Let me start by saying: the food was good -- flavorful, well-prepared, and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the service was what ultimately soured our experience.
My husband, another couple, and a single friend visited this restaurant on May 30, 2025, as part of our European travels (we began our trip from the US on May 23). As travelers, we've been doing our best to respect local customs and norms -- including what we've consistently been told about tipping not being customary.
During our meal, one of our friends asked if we could split the check between the two couples and the single diner. The server curtly responded, "The bill needs to be €50," then walked away. We interpreted this to mean that credit card payments required a minimum of €50. So, the other couple included the single friend's meal on their tab, which took their total over the minimum. My husband and I paid our €40.40 bill in cash, using €50 and exact change.
Here's where things took a disappointing turn.
The server came back, looked at me, and asked, "Where are you from?" I responded politely, "The US," thinking he was just making conversation. His immediate reply? "Do they tip in the US?" -- and then he walked away.
To say we were stunned is an understatement. Not only was it presumptive and rude, it left a very unpleasant final impression on what could've been a nice evening. He had no idea whether we were planning to tip -- which we were, even though we had been advised that tipping isn't standard across much of the region we've been traveling.
It's disappointing when good food is overshadowed by poor, presumptive service. Travelers deserve the same respect as locals -- and kindness shouldn't be conditional. read more