The ability to behave with dignity in public places is a sign of a common culture. This skill gives self-confidence, and therefore such a person will never try to hide its absence behind rudeness and deliberately dismissive attitude towards the service personnel. The restaurant is the place where the opportunity is most often given to demonstrate their good upbringing, and for some - its lack.
General rules of restaurant etiquette
At the end of lunch or dinner, when you not only ate a delicious meal, but also had a great time with your companions, you should ask the waiter who served you for the bill. If at the moment he is not next to your table, you do not need to call him with a loud shout, knock of cutlery on the table or dishes, snapping your fingers. To get his attention, all you need to do is make a subtle wave of your hand or nod your head. As a last resort, ask any waiter passing by your table to send the one who served you.
Discuss who will pay the bill before the waiter comes to your table to check out.
In some Russian catering establishments, a tip to the waiter is immediately included in the bill, usually 10% of the total order value. It assumes by default that the quality of service was excellent and you are willing to reward great work. In this case, you should pay the bill in full, but if you are not satisfied with the quality of service, and this happens quite often in Russian restaurants, you should not make a complaint to the waiter and argue with the bill. Just ask to call the head waiter and tell him, in an undertone and not getting hot, your complaints about the service or the kitchen. If this is the case, you may not tip if it is not included in the bill, again politely and quietly explaining your displeasure to the head waiter.
It will be okay if you first ask the waiter to make several different bills, if each of those present at the table pays for their dinner or lunch on their own.
How to tip a waiter abroad
Since trips abroad for business or tourist purposes have already become commonplace, before going to a particular country, you should at least a little familiarize yourself with the reviews and advice of experienced tourists who have already been there. After all, even in the case of visiting a restaurant and paying the bill, there are local differences.
For example, in Australia, as well as in Japan, China and Korea, it is not customary to give and take tips. This may even offend the Japanese waiter - he believes that he should do his job well in any case, for which, in fact, he receives a salary. But in America, all waiters will expect a tip from you, even those who work in chain eateries like MacDonalds. True, the standard tip size for an ordinary restaurant is about 25% of the order amount, and in a diner it will be enough to leave 1-2% for tea. A tip of 10-15% will not do without a tip in those countries where Russians prefer to go on vacation - in Turkey, Cyprus, Taiwan and Malaysia. In Europe, tips are usually included in the bill, but the further north the country is, the lower the standard amount will be. In Denmark and Sweden, for example, it will be about 5-8%.
