What Does Service Compris Mean In French

How to tell if the restaurant has "servis compris"

Nov 15th, 2002, 04:36 PM

How to tell if the eating place has "servis compris"

---

I know that in France many menus accept "servis compris" written on the lesser. Does this mean you do not tip at all; that 15% has been added to your nib automatically? If so, do yous withal exit a Euro or ii if service has been infrequent? And what do you lot do if "servis compris" is non written on the menu...ask? I remember trying that; some waiters ignored me, others simply said "non", then I wasn't sure what to exercise. Any advice?

Nov 15th, 2002, 04:57 PM

Linda, equally many times equally I've been there I,m not sure, i'1000 hoping A real FRench person living there would answer.

Nov 15th, 2002, 05:35 PM

"Service Compris" means that the service charge is included in the prices. A service accuse is non added separately to the bill. Y'all are non obligated or expected to leave anything boosted. Last I heard, French constabulary requires all restaurants to include a 12-fifteen% service charge in the price of all food and beverages served, and information technology must be stated on the card with "service compris" or "prix nets" (on many menus, you lot actually have to hunt for information technology). Whenever a computerized beak is presented, it will be printed on that at well, and it'due south pre-printed on the hand-written forms likewise usually. At a cafe, if you are paying cash, it is customary to leave the small-scale change, only you don't accept to (this is a prissy gesture and the wait staff will call back y'all if y'all become a "regular" during your visit). At that place are some exceptions. If you stand at the bar at a cafe, prices may not include service charges, and they are non included if you lot sit at a bar and order cocktails. Waiters who ignore you or say "non", perhaps haven't understood you correctly. If you are paying past credit card, it'south always a good idea to draw a fat line or large "X" on the gratuity line (if in that location is ane) and and then re-write the subtotal on the full line. It doesn't happen often (and I've heard more in countries other than France), merely folks have reported that gratuities have been written in on their behalf. Information technology's a practiced idea to save all your credit card receipts anyhow and reconcile your statement after your trip.

Nov 15th, 2002, 05:38 PM

PS Many waiters take told me that plenty of Americans tip equally usual anyway. Some appreciate this, others consider them "unsavvy Americans throwing their coin effectually (or away). Cafes are unlike. The waiters are not as highly paid, work much longer hours, and have far more customers to accept care of than restaurants, and they do appreciate anything actress.

Nov 15th, 2002, 05:43 PM

PS Many waiters take told me that enough of Americans tip as usual anyhow. Some appreciate this, others consider them "unsavvy Americans throwing their money effectually (or away)". Cafes are different. The waiters are non as highly paid, work much longer hours, and have far more customers to have care of than restaurants, and they do appreciate anything actress.

Nov 15th, 2002, 06:02 PM

Whether or non "service compris" is written on the neb, the service charge is e'er included in the bill. This is mandated by law in France, and I believe it's likewise mandated that the pecker say so. Yous do non accept to tip in add-on to that, though many Americans practice. It is customary to leave a few euros if you think you got good service. Nothing else is necessary. Waiting tables is a profession in French republic, and the waiters are paid appropriately, not like "servers" in America, who depend on tips to make a decent wage.

November 15th, 2002, 06:18 PM

If past "professional" you mean bored, disinterested and surly and then I think you take information technology.

This message is repeated constantly on this site: European waiters are professionals and well paid, while American waiters are lousy "servers" who are paid side by side-to-nothing.

In my experience, this is just self-serving europhile nonsense.

Tips encourage good service and gives the customer a adventure to show appreciation; including an involuntary tip and calling it "servis compris" means the opposite.

Americans may be incredibly dumb (another oftentimes-repeated canard here) and god knows we have our faults. Merely we practice know expert service from bad. Nosotros too know how to appreciate and reward good service. I always recollect of Euro-Disney having to teach their French employees to smile-- adept service is far more rare in Europe than in the U.S. and our waiters are every bit equally professional person and provide far better service than you lot will find in almost European restaurants, without the detached air of indifference that some fault for professionalism.

Nov 15th, 2002, 06:39 PM

Bottom line: If it makes you feel better to tip above the fifteen% service fee y'all have already been charged, go ahead. Particularly if the service _really_ was above average.

In Paris there volition always exist people to criticize what you lot exercise, and then do what feels correct to you lot. If you determine wrong and are low, they still got the 15% service fee the government required. If you guess wrong and you are high, they got more coin, while you feel good. And you are the one on holiday.

Keith

Nov 15th, 2002, 06:56 PM

In our feel we were not trying to throw away our money. Far from it-eating out was expensive plenty. Simply we found that "servis compris" was noted downward only at two of the restaurants we ate at. Therefore, we thought tip was non included and the waiter ended up with a 15% tip on top of what was in the bill already.

I remember asking a few waiters if service was included and they said no so we ended up tipping. Towards the cease we got it and but left a few euro and they didn't get angry then obviously that was plenty.

But I concur waiters work actually hard in Europe and fifty-fifty if they go more than what'southward usual in tips, they deserve it.

Nov 15th, 2002, 07:22 PM

Thanks to all for your replies; sounds similar many of y'all accept experienced the same confusions over this as I have. When I have asked if it was "servis compris" most waiters were honest in their response but a few just gave me that gallic shrug and responded with a "non". And my French is competent enough that I know I was understood. I'll just have to call up to await more closely at menus before handing them over and driblet a few Euros on the table when service is especially skilful. I'yard sure my husband made several waiters very happy with his generous 15-twenty% tips.

November 15th, 2002, 07:57 PM

Howdy Linda, I bet we made some waiters experience better besides with a large tip. I do call back this one waiter in Strasbourg when we asked about whether the bill included service. His reply was "Sometimes yes, sometimes no." Not a "Non" even.

So of course to be on the safe side we tipped him. And so on our way out we saw that the carte du jour did have printed on information technology "Servis compris". Well, okay, permit'southward just say he works hard for his coin and he deserved information technology, nevertheless he sure acted similar it wasn't much judging by his demeanor. But after that nosotros were aware of what was going on.

Nov 15th, 2002, 08:26 PM

If y'all say "is tip included" they will probably say no. If you say "is service included" they volition probably (and should) say yep. The fifteen% service is always included whether it says so or not on the beak. A tip is something extra you may or may non want to give in addition. In the Us, service or tip tend to mean the aforementioned thing. In French republic service and tip are 2 totally different things.

Nov 15th, 2002, 10:38 PM

Aye, I concord that the waiter should say "yes, service is included" merely our waiter said "sometimes yep, sometimes no" making it sound like well, it's up to the patron to decide to give him a tip.

Nov 16th, 2002, 04:51 AM

Kara, if a waiter replied with that line to me, I'd say, "I'g non asking about 'sometimes', I'grand asking most this i".

Simply know you know, you don't need to ask. In France service is included.

Nov 16th, 2002, 05:02 AM

Slightly off topic - in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland tips given by credit card are not e'er passed on to the waiter.
A recent court example confirmed that a eatery has a legal right to keep credit card tips.
Some supposedly proficient places do this.

Nov 16th, 2002, 09:01 AM

That'due south a proficient response Patrick. I wish I had said and so at the time-now I practice know amend. The more I remember about it I tin can still see our waiter'southward poker face when we really overtipped him by 15%. Inside he must have been jumping for joy.

November 16th, 2002, 11:13 AM

Former Garcon, I didn't know that. You lot're proverb that, regardless of whether or not "service compris" is written on the pecker, it IS compris, by law? So, if truthful, there's no bespeak in asking if service is compris or not, right? Also, if true, what kind of establishments are required past police to include service, merely restaurants?

Nov 16th, 2002, 11:20 AM

The simple respond is that you are neither legally nor morally obliged to pay anymore than the corporeality at the bottom of the nib.

"servis compris" means each "menu" line particular includes 15%.

"servis non-compris" means each "menu" line item does not include this xv% BUT trust me in that location is an illegible SVC or SVCE line item added as the last line detail on your check to cover this 15%. And then in this case if you ask a waiter "servis compris", he is technically right in saying "not", which only means the 15% is non collected line particular at a time, but on the total nib. And so he would add 15% SVC equally the last line item. An unscrupulous waiter might hope that you did not realize this SVC line and exit 15% on top of the 15% already charged on the bill.

The few Euros mentioned, amounting to no more than ii-iii% in cash, may be added for higher up average service especially if the bill is just brusque of a round number.

Many guidebooks are vague on this subject. Marling Menu-Main and the Rick Steves have good description on how to handle this particular subject.

Nov 16th, 2002, 11:43 AM

One-time Customer - no i said French or European waiters are "better" than US waiters, just that they are regarded, both societally and legally, as professionals.

Every bit for your statement "Americans may be incredibly impaired... but we do know adept service from bad": did it always occur to you that the concept of "good service" may vary from state to country? In fact, what's considered friendly and polite in the US may be considered insincere and therefore borderline rude in certain European countries. E.g. - typically in the Us, when one asks a waiter for a recommendation, he will answer with information about his personal favorites - which is lauded as "personal attending". A French diner, on the opther paw, expects an objective respone from the waiter - which a US American might in turn consider cold and impersonal. What's expected in each society is but different - but in both cases, the waiter may be considered by his compatriots to exist doing a summit job.

Why does someone always have to exist better and someone else worse? Can't nosotros just admit that people who grew up in different societies have unlike standards, and that travellers may need to accommodate somewhat to the prevailing culture if they don't want to exist constantly annoyed?

Nov 16th, 2002, eleven:56 AM

Thanks, John...very informative. I had absolutely no idea that "servis non-compris" means that, although each menu detail does non include a fifteen% service charge, it is all the same added to the full amount of the bill (that would make sense, if a service accuse is required by law in France.) Every bit best equally I can remember, I've never seen it explained that mode in any guidebooks.

What Does Service Compris Mean In French,

Source: https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/how-to-tell-if-the-restaurant-has-servis-compris-273529/

Posted by: joneswabiagre.blogspot.com

Share this post