Ah much generalisation. Europe is over 40 countries with vast differences in quality of service and restaurant culture. I have been to restaurants in many European countries and the only generalisation I can make is that tip culture does not exist in Europe.

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ghaff 14 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Although in the UK, there is often an "optional" service charge tacked on for table service dining. (Yes, you can get it taken off but I'm guessing most people don't.)

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bluebarbet 13 hours ago | parent [-]

One (more) area where Britain stands apart from the mainland.

	▲	ghaff 13 hours ago \| parent [-]
		In general, the Anglosphere differs in quite a few ways (though not consistently) from everywhere else.

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yostrovs 14 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

My last trip I gave a $10 tip to a waiter in a Spanish restaurant. I apologized that I didn't have euros. The guy smiled broadly and thanked me. If tip "culture" didn't exist in Europe, he would have thought of me as inappropriate and would have given the money back. Like if you try to give a tip to a firefighter, he'd give it back, because it's not appropriate.

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crazybonkersai 13 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Of course you can tip and nobody would refuse one. The difference is tipping is not expected by default and you get same service regardless of your tip. In contrast many years ago a waiter in a NYC restaurant made my then girlfriend crying when the waiter decided that the tip was not big enough. Is this great American service people here keep raving about?

	▲	JohnFen 12 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		> a waiter in a NYC restaurant made my then girlfriend crying when the waiter decided that the tip was not big enough That's certainly not the norm in the US. I've eaten in restaurants in every state and have never seen or experienced anything like that. It sounds like you just got a terrible server or restaurant.
	▲	pirates 13 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Do you think that experience is representative of all dining experiences in the US or did you cherry pick one?

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bluebarbet 13 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

He accepted it because he saw you as an American cash cow.

Obviously you will do as you please, but I wish tourists would try to get with the culture. As a European, one of many reasons I don't tip is that I don't want to encourage a class system where anyone who doesn't pay up is seen (and sees themselves) as stingy.

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xxs 13 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I have not been in a place in Europe where the tips would be rejected. However, universally they are not the norm or expected.

Also about the $10 - they would need to gather quite a few more dollar notes and spend time finding a cash exchange bureau. Else the note is just a memento of a weird American.

In some EU countries the tips have to be counted as salary and income (+social) tax paid, or even they have to be declared as revenue to the restaurant along with the VAT (19-25%) going straight to the state. Of course, when paid in cash - that rarely happens. The point is that the provision exists in the law (so the tips are not unheard of)

	▲	marysol5 12 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Define "the norm", because it's absolutely a thing, just not required and or demanded like it is in the USA.