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Cultural differences: how, where and what we eat in France and in the US

Cultural differences - food - France - USA - www.MyFrenchLife.orgFood in France is considered as an art de vivre, where it is anchored in the country’s culture and traditions. 

French people don’t eat only to survive but also to celebrate their country’s cuisine and share a privileged moment with friends or families.

On the other side of the Atlantic, food doesn’t have as much importance in Americans’ heart. Whether it is at what time we are having dinner, how much we tip at a restaurant, or the size of our portions, the differences are representative of each culture’s way to understand food and cuisine.

Eating out versus cooking à la française

Eating out is much more common in the States, where most restaurants in major cities will be full on any day of the week. In France, going to a restaurant is  seen more as a special occasion. Friends and relatives will also often invite each other over and cook.

The French are not used to waiting for a table and will most likely try to find another restaurant rather than wait. They also have dinner much later in comparison, in general around 8pm, while across the Atlantic, restaurants are getting full by 6pm.

To tip or not to tip: is there a French code?

The tip is a big difference. In France, service is often included and you don’t need to leave a tip, even though many customers will leave an extra 1 or 2 euros if they were satisfied with their waiting staff.

Cultural differences - food - France - USA -

In the US, it is customary to leave a 15-20% tip. In some touristy restaurants, the waiter or waitress even won’t hesitate to leave a small note on the check to remind you about the tip, if they see you are foreigners!

Size matters in France and America

In America, as you often hear: “everything is bigger”. It is true for the size of the portions they serve in restaurants, and another reason why some people will think the French are cheap, when they get smaller dishes in French restaurants. This would explain also why asking for a doggy bag, and taking your left-over back home is quite customary here – while it is not fashionable in France.

Cultural differences - food - France - USA -

Coffee on-the-go is part of the daily morning routine for most Americans, while on the old continent, people still appreciate taking a few minutes at home to drink their daily cup of Joe – or coffee, as some like to call it – , or to stop at a terrace – especially in the summer.

What other cultural differences have you spotted between the way Americans and French eat? Share your stories in the comments below.

Image credits:
1. Julia Child, via Cooking Channel
2. Tipping, via Restaurant Business
3. Coffee to go, by Nadine Heidrich on Flickr

Join the conversation


  1. Jennifer Bourne
    6 years ago

    As it was pointed out by some readers, those observations are especially true for New York, on which I base most of my articles, and not especially for all the US.

  2. sherry keough
    2 weeks ago

    My grandmother was Canadian French. She owned a restuarant. Growing up I would devulge myself into carrot cake, salmon pie, roast pork, her idea of McDonald’s hamburgers. Her son’s never left her side. She’d cook for them and they’d confeded their troubles to her. My nuclear physicst M.I.T. uncle never married and lives a comfortable existence to this day under their roof and he is well into his 70’s now. Her delightful dishes have kept them content. Many a time, mum would cook and Dad would state that he had prevoiusly eaten at his mother’s .