What about tipping in Paris???
Is the tip always included in a Parisian restaurant bill? I feel a bit sheepish asking the waiter...... As well, is an additional gratuity expected even if the bill includes service and what would be a nice additional sum for good service..?? Its always nice to have a good waiter remember you on the next visit....
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Bill Hunt
Nov 30, 2008 07:19 PM
In the UK and Europe, if there is a gratuity added it is *usually* spelled out with words like "service charge" [fill in the language of the country]. It is also not rude to ask, just to be sure. Some places and countries do not tip and do not add any "service charge." Others are more quickly adopting the US thinking on this. If there is a "service charge" and the sommelier, servers or even the bussers do a great job, I'll slip a few € their way. Some feel that I am just an "ugly American" in so doing.
Lately, I've seen several UK restaurants that add not only a stiff 'service charge," but also a 5-10 £/per diner "cover charge." No show. No music. Just food and wine. There, I go "European" and do not tip.
Hunt
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I'm surprised by the varied answers to this question. A friend of mine who was born and raised in France and lives in Paris says the rule is you always leave something additional unless you are very unhappy with the meal or service. The amount varies from 2 to 5 % of the bill, with 3 % being typical. However, I was unaware of this for years, and not leaving anything did not seem to be a problem. I think this is because the French realize that most foreigners assume "service compris" means leave nothing additional, and they will not hold it against you. Now that I know the rule, I follow it because it is nice to be thought of as knowledgeable rather than as an ignorant tourist.
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When I am in Paris, which as been awhile now, I frequent a particular small neighborhood bar. On my last trip I brought a nice american single barrel wiskey and gave it to the main bartender that took care of me. He was totally blown away. Hight octane american wiskey is really expensive there and almost impossible to get, it is a really big deal. It worked well for a thank you gift.
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re: duck833
Bill Hunt
Nov 30, 2008 07:24 PM
Nice touch. I have done similar with a few bottles of US Zinfandel in the UK. As you mention, some of the good stuff is impossible to get, and/or impossibly over-priced. I probably broke a half-dozen Custom's laws, but that is life. Same for those Cubans that find their way into my briefcase, when heading back.
Hunt
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Service is always included in the bill, and as was already mentioned, you don't tip here. It's nice to leave a little "pour boire" if the server was nice or cute, especially in a bar or bistro. This would be something like 20-30 cents on a drink, or around a euro on a meal. It's not expected, though.
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Delucacheesemonger
Nov 30, 2008 05:48 AM
Meal includes 20% vat and 15-20% tip, as other poster said, round up, if exceptional, and l mean exceptional, sometimes l add up to another 5-10%. l tend to add a bit on as in the business and always tip more than average. A Chowhounder on this board, from Paris, tips way more than l do and routinely. Thus rules but no rules. As l said on another post, when at L'Ami Louis about a month ago, leader of a group of 5 gave the owner 50 Euros before the meal, did it make our service and meal better than any others in the restaurant, l do not know, but it was stellar none the less.
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re: Delucacheesemonger
Interesting.. As I have travelled from country to country I have generally followed the dictates of Hemingway ( one of the great friends of the table) whose caveat was ALWAYS overtip... that way you will be treated like a king the next time around... More often than not iI have found this to be true... if indeed the service warranted the $$$$......Once again.. what a great site... Good to hear from the folks who know....
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