Etiquette on tipping in restaurants in Paris, please

What is the proper tip for food and beverage in the restaurants and cafes in Paris? Thank you

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Dear Pipster37,

A service charge is usually added to a food and drinks bill in a restaurant/ cafe, etc. It is normal, however, to round up to the nearest Euro, or to leave small change.

You may see a notation on the bill, %26quot;Le Addition%26quot;, that %26quot;service et compris,) -or something to that effect- along with the amount added.

Bonne chance and bon voyage!

BT

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Only leave a tip if you%26#39;re satisfied. If the food and service were just OK, round-up to the next Euro. If it was exceptional or the staff went out of their way for you, leave more. A tip as high as 5% would be considered a big tip. In some establishments that cater to tourists primarily, the waitstaff may have become accustomed to 20% %26quot;American tips%26quot; but they wouldn%26#39;t expect them from French people.

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I%26#39;m afraid that isn%26#39;t true Berkeley. The service charge is not a tip. There is no such thing as a tip being added to the check. The service charge is a book keeping distinction between bar service and table service.

That said, few French people tip at all. I see some %26quot;round-up%26quot; if they%26#39;re in a hurry but in the end, only the touristy establishments %26quot;expect%26quot; a tip.

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Isn%26#39;t there another word used particularly in Paris aside from l%26#39;addition?

Maybe if I use it people will think I%26#39;m from Paris.

(ha-ha)

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I agree with Metromole, only round up to the next euro, but in your favorite places or for good and friendly service, two euros, two fifty on a 60 euro check is considered just fine. It is really a way to express appreciation for/recognize good service and not a way to get money to the wait staff because they are not otherwise paid a living wage. Also, don%26#39;t leave copper - it doesn%26#39;t send the same message.

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Hi Metromole:

Thanks for the distinction between service and tips. I guess the bottom line remains that it is not customary to leave 15-20% of the bill for a tip as we do in the States, but to round up to the nearest Euro, and as you say, if the food and service were exceptional to add 5%. (I didn%26#39;t know about the 5% addition..and have only been leaving the small change to round up.)

Merci, BT

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There are loads of websites about tipping in Paris. Here are a couple of them.

www.myparistrips.com/tippingetiquette.html

…about.com/od/…tippinginfrance.htm

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Sorry, not all of the second website address got included. Should be:

…about.com/od/…tippinginfrance.htm

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