Café Étienne — Restaurant in Paris

My wife and I and our two friends (all Americans) had a few drinks and a bit to eat at this restaurant in the afternoon one day last week. Our waitress was very attentive and funny. However, when it came time to pay the bill, she insisted that the bill did not include any "tip" or compensation for her as a waitress, and told us that a 15% gratuity was common in France. My wife and I, who have visited France dozens of times, knew that this was untrue, but our friends (who were paying the bill) felt cowed by the waitress and added a 15% gratuity as the waitress told them to do. I am sure that she would never try this on her French customers, and we feel that she lied to and took unfair advantage of our friends. If you are American (or from a country where gratuities for wait staff are common), do not go to this restaurant. You risk being cheated like our...

Right out side the metro station , on the busy street, ..looking for a late night meal upon arrival to Paris on the way to the hotel , the meal was surprisingly tasty and served quickly! Roasted chicken and Cesar’s salad(with sliced crispy chicken cutlet on the side as topping)was delicious, home-y-taste (?), price reasonable. Casual place to sit and drink, nice terrace, friendly and efficient staff, it was such an unexpected and pleasant experience I...

Ok it's not a Michelin type venue. But plenty of locals were there - always a good sign in a bar. The leather sofas were tired, dog eared and past their best. But the waiter spoke good English, delivered 4 drinks promptly and didn't hurry us to pay or move on. The loos were clean. But best of all when I asked where I might buy an umbrella I was given one from behind the bar that was left behind by another...