Been where only once or twice? I live here for 22 years.Been to these restaurants more than most and go on a regular basis.

The question is still not resolved although you happily think it is.

We have (unfortunately) to separate a 'service' charge from 'gratuity'. If a 'service' charge is included in the net price it is still not certain that the waiter or waitress gets any of it. Most likely not as Barbara pointed out as the 'service' has been legalized to cover a portion of fixed salaries.

Bottom line is that a restaurant can charge whatever they choose to charge for any item/s on their menu (service charges not withstanding). If the price on the menu is 30 Euros for scrambled eggs, sobeit. It's the customer's choice whether to patronize or not. Ergo: A restaurant need not include a 'service' as he/she is charging more than enough to cover it anyway. They are just prohibited from adding it post-mortem.

Now the tip. Where and how does that come into play assuming that it's not included in the 'service'? Aye. There's the rub. But maybe this is just an issue for us "tipping" Americans. Seems to be. Nobody else seems to be concerned.

Maybe you're right. Ask if the "service' is included (or don't ask and assume it is) and just don't give any more.

Sorry guys. This question is still out there. I believe, as I first said, that such charges and how they are dispensed should be well-published and take it from there.

This subject has been discussed here, and on other boards, without a clear definition of what this "service charge" actually is. In my mind, it definitely is a tip, and if the service personnel don't receive it, then it's the owner's fault, not the diners. If the owners want, for instance, $11.50 for a $10 item, then it should be listed on the menu as such. We rarely, if ever, return to a place that uses this less than honest practice; there are enough wonderful places on the island that don't.

Best 2 tips you can give anybody, especially on the French side...are...#1-always buy low and sell high...and #2-don't eat the yellow snow...use it for snowballs against a bully !!! cheers, the spikester ;->

I have always wondered, why don't the French speak English on St. Martin? When I vacation on St. Martin, I don't want to try and translate French. Is it to much to ask?

Tony,

At first I disagreed with your post, however, after thinking about it I have to agree. In the U.S., we have to know English, Spanish, Ebonics, Vietnamese and so on, just to converse with the populus. I think you may be on to something.

Why call St Martin paradise will all of it's problems?

Overcrowding,crime,traffic,illegals,thieves and high prises for what you get.

The only good things are the beaches and the casinos and for that we can stay in

the States

To each their own. More room for us.

If you go to France do you really expect everyone to speak English to you? St Martin is France.

uhhh .... I guess they speak French because St. Martin is part of France.
A French tourist in Texas does not have much chance of being served in his native language, why would you expect different in France??

And "most" Americans speak only English, and not ebonics, Spanish, Vietnamese et al .....

Great - stay in the "States" ..... it's the only truly safe place left in the world .... hardly any guns or crime ..... huh?

Methinks Tony was kidding....

I agree with Barbara. I have a friend who is French and owns a restaurant on the French side. It has been explained to me similiar to Barbara's quote. A service charge is not the same as a tip. You are trying to take French terms and use the AMerican definition. I am not going to try to explain because there will be a disagreement. I would greatly recommend if you think the service was good leave money for the waiter/waitress in the form of a tip.