The Major Difference Between Ordering Steak In America Vs France, Per Rick Steves

If you're ordering a steak in the U.S., you likely have certain expectations for how it will be cooked. Whether you prefer rare, medium, or well-done, most chefs follow a pretty consistent internal temperature scale. But in France, those same terms can mean something entirely different — and for American travelers, that can lead to some surprises at the dinner table. According to travel guru Rick Steves, you should round up temperature-wise when ordering steak in France. "By American standards, the French undercook meats: rare or saignant is close to raw; medium or à point is rare; and well-done or bien cuit is medium," Steves says in his article "Eating in France."

So if you head into a Parisian brasserie and ask for your steak medium, aka "à point," don't be surprised if it still moos a little. The French generally prefer their beef less cooked, believing it preserves the flavor, texture, and quality of the meat. And honestly, they kind of have a point (pun very intended). For classic steak frites, many restaurants will use tougher cuts of meat, such as hanger or flank steak, so overcooking these can result in an undesirable, chewy piece of meat. If you get a hankering for a hunk of Parisian steak, there are some essential words and phrases to know before your trip to France. The key, as Steves points out, is to remember that French culinary terms don't translate one-to-one with American ones.

If you want your steak cooked the way you're used to back home, you'll need to upshift your terminology when in France. If you typically like your steak on the rare side, ordering it "saignant" will mean it'll be very rare — the term literally translates to "bleeding." For an even more carnivorous experience, ordering a steak "bleu" gets it barely seared on either side — this is best reserved for diners who want their steak metaphorically grazing in the salad.

If you want a truly well-done steak, you can order it "très bien cuit" — but don't be surprised if your server tries to convince you to order something else. Just like how French locals hate when tourists break the unspoken greeting rule of saying "bonjour," they likely won't appreciate the idea of cooking a steak until it resembles a leather shoe.

Don't feel bad about being specific. French servers are used to tourists getting tripped up by the translation gap, especially in major cities — and they'd surely rather bring you the steak you want than one you'll push around on your plate. Rick Steves also has some tips tourists should know before dining at a fancy restaurant in France — for example, you can expect slower service than you're used to in the U.S. But that's because the French like to savor the restaurant experience. Ultimately, part of traveling is embracing differences. So if you accidentally order your steak a little too French for your taste, just give it a go and chalk it up to cultural immersion. You might even discover that you like it.