Notes

People in France like to sit at outdoor cafes to talk, eat, and drink. Cafes are gathering places for people to relax, be social, and people watch. Going to a cafe can be a nightly event, and all types of food and drinks are served there. Some famous French cafes include Cafe de Flore and Cafe de Lilas.

In France, waiters and waitresses are considered professionals. Being a professional means that some sort of specific training is required. In better restaurants, waiters and waitresses must not only be good serveurs but they must also be knowledgeable about food & wine. Even in simple restaurants or cafes, serveurs take great pride in their work.

Contrary to what you may have seen in American movies, it is impolite to address a serveur as "garcon". It is acceptable and polite to say "Monsieur" to a waiter, and "mademoiselle" or "madame" to a waitress.

It is expected that diners will take time to enjoy their food, so service in France will seem slow to Americans. Many Americans are uncomfortable in French restaurants because of the slower, more relaxed service. It is not uncommon for a meal to last several hours. Also, if you've finished, the serveur will not bring you the check until you ask.

In cafes and les restaurants (les restos, for short), a 15% tip is included in the check if the words SERVICE COMPRIS are posted or written on the menu. If you're not sure, it's acceptable to asl "Le service est compris?" It's customary, however, to leave one or two Euro extra if the service is particularly good.