for a table when there are two of you.

    Vous in this please is for staff, not for a friend.

    Say it: In s'il, the i is elided before il.

  5. Sam turns from the zinc in profile to scan the packed dining room while Odile watches.

    Il faut attendre combien de temps ?

    How long is the wait?

    When to use it: Ask staff how long until a table is free.

    Combien de temps asks how long, not how much it costs.

    Say it: The p in temps is silent; the vowel is nasal.

  6. Sam's hand rests on the zinc beside an open pad while Odile holds a pen above the page.

    Je voudrais réserver une table.

    I'd like to book a table

    When to use it: Say this when you want to make a booking.

    Voudrais is a polite I'd like, softer than I want.

    Say it: The last s in voudrais is silent.

Story — not that table

Watch Sam try to get a table at a busy Saturday lunch. Odile keeps the window table empty, as always.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. A man is already at the counter. Sam waits just inside the door.
  2. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  3. StrangerBonjour. Je voudrais réserver une table.Hello. I'd like to book a table.
  4. OdileC'est complet.We're full.
  5. She looks at Sam. The terrace is full.
  6. SamBonjour. J'ai une réservation.Hello. I have a reservation.
  7. OdileC'est à quel nom ?Under what name?
  8. SamAu nom de Sam.Under the name Sam.
  9. OdilePour deux ?For two?
  10. SamUne table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.A table for two, please.
  11. She checks a list. Sam's name is there, but his table is not ready. She glances at the empty window table.
  12. OdileC'est réservé. Pas cette table.It's reserved. Not that table.
  13. SamIl faut attendre combien de temps ?How long is the wait?
  14. OdilePas longtemps, mon grand. Mais pas là.Not long, dear. But not there.
  15. Gaspard stays on his two chairs. The café crème is still full.
  16. GaspardMoi, je reste ici.I'll stay here.

Practice — book or wait

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, match, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay short, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    You walk into Café des Tilleuls at lunch. Greet Odile before saying anything else.

  3. What does it mean?

    C'est à quel nom ?

  4. Fill the gap

    How long is the wait?

    Il faut ____ combien de temps ?

  5. What do you say?

    You did not book ahead. There are two of you. Ask staff for a table.

  6. Swap the word

    You want to book a table at the café, not a hotel room.

    Je voudrais réserver une ____.

  7. Pick the reply

    Odile says:

    C'est à quel nom ?

    Under what name?

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    A table for two, please

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. True or false?

    This means the table is free.

  10. Find the mistake

  11. True or false?

    This means anyone may sit at that table.

Say it — ask at the door

Now you're Sam at the door on a packed Saturday. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  2. Sam (you)You booked ahead. Tell her that.

    J'ai une réservation.

    I have a reservation

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
J'ai une réservation.I have a reservation
C'est à quel nom ?Under what name?
Au nom de ___.Under the name ___
Une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.A table for two, please
Il faut attendre combien de temps ?How long is the wait?
Je voudrais réserver une table.I'd like to book a table
Next: lesson 85Questions at the café

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these table lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your booking lines ready for a busy café.

Open Yak Cards