DINING SCAMS

 

Dining scams aren’t unique to Paris—they thrive in every major city where tourists flock. When we travel, we tend to loosen up, relax our vigilance, and soak in the atmosphere. But alongside cultural quirks and the occasional pickpocket, the dining table can also hide its own little traps.

Paris, of course, is no exception. The city’s cafés and restaurants are legendary, but they also come with their share of “gotchas.” These aren’t always outright cons, but subtle maneuvers that catch the uninitiated off guard. And while being fluent in French helps, even a well-practiced accent won’t always protect you if you wander into the wrong café on the wrong square. Tourist-heavy areas are particularly ripe for such tricks, where menus, customs, and expectations don’t always align.

Here are the most common ones to watch out for

Bill & Pricing Tricks Every Traveler Should Know

Even in a city as gastronomically revered as Paris, the table can sometimes be set with a few hidden snares. Most aren’t outright cons, but rather subtle maneuvers that catch tourists off guard. Here are the classics to watch for:

Tourist Menu Upcharge

Near hotspots like the Champs-Élysées, Eiffel Tower, and Montmartre, some cafés still try the old bait-and-switch: one price posted outside, a higher one slipped into the English menu inside. In France, that’s not just cheeky—it’s illegal. The law requires identical pricing across all menus, regardless of language. Charging more to tourists is considered fraud and can draw fines or sanctions. My rule? If I spot such a discrepancy, I walk out. Trying to argue is often futile; the waiter who spoke flawless English when taking your order may suddenly “forget” the language. I’ve even seen French Canadians—native French speakers—caught in this same web.

Extra Bread & Water Charges

Bread, that most sacred of Parisian table companions, is almost always included. A basket of baguette slices isn’t a luxury—it’s custom. But dress it up with “artisanal” labels, infused oils, or fancy butter, and suddenly it sneaks onto the bill. Always check.

Water follows the same script. By law, a carafe of tap water (carafe d’eau) is free. Yet some cafés will feign confusion and press you toward bottled flat or sparkling. To sidestep the ruse, simply ask for une carafe d’eau. If you want to make the waiter smile (or roll his eyes), order un Château la Pompe—a tongue-in-cheek nickname for tap water dressed up like a grand cru.

Tip Confusion

French law requires that service (around 15%) be included in all menu prices. Still, a few opportunistic servers tell tourists “service not included,” hoping for double tips. Don’t fall for it—gratuity is optional, not obligatory. A few coins or rounding up the bill is perfectly polite. For more detailed information, click on link Tipping in Paris

A Personal Lesson

When I first moved to Paris nearly two decades ago, my French was clumsy at best. Over drinks at a neighborhood café—not even in a tourist area—I handed over a €50 note to cover an €18 tab. The waiter returned just €2 in change. My friends confirmed the shortfall, and only then did he sheepishly “correct his mistake.” It wasn’t an accident; it was a test of whether the foreigner at the table was paying attention.

Bottom Line

Always check your bill, always count your change. This isn’t uniquely Parisian—plenty of U.S. restaurants pull similar stunts. But when you’re traveling, your guard is often down, and that’s when small oversights can add up. Stay aware, and you’ll save both euros and aggravation—leaving more room to savor the parts of Paris dining that truly are unforgettable.

Food & Drink Traps

Even in Paris, the city where café culture is an art form, there are a few dining quirks that can catch visitors off guard. Think of them less as scandals and more as cultural fine print worth knowing.

Overpriced Drinks at Cafés

The same coffee costs 3 different prices depending on where you drink it:

• Standing at the bar (cheapest)
• Sitting inside (higher)
• Sitting on the terrace (most expensive)
• Tourists often don’t know this and get shocked by terrace prices.

It’s perfectly legal as long as the price differences are clearly displayed

The Disappearing Menu of the Day

The formule or menu du jour—a fixed-price lunch special—remains one of the best bargains in French dining. It often bundles an entrée and main, or main and dessert, into a single, cost-effective price, with the option of all three courses if you’re hungry. But here’s the catch: some waiters won’t mention it, especially to tourists, and instead nudge you toward ordering à la carte, which inevitably costs more. The solution is simple: always ask, “Est-ce qu’il y a une formule aujourd’hui ?”—Is there a set menu today? Odds are, it’s the smartest order you’ll make.

Menu Misleads & Hidden Extras

Even in Paris, where dining is almost a civic religion, not every café or restaurant plays fair—particularly in high-traffic tourist zones. Here are a few classic “traps” to watch for:

The Wine “Help”

Ordering wine in Paris should be a joy, but it’s also one of the easiest ways to get upsold. Ask vaguely for “a glass of white,” and don’t be surprised if what lands on your table is one of the priciest pours on the list. Sometimes, the waiter will propose a bottle “just right for you,” only for you to discover it’s €100, not the €25 you imagined which has happened to us til this day! The rule is simple: always ask to see the wine list, even in the most casual café.

When Sodas Cost More Than Wine

It often shocks visitors that a humble Coke or hot tea can cost as much—or more—than a decent glass of house wine. The kicker? When you ask for a soda, you may be asked, “What size?” Opt for a large, and at some tourist-trap terraces, you could be staring at a €15–20 charge for a fizzy drink. And, teas are normally expensive. Outrageous, but it happens, embarrassingly it has happened to me when we first moved here. 

The sides

You order a croque-monsieur or an omelette, menu makes it look like it comes with sides. They ask if you want fries or salad, you say yes… and then—bam!—they hit you with an extra charge. This little scam is basically a specialty near train and bus stations

The Forced Extras

In the worst offenders—usually cafés shouting “English Menu!” waiters may drop bottled water, bread baskets, olives, or even a digestif you didn’t order onto your table, only to tack them onto the bill. In genuine Parisian establishments, these little touches are included or clearly listed; in the tourist traps, they’re a quiet upsell.

The Reality Check

To be fair, most Paris restaurants don’t play these games. Stray a little from the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, or Montmartre, and you’ll find honest menus, transparent prices, and waiters who take pride in their craft. The golden rule? If the menu is laminated and in five languages, keep walking. If locals are eating there, you’re safe.

Miscellaneous Musings

Not quite scams, but quirks and cultural habits worth noting:

Dining on the Wrong Day

The worst days to eat out in Paris? Sundays and Mondays—and sometimes even Saturdays—when many restaurants close. Plan ahead, or you may find your shortlist of favorites all dark at once.

The Vanishing Leisurely Dinner

Paris has long been known for its lingering dinners: good food, good wine, good company, and no rush. Traditionally, once you reserved a table, it was yours for the evening. Increasingly, however, some restaurants are adopting the Anglo-American habit of “turning tables” for profit. I’ve even been asked to vacate a table at 9:30—while waiting for dessert and coffee, which BTW we had to cancel. Needless to say, I avoid such places. NOTE: it's normal for cafés to turn tables, since there's a lot of foot traffic and meant for a quick drink and/or meal. 

Clearing Plates Too Soon

French etiquette dictates that plates remain on the table until everyone has finished eating. If your server begins whisking away plates prematurely, don’t hesitate to point out—politely—that someone at your table isn’t done yet.

The Utensil Double Standard

One of my pet peeves: utensils. At some otherwise excellent restaurants, I’ve noticed a quiet double standard. French diners are given fresh knives and forks with each course; Americans are asked to keep theirs. I find this insulting. If it happens to you, don’t be shy—request clean utensils, as you deserve the same courtesy.

Reservations

Always book ahead—especially at popular restaurants. In my experience, the places worth reserving are usually the ones worth eating at.

Fait Maison 

In France, food is treated like a national treasure, and the French are determined to preserve its authenticity. That’s where the fait maison label comes in. More than a marketing flourish, it’s a legal guarantee that a dish was prepared on site from raw ingredients, not just reheated from frozen. 

The label was introduced in response to restaurants scamming customers by claiming everything was “house-made” when much of it was actually pre-prepared or industrially produced by eg. Metro which is a wholesale cash-and-carry for professional chefs and restaurateurs The official logo — a little saucepan with a roof-shaped lid — is often displayed on the restaurant’s window and next to qualifying dishes on the menu. 

A few exceptions are allowed (cheese, bread, pasta, or cured meats), but otherwise it signals honest cooking straight from the kitchen. If you don’t see the fait maison logo, there’s a good chance much of what’s served is factory-made. In short: the label is your assurance that what’s on your plate is part of France’s living culinary heritage.

Bonus tip regarding Michelin starred restaurants 

If you’re eyeing a Michelin-starred restaurant but want to spare your wallet, book lunch instead of dinner. The menus are often shorter, the prices sometimes nearly half, yet the cooking is every bit as refined as in the evening.

Final Thoughts

Dining in Paris is one of life’s greatest pleasures: the food, the atmosphere, the ritual of it all. But the experience can be soured if you fall into the small traps that target tourists.

Fortunately, they’re easy to avoid.  Check reliable reviews. 

Checking your bill, asking about the formule, and steering clear of multi-language tourist menus—you’ll enjoy Paris dining exactly as it should be: leisurely, delicious, and unforgettable.

JJ & Randy (2025)

With that we say, A SANTÉ et Bon appétit!