← Guides · By Ray Lei · Published 2026-11-14

What do formule, menu and prix fixe mean on a French menu?

Q: What does formule mean on a French menu?

Formule refers to a fixed-price set meal, typically offered at lunch, that includes two courses — usually a choice of entrée (starter) + plat (main) or plat + dessert. It represents excellent value compared to ordering à la carte and is the standard way locals eat lunch at a brasserie or bistro. Some restaurants offer two formule options (a 2-course and a 3-course) at different prices.

Q: What is the difference between formule and menu in French?

In French restaurants, formule typically means a 2-course set (lunch), while menu means a full multi-course set (all three courses: entrée + plat + dessert, sometimes with wine or coffee included). Both are fixed-price offers. Menu is the more complete and usually more expensive option. Outside France, the word menu is used to mean the entire list of dishes (what French people call la carte).

Q: What is service compris on a French restaurant bill?

Service compris (or 'service inclus') means the tip is already included in the bill — usually 15%. In France, all restaurant prices by law must include the service charge, so the price you see on the menu is the final price. Additional tipping is not required, though leaving small change or rounding up is common for good service.

Formule is a 2-course lunch set (starter + main, or main + dessert) at a fixed price. Menu is a full 3-course set. Carte means ordering individual dishes freely. And in France, entrée means starter — not main course, as it does in American English.

Reading a French restaurant menu without knowing these terms leads to two common mistakes: ordering à la carte when a formule would have saved you money and given you a better meal, and ordering the entrée when you expected your main course. The vocabulary is small and consistent enough that learning it once pays off every time you eat in France.

French dining culture is built around unhurried meals eaten in a certain order, with set-price options at lunchtime that make restaurant dining genuinely accessible. The formule déjeuner (lunch set) is how most working Parisians eat out during the week. Skip it in favor of à la carte ordering and you spend more for less.

Key French menu terms explained

Term	What it means	Notes
Formule	Fixed-price 2-course lunch set	Usually entrée + plat or plat + dessert; best value option at lunchtime
Menu	Fixed-price 3-course set (all courses)	Entrée + plat + dessert; sometimes wine or coffee included; available at lunch and dinner
Prix fixe	Fixed price — equivalent to menu in France	The term is used more in US and international French restaurants than in France itself
La carte / à la carte	Ordering individual dishes from the full menu	What French people call "the menu" (the full list of dishes)
Plat du jour	Today's daily special — one main course	Often the best value single dish; changes daily; ask the server what it is
Entrée	Starter (first course)	Not the main course; the main course is le plat or plat principal
Plat / Plat principal	Main course	What would be called the "entrée" in American English
Dessert / Fromage	Dessert / Cheese course	Cheese (fromage) often comes before dessert in formal meals

The entrée trap: why this word is so confusing

The word "entrée" comes from the French verb entrer — "to enter." It referred to the dish that entered (began) the meal, meaning the first course. In France and most of the world that uses French culinary terminology, entrée still means starter.

In the United States, the word migrated to mean the main course — possibly because in elaborate 19th-century banquets, the "entrée" preceded the roast and was itself a substantial dish. The American usage stuck and diverged from the French original. The result is that American diners in France regularly order what they think is their main course and receive a small starter instead.

The rule is simple: in France, entrée = starter. The main course is le plat.

How the formule works in practice

At a typical Parisian brasserie or bistro at lunchtime, the formule will be listed on a chalkboard or small insert with a fixed price — typically €14–22. It offers two or three choices for each course:

Entrée (choose from 2–3 starters)
Plat (choose from 2–3 main courses)
Dessert (choose from 2–3 desserts, if the formule includes dessert)

You choose one option from each category included in your formule. Wine, water, and coffee are ordered and charged separately unless the menu explicitly includes them (menu + vin, etc.). The formule is typically only available at lunchtime (service de midi). At dinner, most restaurants only offer full menus or à la carte ordering.

Practical notes for dining in France

Lunch menu is excellent value. The formule déjeuner is how locals eat affordably at good restaurants. A bistro that charges €40+ per person at dinner often offers a 2-course lunch formule for €15–18 using the same kitchen. Eating your main meal at lunch and a lighter dinner is a sensible French habit.
Wine is listed separately. Even when the menu says "boisson comprise" (drink included), this usually means a glass of wine or a small carafe of house wine — confirm with the server what is included. Bottles of wine and additional drinks are charged separately.
Bread is free. At almost all French restaurants, bread is brought to the table and is included. You can ask for more. Butter is not always served, particularly at formal restaurants where bread accompanies dishes rather than arriving as a pre-meal snack.
Service compris means tip is included. French law requires that menu prices include a 15% service charge. Additional tipping is not expected, though leaving small change for exceptional service is appreciated.
Water is served still (plate) or sparkling (gazeuse). Ask for "une carafe d'eau" for free tap water. Otherwise you will be offered a bottle of mineral water, which will be charged.
Café is ordered separately and comes at the end. An espresso (un café, un express) after the meal is standard. It is ordered separately and costs extra. Do not ask for the bill and a coffee simultaneously — the coffee typically comes before the bill.

Translate a French menu with ChefBear

When the menu is in French and you want to understand what every dish actually is before choosing your formule options, ChefBear scans and translates French restaurant menus with dish descriptions and photos. Useful when the plat du jour is written on a chalkboard across the room.

Frequently asked questions

What does formule mean on a French menu?

Formule refers to a fixed-price set meal, typically at lunch, that includes two courses — usually a choice of entrée (starter) + plat (main) or plat + dessert. It represents excellent value compared to ordering à la carte and is the standard way locals eat lunch at a brasserie or bistro.

What is the difference between formule and menu in French?

Formule typically means a 2-course set (lunch), while menu means a full multi-course set (all three courses: entrée + plat + dessert, sometimes with wine or coffee included). Both are fixed-price offers. Menu is the more complete and usually more expensive option.

Does entrée mean starter or main course in France?

In France, entrée means starter — it is the first course before the main. The main course is le plat or le plat principal. This is the opposite of American English usage, where "entrée" means the main course.

Is bread free at French restaurants?

Yes. At most French restaurants, bread (pain) is brought to the table free of charge. Butter is not always served with it. You can ask for more bread by saying "Pourriez-vous nous apporter du pain, s'il vous plaît?"

What is service compris on a French restaurant bill?

Service compris (or service inclus) means the tip is already included in the bill — usually 15%. In France, all restaurant prices by law must include the service charge. Additional tipping is not required, though leaving small change is common for good service.