Originally Posted by
thucanhho
I will comment on my own question. We were at Alinea with a party of 4. If you have been there, you know that you pay for the tickets, which include service, way ahead of time. The only portion left was beverage. Our beverage bill came to $500 with tip included. I inadvertently tipped an additional $100 and was reminded by staff that tip was included. I made no changes, but it does indicate to me, at least at Alinea, that additional tip is not expected.
My first run it with the tip included but a separate line on the bill for gratuity was at French Laundry. I left nothing additional and, to this day, remember it as a total faux pas.
When is Paris and tip is included, I add 10% when the service is intense.
My US tipping: minimal of 20% for all restaurant. It remains closer to 20% at expensive restaurants. Up to 50% at cheaper establishments when I am with my young kids since there is so much more effort to clean up after them.
So in answer to my question, since service is not included, sounds like around 15% for Noma and Geranium.
I'm taking my sister to Europe (Paris/Copenhagen) for her 1st trip. I feel bad that the focus will be food, rather than sightseeing, but not so bad since she will be eating at Noma, Geranium, Septime, Chateaubriand, etc at my expense (plus time and effort to get the reservations!)
Alinea adds an automatic 20% tip to one's bill (including the price of alcohol):
http://www.grubstreet.com/2013/06/re...cept-tips.html
So I can see why no additional tip is expected.
I don't know what the French Laundry adds. Do you recall what your bill said? I honestly don't think it's a faux pas not to "round up" a 15-18% gratuity.
The "ticket" model for restaurants is relatively new. Alinea didn't use it when it first opened - but does now (Next opened using the ticket model). Here's an extensive discussion of the model now in use at Alinea - Next and Aviary:
http://website.alinearestaurant.com/...r-restaurants/
It's an interesting concept/model - and makes a lot of sense for some restaurants IMO. Unfortunately - it doesn't work for me as a diner coming from out of town with the aim of dining in a particular place. If I book the restaurant first - perhaps I won't be able to get appropriate flights/hotel reservations. If I book the flights/hotel first - then perhaps I won't be able to get the restaurant reservation. Also - sh** happens in peoples' lives. People get sick - people die. And the best of plans can be disrupted. My travel plans haven't been disrupted that often - but it's been often enough for me to avoid booking things that are non-refundable.
Note that I don't mind the increasingly common requirement of giving a credit card to hold a reservation - or paying a reasonable cancellation fee if I cancel with very short notice (or just don't show up - although I've never done that in my whole life). I had to do that with Restaurant Andre in Singapore. Cancellation fee is 20% if made < 72 hours in advance - 50% if < 48 hours - and 100% within 24 hours. In any event - I hope the "restaurant ticket" model remains the exception in terms of "destination restaurants" - and doesn't become the norm.
I don't know why you can't dine and do sightseeing on a trip. You have to do something between meals to amuse yourself and work off all those calories
. And - if you think you'll be pressed for time because of lengthy meals - I suggest getting a pass like this (which will - at a minimum - enable you to skip lines and save some time when visiting attractions):
https://www.parispass.com/how-it-works/index.html
Robyn