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Navigating a dinner party or eating out in France can be a minefield. We take a look at how not to behave when eating in France from the most common everyday offences, to the strictest

etiquette faux pas that even French people make.

Do not arrive exactly on time or – even worse – early for a dinner at a French person’s home. It is customary to arrive around 15 minutes late to ensure your host is ready and not surprise

them by arriving too early. 

Dinners are no different to other situations in France, where it is polite to greet every single person, no matter how many are present.

It is common for guests to take a gift when invited for dinner in a French home, such as a bottle of wine, even if the host has said you do not need to bring anything. 

However, do not always expect that you will drink the bottle that evening. It is unlikely you will know what is being served and will be able to bring the right wine, so view the bottle more

as a present for the host. 

Read more: ‘Tchin tchin’, ‘santé’, eye contact: The rituals of French apéros

Despite being widely used in France, many experts in classic French dining etiquette say using the common phrase is tantamount to bringing up digestive habits over the dinner table – a

definite no-no. 

Instead, they suggest saying something like “this looks delicious” as a polite alternative. 

Place your hands either side of the plate setting, not on your lap, if you want to blend in during a French dinner. 

And while elbows on the table are often seen as impolite in many countries, etiquette expert Marie de Tilly told France 24 that women can put their elbows on the table “elegantly” to show

off their rings. 

In France, it is customary to eat most food using cutlery. Eating with your hands is considered impolite, so make sure to tuck into that steak frites with your knife and fork. 

Notable exceptions include bread and certain dishes including asparagus. 

One thing you may have noticed in France is people do not cut their salads. Do so, and you might receive a few funny looks. The practice that is said to date back centuries to when cutting

into lettuce leaves would have risked getting vinaigrette onto the steel blade of the knife and oxidising it. 

Most hosts will chop a salad into bite-sized portions before it is served at the table. If you do come across a larger piece, fold it or separate it with your fork. 

Salad is not the only thing to avoid cutting with a knife. In France, many believe only meat and fish should be cut with a knife, and many other foods, including quiche, should be cut with

the fork alone. 

Read more: MAP: Michelin lists 56 places in France where you eat well for €40

It is customary to serve yourself one helping from a cheese board that is usually passed around the table in between the main course and dessert. Your neighbour will hold the plate while you

cut yourself a helping of cheese. 

Digging back into the board for a second helping can, traditionally, be seen as a slight on your host – as the cheese is the only course they did not prepare themselves, going for a second

helping suggests you were not fed enough for your starter and main course. 

Cheese is usually accompanied by bread, which you should put directly onto the table, not on your plate, if you want to fully blend in. 

Read also: Traditional Roquefort and Camembert are under threat, warn scientists

The antiquated habit of calling the waiter garçon (boy) is a strict no-no in France. The term is old-fashioned and will be seen as incredibly rude by most people. 

French people are very respectful to restaurant staff, so call your waiter monsieur or your waitress madame. If you are trying to get the waiter’s attention, simply using excusez-moi (excuse

me) is a polite way to do it. 

And whatever you do, do not click your fingers to get someone’s attention. 

Read also: La politesse: what habits can make you seem rude to French people?

Many French restaurants, especially in cities such as Paris or Bordeaux, are small and intimate, with tables spaced closely together. 

It is important to respect the space and keep your voice low rather than talking too loudly. Listen to how other diners are chatting to get an idea of how loud you should be. 

When you enter a French restaurant, make sure to ask your waiter or waitress for a table rather than just taking a seat yourself. This will be viewed as impolite and you may even be asked to

move – not the ideal start to your meal.