Service Charge and Waiter asking for tip in Burano restaurant - what to do?

If there is a service charge and coperto there is no way I would pay a tip. Even if there was only coperto I would only tip a few Euro at most. The waiters are simply trying it on with American customers who are used to paying tips because their own country can't bring itself to pay a decent minimum wage.

I would simply smile and pay the bill. There is no need to tip especially if service and coperto is being added. I wouldn't even round up if the waiter was rude enough to mention a tip.

Donna

Iron law. Never tip a waiter who hints or asks for one in Europe. If a waiter asks for a tip, especially in a country where tipping is not the norm, they are simply rolling tourists too naive to push back. I might leave a few coins or round up -- but if the waiter jovially or otherwise begs for a tip (which you can bet he is not doing to locals but only those who sizes up as chumps) then my rule is 0. I cannot frankly imagine someone thinking it a good idea to fold to this kind of pressure (where it is counter normative.)

In the US tips are part of the cost of a meal; in most of Europe they are not the custom and waiters are paid a reasonable wage. A pushy waiter begging tips is a parasite.

l would definitely not leave a tip. Also, did you know that in every restaurant you can always go up to the cash register and pay your own bill? That way you're not at the mercy of a waiter to bring you back your change. I learned that the hard way after being extorted out of a tip by a waiter at a pizzeria in Rome.

Agree with all of the above.

The 12% service charge added to the bill is the norm. However by law in the menu there should be a note that such service charge will be added to the bill. Same thing with the "Pane e Coperto", which however has been banned in some Regions, like Lazio (Rome is in Lazio).

The "Italian waiter" in your example is simply trying his luck with his American customers probably because he knows that leaving a tip is a virtually "mandatory" in America. I'm emphasizing the word "Italian waiter" because I haven't seen a restaurant worker who was actually Italian in either Venice or Florence since the 1970s or 1980s. The only Italian in restaurants might be the guy behind the cash register (the owner).

I'm sure occasionally luck strikes some of those waiters (especially in cities with lots of American tourists like Venice) because many North American travelers may not know or even suspect that leaving a tip is not expected at all for any service in Italy (restaurants, bars, taxi, hair dresser, etc.).

I rarely if ever wait for the bill from the waiter in Italy. The practice is to get up and leave when you are ready and on the way out pay at the cash register where the Italian owner is sitting (Italians generally don't trust immigrants for that money handling task). Just tell them which table you were sitting on and they'll run the bill for you right there.

Thank you everyone for your insight, I hadn't heard that you can just go up to the register to pay - sounds like a good plan to avoid people who may try to take advantage of American tourists!

I'm wondering if the Anthony Bourdain recommendation has sent a large amount of American tourists there, and the service staff have become used to excessive tipping.

Where are the registers in ristoranti? I've not seen anyone waiting at any register. At Bars and all other stores, yes. I just thought that registers were in cages in the back like here. Where should I look for the register?

To find the cash register in a restaurant you just have to look around. They're not always at the front door, but they do often seem to have a view of the front door. They're usually behind some sort of counter.

Sandra. It ain't rocket science.

In cages???? Where on earth do you live?