Country menu guides
Formule vs menu: French set menus explained
On a French menu, a formule is a set price for two courses — usually entrée + plat or plat + dessert — and a menu is a fixed-price meal of three or more courses. Both cost less than the same dishes ordered à la carte. Watch for a supplément on premium dishes and check whether a drink is included (boisson comprise).
- On the menu
- Formule / Menu
- Meaning
- Set-price deals: a formule is usually two courses, a menu usually three or more.
The small print: supplements, drinks and days
- Supplément (+ 4 €) next to a dish means it's part of the deal but costs extra — typically a premium cut, foie gras or seafood.
- Boisson comprise / non comprise tells you whether a drink is included. French rules require menus to say so, and to state which drink and how much (e.g. ¼ de vin ou eau minérale).
- Café compris means an espresso is included at the end.
- Le midi, du lundi au vendredi or sauf week-end et jours fériés means the deal only runs at weekday lunch.
What to do
- Lunch formules are the cheapest way to eat well in France. Plan your big meal for midday.
- Order by naming the deal and your choices: la formule, avec la soupe et le poisson.
- If you photograph the board with MenuGuide, every dish is translated and the prices are converted to your currency, which makes comparing the formule with à la carte quick.
Frequently asked questions
What does formule mean on a French menu?
A formule is a set-price deal, usually two courses: a starter and a main, or a main and a dessert, for one price. It's most common at lunch, where it's the best-value way to eat. Some restaurants also call a three-course deal a formule. Each course is a choice from a short list.
Is a French menu the same as the menu card?
No. In French, "le menu" is a fixed-price meal of several courses, while the card listing all the dishes is "la carte". If you ask for "le menu", the waiter may think you want the set meal. Ordering "à la carte" means choosing individual dishes at their own prices instead of a set deal.
What does supplément mean in a French set menu?
A supplément is an extra charge on a specific dish inside a formule or menu, shown as + 3 € or + 5 € next to it. You can still choose that dish as part of the deal, but you pay the set price plus the supplement. Supplements usually apply to premium items like steak, seafood or foie gras.
Are drinks included in a French formule?
Only if it says so. Look for "boisson comprise" (drink included) or "boisson non comprise" (not included). French rules require the menu to state this and to specify the drink and quantity, such as a quarter litre of wine or a mineral water. Free tap water with your meal is always available on request.
