And now we get into the difference in terminology between "tip" and "service". The tip in France is a small amount, not 20% as in the US. The word tip translates to pourboire, which means, "for a drink". It's a dollar or two, depending on the amount of the check. We usually leave an additional $5 in cash if the service was great. Your server wasn't lying to you; the "tip" is not included, but the "service" is.