6 Annoying Things About Restaurants in France
Last week I wrote about Why I Love Dining Out in France, and why I appreciate and, in most cases, prefer the French dining experience over eating out in the US. However, there are several things about French restaurants that take getting used to — some of which annoy the heck out of me.
Lunch only between noon and 2 pm
Restaurants, at least the better ones, have set hours. Coming from the US where many restaurants serve food continually from 11 am until 10 pm, it’s something I’ve had to get used to, but it’s still annoying. While lunch is generally served from noon to 1:30 or 2 pm, don’t expect to waltz in at 1 pm and be served. When you ask for a table, you’ll likely hear my least favorite word “Complet,” meaning it’s full. This is because most restaurants are small and only have one seating per service.
It’s best to either show up at noon or make a reservation. I prefer to be more spontaneous, and not having to choose the restaurant ahead of time and eat at a set hour. However, if my friends and I don't get an early start on our daytrip adventure, by the time we arrive at a village and look around it’s already 1:00 p.m. and every restaurant is “complet.”
Having to wait till 7 or 7:30 pm to eat dinner
I like to eat dinner early. It lowers my risk of heartburn, helps me maintain my weight, and frankly, by 5 or 6 pm I’m hungry. I’m always ready for the early-bird special. But you won’t find those in France. If you’re in a big city, you’ll have brasseries open throughout the day, but serving a limited menu. They’ll have salads and sandwiches like hamburgers and Croque Monsieur (the classic French grilled ham and cheese sandwich). In the countryside or small towns, unless you’re near a tourist attraction, your only option will be a sandwich or quiche at a boulangerie — if they haven’t sold out.
What I suggest, is to simply do like the French and stop at a café to enjoy an apéritif. It’s the most popular place to be between 5 and 7 pm. Just be aware that not all places that serve drinks will have food. Choose a cafe where you can order a charcuterie plate or light appetizers to accompany your wine, beer, cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage.
No guarantee a restaurant will be open
Don’t rely on a restaurant’s website, Google listing, Facebook page or the sign in their window for opening hours. I’ve learned this the hard way, showing up only to find the establishment closed, and a sign saying they have gone on vacation. It’s fairly common in France for small businesses to close for several weeks a year.
If it’s a place you have your heart set on, call ahead to be sure they are open, and make a reservation. If you don’t speak French, check the restaurant’s website to see if they take reservations online. I’m glad I called the other night before heading out to my favorite creperie. They had a power outage and had to shut down for the night.
Lack of ethnic cuisine
From small, village cafes to Michelin-star restaurants in cities, traditional French fare is by far the most popular cuisine. Where I live, in historic Brittany, creperies serving savory galettes and sweet crepes are a close second. While I love traditional French cuisine, I crave ethnic food. I enjoy the variety of flavors and spices each country brings to its cooking, and my tastebuds are always yearning for something new. But unless you’re in a big city like Paris, you’ll find little diversity in restaurants.
Ethnic food is often limited to fast-food options like kabob shops, food trucks serving cuisine from Senegal, and plenty of pizza parlors. There are one or two Indian, Thai, Chinese and Japanese restaurants in my area. But I miss Mexican, Ethiopian, Burmese, Cuban, Korean, Greek and Lebanese restaurants — all of which were walking distance from my home in Portland, Oregon. I was so spoiled. Here, I have to travel further to Nantes or Rennes to experience other ethnic cuisines.
Lack of spices
The other thing about ethnic cuisine is that the spices are adapted or Frenchified for the taste buds of the French. Which means it’s not very flavorful. The spices used are either not the same as I’m used to in the US, or they are very muted, to the point where I can barely taste the curry powder in an Indian dish. And forget about the heat. The French are not into spicy.
Some ethic restaurants go so far as to “French-a-fry” their food by stuffing frites into every dish. When I go to a kabab shop or food truck looking for those rich middle-eastern flavors, I get some mildly seasoned meat on a bland, cold pita stuffed with fried potatoes.
I’ve been craving Mexican food, but I discovered you won’t find any at a French “taco” place. It’s another fast-food joint serving hamburgers, chicken tenders and their “tacos,” which are large grilled tortillas filled with ground meat, fries, cheese sauce and mayonnaise.
Smokers
Although certainly not unique to France, the country still has a fare percentage of smokers. Smoking is not allowed inside a restaurant or café. However, you’ll see plenty of smokers outside. If the weather is lovely, of course you’ll want to dine al fresco or enjoy a drink at a sidewalk café. Just be sure you’re not downwind of smokers as they will have no qualms about lighting up just as you’re about to dig into your meal.
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That’s all the complaining I’ll do, as rest assured, wherever you go in France you’ll find wonderful restaurants with great food. If you have not read Why I Love Dining Out in France yet, please do. As it’s filled with tips on what to expect and how to make the most of your French dining experience. I wish you “bon appetite” on your next trip to France.
