Tuesday Tips - How to eat out in France when you have no time?

image credits: Roy Nixen - cartoonnetwork.com

1. My first advice is, don't. If you are in a hurry, get a sandwich at the local bakery.

2. If you still want to, first things first, tell the waiter when you sit down that you are in a rush. The more you smile, the easier it will be.
3. When you get the menu, order your drinks right away. That way the waiter will be back in a couple of minutes (or should be at any rate).
4. As soon as you're done with the menu, put it down...don't look at it! If the waiter catches you doing that, he (let's go with 'he' in this article) will walk away.
5. As soon as the waiter comes with your drinks, be ready to order. This is a crucial step in the process. Do not miss this opportunity to order. If you do, you will not get your food on time.
6. When you get your meal thank him; tell him you're sorry but you're in a rush so you'd like a coffee (if you do) and the check right after your meal. This is phase 1 of the process.
7. Phase 2 - during the meal, when you're just about finished, ask for your coffee and the check.
8. Phase 3 - the coffee will come, the check will not. Trust me. So when you get your coffee, ask nicely (being nice throughout the whole process is crucial) for the check.
9. Phase 4 - get your credit card / cash out. In France they come around with a handheld device for credit cards. As soon as the waiter comes over, show him your credit card. He won't take it. He'll come back with the device. Three times out of four this phase takes at least 5 to 10 minutes.
10. Phase 5 - get up, go to a cash register; your waiter will appear. You will pay faster and get out faster if you do this.

This is Lindsay wishing you a happy and 'fast restaurant experience,' signing out.