134
votes
Accepted
Is tipping mandatory at Restaurants and Bars in Germany?
Tipping is not at all mandatory in Germany and usually the service personnel does not rely on tips as much as in the USA, say. Usually, if you do not state the amount you want to round up to ("make it ...
- 1,530
132
votes
Accepted
How do I convey that I'm ready to pay my tab in Greece?
In many parts of Europe it is considered rude for a restaurant to bring you your bill without being asked. Meals are expected to be relaxed, unhurried affairs, and for a restaurant to bring the bill, ...
- 68.5k
98
votes
Accepted
How can I find restaurants in the USA where tipping is not expected?
Tipping is still the norm in any U.S. establishment where you do not seat and serve yourself—that is, everywhere except fast-food restaurants and places organized as food courts or cafeterias where ...
- 43.1k
96
votes
Accepted
Is it rude to bring bottled water into a restaurant in Germany?
they can exploit it in their favor
Everything in restaurants¹ is more expensive than the pure cost to acquire or produce it.
This is how the waiting staff and location is paid.
The only difference in ...
- 2,686
95
votes
How can I avoid ordering multiple bottles of water at a restaurant?
In France it is required by law to provide tap water to a customer, for free. It is very common and acceptable to ask for tap water in a pitcher in a restaurant. Don't hesitate to ask for a refill.
- 841
74
votes
How can I find restaurants in the USA where tipping is not expected?
As your main reason to shy tipping is ‘being uncomfortable doing it‘, I’ve added this answer, even though it misses the question given.
In sit-down restaurants, normally nobody sees you doing the ...
- 28.7k
68
votes
Is tipping mandatory at Restaurants and Bars in Germany?
TL;DR
Tipping is never mandatory, but most Germans do it.
5%-10% is most common, round up to a whole number, or to 50 ct if amount < 10€
Not tipping does not automatically mean that you were ...
65
votes
How can you dispute a Chinese restaurant's charge practically, in Canada?
Next time, pay and report the restaurant to the Ontario's consumer protection board here.
You need to pay and you should pay with a card so that there is paper trail of the payment.
Make certain ...
- 14.7k
62
votes
In a US restaurant, do you still tip if you know that the tip does not go to the waiter?
whatever tip the customers leave go to the owner of the restaurant.
This is illegal. Please report. E.g., in WA state, report here.
- 59.6k
61
votes
Accepted
In a restaurant in Italy, should I be seated when my food arrives?
The only logical explaination is that he was simply suggesting you to hurry up, because the pizza was getting cold and you wouldn't taste it in its best moment (when the mozzarella is still hot). ...
- 688
60
votes
Is there a polite and correct way to give the wanted amount of tip in the restaurant when you have no suitable cash?
Swiss resident here: when they tell you the amount you have basically the following options when paying with a debit/credit card:
show the card without comment → they will put the exact amount into ...
- 701
56
votes
In USA, am I expected to tip if a restaurant has no employee other than owners?
Yes, you are expected to tip in all American restaurants with table service, except in the rare instances where you are explicitly told otherwise.
This is the system by which restaurants, including ...
- 15.2k
54
votes
Accepted
What additional costs can I expect when visiting a restaurant in the US where service is included?
"Inclusive of service" should mean that you are not expected to tip. That doesn't mean that you can't tip if you want to, especially if the service was good. The US restaurant business is pretty much ...
- 68.5k
51
votes
Accepted
What is the tipping process in restaurants in the US?
Normally, the sequence is this:
Get the bill from the server. Check it for any issues.
Give the server your credit card.
The server goes off and swipes your card, coming back with your card and the ...
- 1,996
51
votes
How can I avoid ordering multiple bottles of water at a restaurant?
In my experience, places where waiters may frown upon customers ordering tap water will happily accommodate you if you order a paid drink with it. Just order yourself an aperitif or a glass of cola / ...
- 10.1k
47
votes
Are restaurants closed on Mondays all over the UK?
It is common but not universal. Chain restaurants are usually open all days, smaller restaurants may take a day off during the week and Monday is a sensible choice because more people eat out over the ...
- 3,738
44
votes
Accepted
Looking for a restaurant in Vienna with a name similar to "An die 2 Linsen" that served huge Schnitzel
A quick search led me to this (German) article, which states:
Das bei Touristen und Wienern gleichermaßen beliebte Traditions-Beisl "Zu den 2 Lieserln" hat zugesperrt. Auf der Homepage bedankt sich ...
- 534
40
votes
How can I find restaurants in the USA where tipping is not expected?
Since no-tipping restaurants are very rare in the U.S., your best bet is going to be to find restaurants where you are doing much of the work for yourself - counter-service restaurants, for example.
...
- 15.4k
37
votes
Why can't you order just drinks on a French restaurant's terrace?
I see at least a few possible reasons:
To serve alcoholic drinks without a meal, they need a different license (licence III or licence IV, as opposed to a restaurant license). It can become a bit ...
- 89.8k
36
votes
What is the tipping process in restaurants in the US?
First, ask for the check. If you're in a real rush and paying by card, you could hand the waiter your credit card at this point to speed up the process a bit, but the normal thing to do is to ask for ...
- 86.5k
36
votes
Accepted
Why do restaurants and cafes in Ukraine make a transaction on each food separately?
This is how they avoid taxes.
In Ukraine, there's a special regulation for small businesses, called "Private Entrepreneur" (приватний підприємець or фізична особа-підприємець, abbreviated ПП ...
- 3,730
36
votes
How can I find restaurants in the USA where tipping is not expected?
I am uncomfortable with tipping and would much rather eat at sit-down restaurants in the United States that pay their employees fairly without expecting customers to supplement with tips (as occurs in ...
- 477
35
votes
Are restaurants closed on Mondays all over the UK?
I would say that most restaurants in the UK are open seven days a week. However, if a restaurant is going to close for a day, that day will almost always be Monday.
The same holds for shops and ...
- 18.7k
32
votes
Is it rude to bring bottled water into a restaurant in Germany?
While much has been said about the price and legal aspects in other posts, I am trying to give a bit of a cultural perspective in this answer (at least as far as I perceive it, as a native German who ...
- 2,393
32
votes
In USA, am I expected to tip if a restaurant has no employee other than owners?
As I understand, most tipping occurs socially in lower-paying jobs that require little skill or education.
This assumption might be leading you astray. It's not that waiting tables is a “lower paying”...
- 113k
30
votes
Is it rude to bring bottled water into a restaurant in Germany?
Local here.
Is it rude to bring bottled water in a restaurant in Germany?
I would perceive it as such—it’s a bit like not ordering food and eating sandwiches you brought.
It is said that in ...
- 875
28
votes
How do I convey that I'm ready to pay my tab in Greece?
In Greece you should just signal to the waiter. Either raise your hand or do what DJClayworth said. It is not uncommon for people to ask for extra plates (fries, tzatziki, feta etc.), so they will ...
- 381
28
votes
How can I find restaurants in the USA where tipping is not expected?
In general, you don't.
There are exceedingly few restaurants in the U.S. where a tip is not allowed. In most parts of the country, you won't find a single one. There are some where tipping is not ...
- 13.4k
28
votes
What additional costs can I expect when visiting a restaurant in the US where service is included?
I dined at Per Se last night, so I guess there's a 20% chance that you'll be dining there as well (there are only 5 three-star's in New York as of 2018).
When the bill came, it was very clear that ...
- 2,702
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