American travels to France, is shocked to discover the French food service industry blows.

The Prometheus Institute ^ | 7/25/2006 | Thomas Hutchinson

[tang0r]

The freedoms we experience in America are so plentiful that they even include preserving the choice of whether or not we should tip the people who wait on us. When we go out to eat, we expect good service in order to have a good meal; and if we receive that good service, we provide a tip to show our appreciation. If we don’t get that service, and we have to wait more that 10 minutes for a refill, we can choose not to tip, thereby showing our disapproval with that particular waiter.

[2banana]

Added onto every bill, every drink, and every food item, is a 19% tax which goes towards the employees. Not only do you not want to tip the guy, but he is also given 19% anyway, despite his lousy service; and you had absolutely no say in the matter, even though it's your money. I could complain to the manager, but this problem doesn’t just end with the restaurant's inability to hire decent employees. The lack of economic freedom runs deeply in the veins of the French government and society.

The French and France are socialist. That is why they have a constant 10%+ unemployment rate, massive taxes and nothing works...

[satchmodog9]

for later

[yobid]

And they can't even win the tour day france. Poor frenchie.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Including the service charge in the food prices is standard in Europe. I lived in Germany for four years, and traveled to many European countries. The service is generally not as good in Europe as it is in the USA. However, within countries and specific restaurants there is a huge variation in the quality of service. The service in Germany is generally better than in France, probably because the Germans are just more industrious. Service in Italy, Spain and Greece is generally better than France, but not by much. I think the French resent English speaking people, although I have eaten at French restaurants were the service was excellent. I would say that outside of Paris the service is generally better.

In Germany it is customary to leave a small rounded up tip. For example if you bill comes to 48.75Euros, you would simply leave 50. Also, the customary service charge in the bill is 15% not 19%.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

In Mexico years ago, it was 15 percent tip plus 15 percent tax. Both were added on restaurant tabs without discussion.

[elmer fudd]

When it comes to restaurants, the system in Japan is even better than America. There is no tipping. The listed price is really what you end up paying. Waitresses are paid a decent hourly salary and the service is excellent.

[Danae]

God bless America

[dfwgator]

Just like "European Vacation" when they show the French cooks throwing the Grisword's order into a microwave.

French cuisine is overrated.

[tang0r]

I was rolling on the floor laughing when I saw that scene!

[MineralMan]

"French cuisine is overrated."

---

A little too broad a statement, there. I've eaten crappy food in France, and I've also eaten some of the best food I've ever eaten in my life there. It just depends.

[July 4th]

In Germany it is customary to leave a small rounded up tip. For example if you bill comes to 48.75Euros, you would simply leave 50. Also, the customary service charge in the bill is 15% not 19%.

Ditto in France. I'm not sure where he's getting the 19% number. The rounding up of the bill is customary only if the service is very good. The extra euro or two is not expected if the service is just average.

In my experience, the wait staff in France, Germany, etc. has been better than what I've had in the US because quite often, US wait staff is a college student, unemployed actor, etc. Whereas in Europe, being a waiter in even a so-so restaurant can actually be a profession. (However pathetic that may seem...)

[kjo]

While I loved visiting Austria, it could well be the most beautiful country on earth. It was always difficult eating in their restaurants. You order drinks and your courses one drink or course at a time. No such thing as all at once. Then at the end of the meal the waiter comes by and you and he reconstruct what was ordered.

Number of glasses of wine, pieces of bread, number of appetizers, main course, additional pieces of bread, per piece. Fillups on drinks, etc, etc, all the way through dessert. After you come to an accounting the waiter goes back stage somewhere and he comes up with an amount, gives it to you, and then leaves, often for several minutes while you go over his accounting. After about ten minutes he comes back and accepts payment. Entire meal: about two and one-half hours. After a few days of this I started regretting the tourist time I was spending on eating and started going to McDonalds.

[50sDad]

Give me a "Chinese" buffet every time, filled with greasey, doughy things they never had in China, invented entirely for the greedy pallets of America! Yum!

[carlo3b]

To be completely fair, there are circumstances when a restaurant will impose an automatic gratuities, such as a large group.. Here is another situation that is not uncommon in today's slacker attitude toward customer service or the employee feeling that they are owed entitlement just for their presence at work.. This does happen, because the employer can be bullied or intimidated by their own employees..(or if you are a member of a substandard tipping group)

Restaurant's Added Gratuity Leads to Discrimination Claim .. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9900EFDC103AF933A25752C1A96F958260

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

I will fully agree with GfG about the way Germany works and in general about French restaurants.

The service varies hugely as does the quality of the meals - but where is that not the case?

Lastly, it is important to note that no one forced this gentelman to go to France. Just as Europeans needn't visit the US if they cannot accept a slightly different way of doing things, neither should Americans expect that everyone should act like them.

Oh, one more thing, it is the primarily the socialist grip on the job market that is the problem. It is the major factor contributing to France's and Europe's unemployment problem. The way waiters are paid is completely irrelevant.

[Pompah]

My favorite part of world travel is the moment my plane touches down on American Soil.

Even LAX is Beautiful if you've been gone long enough.

[Famishus]

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

French bakeries......nothing compares.

[MineralMan]

"Give me a "Chinese" buffet every time, filled with greasey, doughy things they never had in China, invented entirely for the greedy pallets of America! Yum!"

---

Uh, OK, then. Be my guest. I think I'll visit the little Hunan restaurant down the street.