I was in Austria in 1997 and with meals we were served bread/rolls and butter, but what we did not realize til the bill arrived was that we were charged a certain price for each roll or bread we ate! Not like the good old U.S.A. where bread and butter are as plentiful and "free" as refills of water and coffee! Does anyone know the bread and butter rule in Paris? Thanks. Michele

just returned from Paris - at all the cafes / bistros / restaurants the bread was free ... the interesting thing was that in 99% of the cases butter was not served with the bread, if you want butter you may have to ask for it.

I certainly can't answer for all the restaurants in Paris, but we never had to pay for bread with our meals. In fact we went to one restaurant where they not only gave us complimentary bread, but also pate to go with it while we read the menu.

BREAD is free at lunch and dinner; butter isn't eaten with these meals, so if you ask for butter, you might have to pay for it. <BR>NOTHING is free at breakfast! If you order coffee and a croissant, then ask for bread or toast...you'll pay for the bread or toast AND the croissant...

Bread comes with mostmeals is Paris and the environs but butter is seen as similar to cheese, which comes as a course just before dessert at fine establishments. I have seen Euro tourists pick up pieces of butter with their knife at nibble it like cheese and then eat a piece of bread.

Bread and butter was served everywhere we went at no extra charge. I noticed that while we nearly always received butter along with our bread, those speaking French did not. So, perhaps, many servers know that Americans prefer their bread with butter.

From my recollection as a child growing up in Paris....<P> <BR>The reason butter is not served is because the bread is _SO_ delicious and flavorful. Why hide its tasty flavor with butter?<P> <BR>Also, unlike in the US, it is not impolite to take a square in of bread and 'mop up' the delicious sauce that accompanied the meal. How could the bread absorb the juice of the sauce if it were lathered up with butter? <BR><P>BTW - what is butter? my home hasn't seen the likes of it in years ! <BR>Lastly, if you expect things to be just like in the "good old U.S.A.", then the last place you should head for is Paris. <P>Good luck and have a wonderful trip anywway!

I concur: the bread in Paris is soooo good that we would buy a "demi" to eat on the way home from the bakery with our baguettes for dinner!

If you like butter, order it. European butter is unsalted and the flavor is like nothing in the U.S. When you've paid a bundle to be there, why quibble about a few pennies. <BR>