9 Tips for Getting Good Restaurant Service in Paris
The biggest problem most North Americans have in Paris is understanding how different restaurant culture is in France. For example, in North America, we expect a level of service that the French would find incredibly intrusive and fake. Part of it is just the way French people understand customer service as a transaction among equals (égalité, after all, is in the constitution). In NA we believe (mistakenly) that the customer is always right and that servers are meant to be deferential to us in exchange for a tip. French servers are paid a living wage and fairly decent labour protections so that servers do not need to do more than their jobs. In fact, many servers go to school as in France this is a profession and not just a job.
This piece in the Wall Street Journal does a great job explaining just why they are this way and hopefully helps to engender an appreciation for their metier. While I admit the general level of customer service is lacking in almost all service sectors, compared to NA, if you follow these suggestions and adjust your expectations you’ll enjoy a wonderful meal in almost any dining establishment.
Be polite! French people appreciate the small niceties so make sure you are always saying bonjour (boh joor) and making sure they see you as you are coming in and wanting a seat, say s’il vous plait (see voo play) when ordering and merci (mare see) when receiving your meal. Make sure you catch their eye so they know you are there and can make sure you are sitting in the right area; lunch times and dinner especially there are areas to eat and areas to drink only or there might be an unmarked reservation. In Paris an efficient server can seem brusque but you might be too if you were managing the entire room. They are busy!
Don’t be afraid to ask your server for their advice! Usually they are happy to make suggestions but don’t be upset if they correct your pronunciation or suggest something other than what you thought you wanted. If you have an allergy or don’t like something ask what modifications they can make for you and generally they are happy to oblige.
Do not order water or you will get a bottle of water (charged to your bill). Instead, order a “carafe d’eau” which is exactly what it sounds like; tap water in a small carafe. If you would like ice ask for des glaçons but don’t be surprised if you don’t get it or they don’t have it. The only time I have ever successfully received ice was on a hot day with my glass of Rosé!
Speaking of wine, you are usually presented with 3 choices of size for wine, une verre (a glass - oon vair), un picher (a carafe or a pitcher - oon pi shay), or a bottle (une boitaille - oon bwatiye). It will usually have a measurement in centilitres with glasses being 12 cl, a picher is 25 or 50 cl, and a bottle is 75 cl, or just une boitaille.
Ordering food can be challenging if you don’t have the vocabulary and sometimes, even if you do! Often times things like cuts of meat types of cheese, or certain fish are completely different in France so there is no real translation. The servers are there to help you so ask for an english menu (Avez-vous un ménu en anglais - Ah-vay voo unh meh-noo ahn ahn-glay?). Always start with Bonjour and then ask if they speak english (parlez-vous Anglais - par lay vooz on glay) and you will probably get an english menu. When you are ready to order you can use I would like and the item you are ordering saying I would like… (Je voudrais… - zhu voo dray) or I will take… (je vais prendre… - zhe vay prawnd).
The bill is called l’addition (lah di shaw) and, fair warning, you might wait a while for it. Service in Paris is S-L-O-W because servers are not working for tips and Parisians like to enjoy their meal times without interuption. I tend to order everything at once, including as much wine as I need for the meal, as they may not return once you have received your order. If you would like their attention you may have to try for some eye contact but whatever you do DO NOT snap your fingers and call them garçon! If you really need to leave then head up to the bar and ask. Be prepared to wait until they are ready to serve you.
Tipping might be one of the most asked about topics but yes you do tip in Paris! And also yes the tip is included but they don’t actually receive them directly, it comes in the form of a livable wage. Giving a small tip for good service is nice but generally it’s a euro or two for a meal or the change from the cost of your cafe croissant. If your server is going above and beyond and in more expensive and Michelin star restaurants, you can tip around 10% for good service and 15%+ for amazing service.
To get the best service try to go when it isn’t as busy. French people love to eat late and many restaurants don’t open until 7 or even later. Same goes for lunch; they tend to open right at noon and close at 2 or 3 to get ready for dinner service. I always try to get my groups in right at noon so we can get back to touring asap and for dinner I often book the first spot I can, around 7. There are also places that are continuous service (service continu) when you can get served any time of day and the signs for such are usually posted. In other words know the hours for the place you’re eating and don’t show up 15 minute before they close unless you’d like to see the fabled rude French server.
Make a reservation! Not everywhere needs or even accepts reservations but even if it’s the same day and you are planning for dinner, call to reserve a table. Otherwise you might find yourself unable to get in and trying to figure out where to go when you’re hungry (bad news!). If you aren’t comfortable speaking french, there’s an app called La Fourchette (the fork) that will make your reservations for you.
I hope these tips help you on your next visit to Paris! If you haven’t planned your trip yet, check out my group tours, my multi, full, or half-day private tours or, send me an email with your interests and I will make you an itinerary so you can guide yourself.