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Tipping in Paris |
| Date Added: Dec 22, 2008 |
| Author: |
| Category: Food & Restaurants |
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Tipping can be more than a bit tricky in Paris, especially for tourists from outside of the country. This is due to the fact that there isn’t actually something called "tipping" in Paris and that it is more often referred to as "service." Service is usually included in your hotel rate and in your restaurant prices, and some waiters or other servers may actually take offense or simply be confused if you try and offer them money.
With respect to most restaurants, when the service or tip is included in the price of the food, the menu will say something like "service compris," meaning the service is included and generally runs at fifteen percent of your bill. Local custom dictates that if you are extremely satisfied with your waiter's service, then you may leave the change from paying your bill as an extra “thank you.” This lets your waiter know that he or she has performed at an exemplary rate, and that you wanted to thank them personally. This is the most common procedure for tipping in Paris. Problems most commonly arise when a diner asks a waiter if the tip is included in the bill, to which the waiter will probably reply, "No." This is because there is no actual tip, but a charge already included in the meal. The distinction is how the tip is viewed, as a tip is something the waiter earns whereas a service is sort of a “waiter’s cut” or a sort of commission based on what his patrons order. Be careful of waiters that may try to take advantage of your being a tourist by trying to tell you there’s a fifteen percent tip on menus that have “service compris” on them, and you might be able to get a free meal if you inform the head chef of their behavior. It pays to be aware of what is considered ethical when tipping in Paris. Bottom line, your tip is generally included in the price. If you’re unsure, ask your server if the restaurant is “service compris,” and if you still want to leave them something extra, it will always be appreciated. This is because personal tipping in Paris will directly and immediately go to your waiter specifically, whereas service charges are generally added up and split between all the waiters at the end of the day. If you’re worried about doing the right thing, just ask the waiter. Many of them are used to tourists misunderstanding, but at the very most they’ll likely just roll their eyes at you.
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