Forums39
Topics38,719
Posts313,136
Members26,578
|
Most Online2,218 Jan 21st, 2020
|
|
41 registered members (MrEZgoin, BHK, ndfaninnc, jaxon60, davidandsusannj, jbutah, George1234, JerseyPal, magpie, ColoBoater, Fitzhughlaw, RatmansWife, Todd, Time Will Tell, bobbarb, marybeth, MrTim-BTV, cbf, Fletch, Kennys, NumberCruncher, duckfat, Matt W, nevar37, MKGrey, Zanshin, TC42, Instigator, polaris, PML, marisol, 10 invisible),
1,305
guests, and 82
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Grand Case Dining....after the meal
#113178
11/25/2016 02:14 PM
11/25/2016 02:14 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 176 Ontario, Canada
OllieEh
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 176
Ontario, Canada
|
We vacationed in St Martin for two weeks last summer and can now appreciate why so many adore this island and return regularly. We will be returning this summer and staying at the same villa in the La Savanne area.
We dined at four different restaurants in Grand Case and used a taxi vs our rental car for the 5 minute ride due to parking reasons, safety, and to be on the safe for alcohol consumption. I quickly realized that with proper awareness of surroundings that the safety concerns were laid to rest. The dining experiences were excellent but being whisked in and out from the front of the restaurant seemed to mute the evening. Are there any places to have a cocktail post meal in Grand Case and/or do the restaurants mind if you stay after the meal for drinks? We were there in low season and we actually felt that we were welcome to stay if we wished.
This forum was an integral part to enjoying trip with its wealth of tips and experiences from the members. It really gave us a head start from learning the culture, Blue Zone parking, restaurant reviews, visiting Club O and beyond! I would have never known about "service compris" and "le pourboire" on the French sideif it were not for this informative site. We felt like well informed and experienced travellers at the first 3 restaurants and then the last restaurant, L'Auberge Gourmande, the bill clearly stated "service non compris" and that gratuities couldn't be billed to a credit card. After such a beautiful dining experience, I have to admit to a little anxiety about how to handle this. I just reverted back to North American roots and left a 20% old fashioned "tip". I couldn't help but feel taken advantage of especially with the knowledge of French laws. There are numerous superb threads on here explaining gratuities for French dining so I don't want it to go down that path but I'm just wondering how the veteran travellers would handle this situation.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: OllieEh]
#113181
11/25/2016 02:42 PM
11/25/2016 02:42 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,143 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,143
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
|
In France, it is the law to include the service in the bill, so if they say they did not include it, I would be suspicious regarding this declaration. I would not tip 20%, but would leave a "pour boire" to thank them for their service , if it was good.I know there will be many different opinions on this, but this is mine and that of many other regular visitors.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: GaKaye]
#113186
11/25/2016 10:35 PM
11/25/2016 10:35 PM
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 309 Chicago, IL
Mbrott
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 309
Chicago, IL
|
GaKaye said: L'auberge Gourmand was once our favorite Grand Case restaurant. We stopped going there when we were presented with a bill stamped, "service not included". There are too many great places to dine on the island that don't take advantage of their customers to patronize those that do. I agree with you Kaye. Last year they pulled that on us and the food wasn't terrific. We definitely will not be going back this March.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: OllieEh]
#113192
11/26/2016 08:15 AM
11/26/2016 08:15 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,460 île staten
Bobcat
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,460
île staten
|
Has their menu been changed to remove the language about not including the service - it is on their Internet image of their menu.
Last edited by Bobcat; 11/26/2016 08:19 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: Bobcat]
#113193
11/26/2016 08:19 AM
11/26/2016 08:19 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
|
Bobcat,
check your link as it does not work for me. Thanks.
J.D.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: GaKaye]
#113199
11/27/2016 06:17 AM
11/27/2016 06:17 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,460 île staten
Bobcat
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,460
île staten
|
I agree with you. Of course to place this on a menu is telling the government they do not care about the law or they are adding it and trying to put one over on the customer, either way unacceptable, except it does allow the customer a chance to accept or decline prior to ordering.
I recall years ago dining at Captain Olivers on Oyster Pond, just over the "International Bridge" on the Dutch pier -they routinely added 15% Service charge then presented a credit card slip with a space for a tip hoping the customer would add another 15%.
Last edited by Bobcat; 11/27/2016 06:19 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: GaKaye]
#113204
11/27/2016 09:26 PM
11/27/2016 09:26 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 140
milo911md
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 140
|
Let me see if I understand the laws on the french side correctly:
1) If the menu handed to you, does not have a notation " service non comprise", Then the assumption is service is included in the menu prices and no additional service charge can be added at the end to the bill. So if the total menu items is €100, the final bill should be €100 as well. And you may choose to leave few € in change.
2) If the menu handed to you, does not have a notation " service non comprise", Then the assumption is service is included in the menu prices and no additional service charge can be added at the end to the bill. So if the total menu items is €100, the final bill should be €100 as well. However if you are handed a bill of €100 with stamped " service non comprise". It appears that the establishment is being greedy trying to pull a fast one and hoping you will leave additional amount over legally included service charge
3) If the menu handed to you, has a notation " service non comprise", Then the service charge can be added to the bill, but not as a separate item. So if the total menu items is €100, the final bill could be be €115 ( assuming a 15% service charge). In this case then the total amount of €115 can be charged to CC. However the bill should not be presented as €100 food drink line, with a €15 service charge line with a total of €115 line.
4) If the menu handed to you, has a notation " service non comprise", Then the service charge can be added to the bill, but not as a separate item. So if the total menu items is €100, the final bill could be be €115 ( assuming a 15% service charge). However even with that if your bill is stamped " service non comprise". It appears that the establishment is being greedy trying to pull a fast one and hoping you will leave additional amount over €115.
I remember few years back (almost 6 years ago) one of the GC establishment ( if my memory serves me right, was La Villa) stamped "service not included" on the final bill, if they felt you were an American. We were warned ahead of time. We went there twice that year (12/2010). First time with bunch of Spanish and french speaking friends. There was no stamp on the final bill. The second time, it was just the 2 of us and at the end we were handed a English bill with "service not included stamp" and that that part can not be charged on the CC. I just felt they were trying to take advantage of the Americans.
Nick
Last edited by milo911md; 11/27/2016 09:38 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: JulieandKarl]
#113208
11/28/2016 10:37 AM
11/28/2016 10:37 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 176 Ontario, Canada
OllieEh
OP
Traveler
|
OP
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 176
Ontario, Canada
|
My original question was just asking about French Law and certain restaurant practices, that to the eye test, conflicted with each other. My intention was to learn from the veterans and how they handle these situations since they have much more experience than I do. I can now see that there are basically three different schools of thought. There are those that ignore and leave an appropriate pourboire...those, like me, that find it confusing and sweat it out, conflicted in what to do (I don't want to stiff the fabulous staff but I also don't want to be taken advantage of)...and there are those, like my wife, who say it's nothing to worry or even think about while on vacation.
I take pride with my tipping and often over-tip or tip when it's not expected, So, I need to take into perspective about how little it is that is causing me angst in the worse case scenario. The worse case scenario (which may not be the case), being that a 15% service fee IS already in the price and a conflicting "service non compris" message is on the website, menu, or bill brought to the table. In this case, I left a 20% "tip". Therefore, I possibly could have left 35% combined in service and pourboire. At restaurants that posted "service compris", I left 10% pourboire due to outstanding food and service plus the fact that most took the USD at par. In this situation, 25% in total was left. Therefore, it only cost a mere $15 extra on our average meal. Not much eh? JulieandKarl are correct, I'm on vacation and it shouldn't bother me taking in the grand scheme of things...but it still does.
I loved L'Auberge Gourmande and I will return but I know I'm going to be uneasy again even though it is just chump change in the big picture. My wife told me that she will treat and take care of transactions at this restaurant...lol
Thank you all for your thoughts.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: JulieandKarl]
#113209
11/28/2016 11:01 AM
11/28/2016 11:01 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
|
JulieandKarl said: Hasn't this topic been thoroughly discussed on other threads? Tip or don't. Whatever works for you. This is not something we worry about when we are on vacation. Just like car rentals and other topics that are often repeated. Any and all information is welcomed and when it pertains to $$, laws or just plain old honesty and principle, I think it is worth discussing. We are not going to solve the tipping/service charge issue but being informed and up to date with current information benefits many people.
J.D.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#113211
11/28/2016 02:52 PM
11/28/2016 02:52 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
|
Not all do and some establishments set their own exchange rate regardless of the current listed exchange rate.
J.D.
|
|
|
Re: Grand Case Dining....after the meal
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#113213
11/28/2016 03:41 PM
11/28/2016 03:41 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,549
Ohio
|
Not sure about "most" but I know more are getting on board with the "no foreign transaction fee" and also "no conversion fee".
What if a place is offering a better deal for "cash" or doesn't accept credit cards?
J.D.
|
|
|
|