How much time do French people spend at the table?
Apparently, the French spend a leisurely two hours, 13 minutes a day drinking and eating, which is far above the average of one hour 30 minutes and represents the most time spent on meals compared to any other country included in the survey (see table below).
Even on weekdays, an eating out in the evening can often be a long-drawn-out affair, and diners can easily spend between two and three hours at the table.
The French take at least one hour to eat their lunch—up to two hours if they're eating with friends. Eating at a slow, leisurely pace has made me appreciate my meals so much more.
“French people eat late because most standard job hours are 9 or 10 to 6, instead of 9 to 5 like in the States,” Alysa explains. “So, by the time everyone gets home, gets settled, and a meal is prepared, it's about 8 pm.”
Dinner usually takes place between 6pm (Belgium, Canada) and 8pm (France). In France, there is a main dish and a dessert, and sometimes a first course (soup or grated or sliced raw vegetables). The main dish is brought out once the first course is finished, and dessert is brought out after the main dish has been eaten.
On an average day, Americans aged 18 and older reported spending 64.5 minute eating and drinking eating as a primary/main activity and 16.8 minutes eating as a secondary activity (i.e. eating while engaged in another activity considered primary by the individual).
Dinner can last as long as you want it to last. People with theatre or cinema times to respect generally make it clear to the staff how quickly they need to be served. I would count a minimum of 45 minutes for dinner, though.
French dinner courses can include: an apéritif (which is an alcoholic drink before the meal), hors d'oeuvres (which is typically soup, vegetables, or eggs), the principal plate (a meat, pasta, or crêpe), a salad (which is typically served separately from the principal plate), cheese (which is also served separately), ...
The French are serious about eating. Nowhere is this more evident than at lunchtime, when the entire nation sits down for a proper meal (the biggest and most important meal of the day). Over 95% of French people do this.
According to a survey conducted in France in January 2015, approximately a third of the respondents stated that they go to restaurants at least once a month, while more than 80 percent went at least once a year. In the same survey, 19 percent of French declared going at least once a month to a fast food restaurant.
How do the French eat dinner?
Expect to eat dinner a little later
Unlike in some European countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, where people tend to enjoy an early evening meal at around 18:00, the French prefer to wait until later to eat their dinner. In fact, they typically don't sit at the dining table until around 20:00 or even later.
Most good restaurants in the United States—especially popular new places—expect to turn over a table two to three times each night—that means they anticipate a party of two will stay for about an hour and 45 minutes (four-tops are usually allotted two hours).
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At what time do you go to bed during the week?*
Regardless of the spread of fast-food outlets, the upheaval in the world of work and the emergence of a youth culture, the French still eat their three meals a day at a set time and attach great importance to conviviality, pleasure and sharing.
| Ranking | Country | Average wake-up |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Italy | 7:52 AM |
| 14 | Romania | 8:01 AM |
| 15 | Colombia | 6:31 AM |
| 16 | France | 7:51 AM |
In many countries, taking your time over a meal is pretty normal, according to data released by the OECD. People in France tend to spend the most time eating and drinking per day on average at 2 hours and 13 minutes. Their neighbors in Italy and Spain aren't too far behind, averaging more than two hours per day.
- USA (3.6 times)
- Italy (3.4 times)
- China (2.6 times)
- France (2 times)
- United Arab Emirates (2 times)
- UK (1.6 times)
- Germany (1.1 times)
- India (1.1 times) — AFP-Relaxnews.
| Country | Lunch Break Duration |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 48 minutes |
| Malaysia | 47 minutes |
| Japan | 46 minutes |
| Portugal | 44 minutes |
On average, a non-touristy restaurant in Paris will charge between 15 and 25 Euros per set menu, but you can expect to pay more at trendier restaurants or restaurants in tourist-heavy areas. Set menu prices also vary widely, with some costing as little as 10 Euros and others costing well over 100 Euros.
- Don't ask for more food.
- Don't get your steak well done.
- Don't put your bread on the plate.
- Don't put butter on the bread.
- Don't drink anything but wine or water with dinner.
- Cut into cheese correctly (or let someone else do it)
- Don't cut up the lettuce.
Why do the French keep their hands on the table?
He thought that he had uncovered a plot to poison him with arsenic, and so at the dining table, he ordered that everyone keep their hands visible throughout every meal. The nobility obeyed, and as the common folk wanted to imitate the aristocracy, the rest of the country soon followed suit.
It may not seem the most hygienic but it is French etiquette to place bread on the table and not on your plate or on a napkin. Bread may be served on a bread basket but after taking piece, place it on the table.
1) Boeuf Bourguignon
There's nothing more comforting and luscious than Boeuf Bourguignon, a classic French beef stew made with red wine, pearl onions, mushrooms and bacon. Once you try it, this dish is guaranteed to become a regular on your menu!
Lunch at noon. Dinner at 7:00 or 8:00 in the evening. Children have an afternoon snack (sweet not savory) at around 4:00 PM. Some adults enjoy an afternoon snack as well, but many do not.
A typical lunch break at work in France lasts at least 1 hour and is never taken at your desk. We value eating slowly and being seated at a table to do so. If you are having a "social lunch" with your team or a client, plan for a 2 hour break—or even more if it's an important meeting.
According to the map, most Europeans eat dinner between 7pm and 8.30pm.
Most good restaurants in the United States—especially popular new places—expect to turn over a table two to three times each night—that means they anticipate a party of two will stay for about an hour and 45 minutes (four-tops are usually allotted two hours).
UK evening meals are still served a bit earlier than they are elsewhere in Europe, with the dinner hour ranging from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
| Country | Lunch Break Duration |
|---|---|
| Brazil | 48 minutes |
| Malaysia | 47 minutes |
| Japan | 46 minutes |
| Portugal | 44 minutes |
In fact, a survey this week found that 43 percent of French people spend over 45 minutes eating lunch each day. This was by far the biggest percentage for the extended break of all 14 countries surveyed.
Which nation takes the longest to eat a meal?
In many countries, taking your time over a meal is pretty normal, according to data released by the OECD. People in France tend to spend the most time eating and drinking per day on average at 2 hours and 13 minutes. Their neighbors in Italy and Spain aren't too far behind, averaging more than two hours per day.
The Typical Italian Dinner
Italian dinner or la cena, usually from 8:00 to 10:00pm, is another time that Italians enjoy sitting down together and socializing. Dinner can be much later than 10:00pm, especially if eating out or dining at a friend's house.
Lunch is usually between midday and 2 pm, when the kitchen will go off duty. Watch out, as during these times, service can be rather slow if you find yourself in a business area. Parisians don't dine until at least 8.30 pm as prior to that, time is set aside for “l'apéritif”.
According to the study, restaurant customers consider the wait for food too long once it extends past 24 minutes. They classify the wait as much too long around the 34-minute mark.
Dinner guests should stay at least one hour after dinner.
When Is the Best Time to Eat Dinner? You should eat dinner approximately four to five hours after eating lunch. If that falls in the 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. window, you hit the last hour of your body's heightened metabolic rate before it starts to slow.
First of all, there is something that might confuse foreigners about German eating habits. The typical meals are divided in a rather copious breakfast (6 am – 8 am), lunch (12 pm – 2 pm) and dinner (6 pm – 8 pm).
And then in Mediterranean countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, dinners are a party reserved for much later. Typically, these hot weather countries have a long afternoon siesta (nap) and people commune for dinner later in the night, starting at 10pm or even later.
