The restaurant check....?

Question

Do you prefer splitting the check ( evenly) at restaurants when you dine with family or friends?
Or do you think that seperate checks work out better? If so, is it ok, or does it seem tacky to ask before ordering, if the server can put it on seperate checks?
Sometimes you might order something small, for a few bucks, and other parties might have the most expensive thing on the menu...so, if splitting evenly, how do you feel about this?
I understand that "treating" another person to dinner, etc. falls into a different situation. So my question is generally speaking; for example, lunch with friends.

Answer 1

When dining with people the proper thing to do is to split the check evenly between parties. The only time asking for seperate checks is acceptable is if you are out with colleagues

Answer 2

Several ways....Rules of "dinner ticket" etiquette.

If you know "its a treat" watch what the host is getting and then order yours less than them.

If you know its a split, then say it up front as soon as the waiter hits the table for the drink order.

If you are just having a drink then say that upfront, when you are seated to the others in the group and ask if a couple of bucks to the neighbor next to you would be easier than a separate check?

If you shared 30% of the items on the table its a equal shared split unless stated upfront., and that included a 15-20% tip for the server. If the party is over 5 often the tip is included, so ask the server, so he isn't double tipped. Its understood that booze is not included in this meal, unless you shared pitchers of drinks then its the entire tab.

OKAY- the dating rules always order what you can pay for including booze and dessert. DATE OR NOT offer to pay your share, a polite man will decline and will appreciate the offer.

Always offer to get the movie or coffee...that's a sign your not all about the money and that will afford another great time with thei person this pay period.

GREAT STORY about a dinner out- gone wrong or right
Always keep a $50 in the corner of the bra on date night. We got heldup and the poor guy get robbed by a fake valet, while getting out of the car at the fancy resturant remote parking lot, and thank god he pretended or really was so nervous he dropped the keys and kicked them under the car, leaned over and locked the door and shut it behind him to protect me. I saw that my friend could run, so I laid ON that horn and the real valets came running.

I didn't carry a purse that night, just had a housekey & money in my bra- Thank god. After the police department, I took him to a great dive mexican resturant. We are still best friends and he "buys" lunches every time we go out! His wife thinks its the sweetest thing and my husband jokes and says "going for free lunch huh?"

So being clever and having good manners can make a meal a 12 year friendship. I spent $12.85 for that dinner. What a great investment huh?

Happy dining!

Answer 3

In huge parties, someone (the host) would usually know who is responsible for paying the check, it would usually fall on their scope of responsibilities. But there are those times, during impromptu get-togethers where no one particular is going to make a payment, because everybody is paying for their own or treating somebody.

These matters should be brought up to your server's attention pronto, especially in the beginning before you place your orders, especially if you want separate checks. It's not tacky to inform your server, it's just common sense. Trust me, it speeds the check-out process. Less aggravation on your part, as well as your server's.

As I have worked in the restaurant industry, and it drives me absolutely nuts when a party of 6 or more decides at the end of their meal to have separate checks. Although, I was very good at keeping track of what every body ate and drank; imagine keeping track of 30 separate checks that everybody decided on the last minute. It happened to me.

Not only are you being courteous, you are also expediting the checkout process; you are also keeping your server sane. At least if you alert the server in the beginning, they would know how to organize the check-out better; and have everything run smoothly for you and your guests.

Keep in mind as well, to keep in simple. If you ask to have a separate check from the group, don't change your mind at the end. If everybody decides to chip in a certain dollar amount, then do that.

If you ordered a few things, and some people ordered the more expensive item, and you don't want to pay for it, I really suggest you ask for a separate check in the beginning. At least you can keep track and worry of your own expenses without looking like a cheapskate in front of your friends. If you want to treat your friend, but not buy them their whole meal, inform your server that you want to buy the first round of drinks or that dessert, etc. Your server is your ally. Inform them of what is going on in your party. It will really cut down on the miscommunications. Have patience as well, separate and split checks usually mean longer check-out time. If you have a new or inexperienced server, getting out of that restaurant right away is not going to happen.

And for all that trouble, please try to be nice, polite and take care of your server. It amazes me to no end that people who asks the most, give the least.

Answer 4

Always split the check. If we have a person who orders something far less expensive, we just figure out a dollar amount for them to subtract. Say everyone has to pay $18 each, but you just had a salad, so we might say that you could put in $10 less than everyone else. Getting exact on the bill with separate checks is too much hassle for the server and for everyone involved.

Answer 5

Its a complicated thing. In my case I think it depends on who I am with. I always try to pay my share and leave enough for the tip. Unfortunately not all people are like me. I hate it when some cheapskate is with us at the table and tries to get away with paying less. Its very uncomfortable because if you say something it feels like you are the one being rude. So most of the time you just have to take it. I generally have certain people that I go out with and we all cooperate fairly. When there are new people involved or people you know are cheap the best bet is to get a separate check.

Answer 6

The check is the bill for your meal. Gratuity ettiqutte now calls for a 15% tip for good service and can go as high as 18%. becareful when going in large groups because most restaurant would add the tip to the "check" for parties of 6 or more.

Answer 7

This is tricky. You have to know the people that you are going out with. If it's going to be a problem it must be addressed prior to the waitress taking the tables orders.

I've seen men and women say that they want separate checks.

I know that I don't always have the money to go out a split the bill but I tell my friends before we even leave teh house. This way no one feels uncomfortable. And if they still want me to go with them then they will pick up the difference. And vice versa.

Answer 8

Let me guess, your a woman. I have been in the restaurant business for 30 years. A table of women will always ask to have the check split for each person. A table of men will have one guy pick up the check and either ask the others to "chip" in or tell them. "I got it this time, next time it is on you". Men are team players and women are not. I don't make up the rules. This is my experience.

Answer 9

I think it's a little cheap to split the bill every single time - If one of your friends pay for all, then someone else pays the next time. It's quite simple...

And if it's a friend you won't see for a long period, then who cares about who pays? What's important is to be with your friends...

Answer 10

I was a waitress and people ordered separate all the time. It never bothered me. As, for the people you're with just politely say you would rather have your own bill (they can split if they want ).