G
Guest
Guest
What is the custom these days in France regarding tipping after a meal? Is it now not necessary? I would not like to make a faux-pas.
Chris_Stannard
New member
There may be service charge already added, and in this case the bill should show 'servis compris'. If not you should ask. Even if there is a service charge you may feel that the level of service you have had warrants an extra tip.
If there is not a service charge it is usual to add between 10 and 15%, but if you had lousy service and will not be going back there, you might decide not to bother.
In France it is rarely the case that the servie is bad, though remember the French like to take their time over meals so there tends to be a pause between courses, its not the mad scramble that you get in England, if you want to make dinner last all night thats okay by them.
Enjoy, Hot tips, the Fair Tout in Cherbourg and the Fuschias in St Vaast. Please tip in both so I continue to be welcome.
Chris Stannard
If there is not a service charge it is usual to add between 10 and 15%, but if you had lousy service and will not be going back there, you might decide not to bother.
In France it is rarely the case that the servie is bad, though remember the French like to take their time over meals so there tends to be a pause between courses, its not the mad scramble that you get in England, if you want to make dinner last all night thats okay by them.
Enjoy, Hot tips, the Fair Tout in Cherbourg and the Fuschias in St Vaast. Please tip in both so I continue to be welcome.
Chris Stannard
brianhumber
New member
Menu usually says if included. This weekend we included a tip in Honfleur (Le Gabelou)because service was good but none in Le Harve (Bistro de la mer) where the food was p--- poor. Found YC is shut on Sundays and Wednesdays, lots of Brits were wandering around Le Harve looking for a meal in the freezing brisk wet wind. To add insult it went right on the nose in the night and took 16 hours to come back - roll on the warmer nights please or am I getting old.
G
Guest
Guest
Thanks Chris. I asked the original question because I read that the French never tip in France as it is always included even if it does not say so. They think it is very funny that we still leave another 15%! Obviously the waiter will insinuate that we are most welcome to leave some more if we so desire even if a French family would just get up and leave without leaving anything. Is it that we are just used to tipping and feel odd not doing it?
heerenleed
New member
It's high time you Brits start to be more European. In all continental Europe it is illegal to give consumer prices ex VAT and ex service if not clearly stated. Even in Italy. So on a French (or any other continental EC-country) menu, service and tips are always included. If the food, or the service, or the setting, is really nice, just leave a tip by rounding the total amount upwards. 15% is redicolous, or you feel you have had a real treat in all respects. Some 10% is the max for small to medium bills, for larger bills 5% is OK.
Enjoy your travels!
Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbeergen, Netherlands
Enjoy your travels!
Peter a/b SV Heerenleed, Steenbeergen, Netherlands