Asking for and paying the bill

In France, the bill never comes automatically. You have to ask for it — usually by catching the waiter's eye and saying l'addition, s'il vous plaît ("lah-dee-syon, seel voo pleh"). It's perfectly polite to wait quite a while after dessert before asking; meals are not rushed.

In Quebec, asking the same way (l'addition s'il vous plaît) works fine. Quebecers also commonly say la facture ("the bill / invoice"), which would feel oddly formal in France.

When paying: the waiter usually brings a portable card machine to the table — vous pouvez insérer votre carte (you can insert your card) or contactless. Cash leaves on a small plate or tray.

Tipping. In France, service is compris ("included") by law — listed on the bill and built into menu prices. Rounding up to the nearest euro, or leaving 1–2 € on a coffee, or 5–10 € on a nice meal, is appreciated but not expected. In Quebec, tipping 15–20% is standard and expected (closer to US norms) — service is NOT included; you add it on top.