When in a restaurant, is it ok to look at the check and see if the total is right or is it bad manners?

Answer 1

Are you picking up the tab? Don't look at it

Answer 2

It is not bad manners at all to look at the check. I thought I usually did. However, recently a friend and I went to lunch at a very "fancy" and expensive place. We ordered oysters for appetizers and of course expected that the bill would be higher than we were used to. I got the bill and she just asked me what half of it was. I told her, she gave me her half and added a tip. I did the same. Later on, I was telling my sister that the restaurant was nice. She was asking me about everything. AS I was telling her about it and telling her the prices, I realized that we had been way overcharged. We must have received someone elses bill. If I would have paid closer attention, I would have realized it.

Answer 3

By all means, check the total. How could it be bad manners to check if your not being ripped off? I mean mistakes happen, right? I check the total on my check all the time, that's why they give it to you in the first place or else the waiter would just yell, "Hey buddy! Pay $10.50 to the girl in the front!"

Answer 4

My husband and daughter and I eat out a lot, and about 10-15% of the time there is some sort of error associated with the bill. Sometimes we're charged for the wrong items, for items we never ordered; sometimes they forget to charge us for items. Sometimes the change they give is wrong, too.

We always check the bill. We do it discreetly, and if there is an error (no matter if it's in our favor or not), we call it to the attention of the person who served us.

It is not a big deal. Where a lot of meals are served in a short period of time, there are going to be errors.

(When we've called attention to errors that were in our favor, we've gotten free desserts, had the meal comped, and been given gift cards. And we've never had a server get upset with us for correcting an error.)

Answer 5

It's not bad manners. It's your right, and your responsibility since it is your money.
And a good server will place the check on the table and walk away, giving you time to review it.
xxoo

Answer 6

You should always confirm the items and numbers on the check. No one else cares if it's right or not, so it's up to you. Manners are not part of this question.

Answer 7

Perfectly acceptable. I've found items that were not served.

However, most often calculations are done by an electronic cash register.
Not bad manners to check hand written tabs.

Answer 8

i think its okay, but don't do it all openly. I glance over it to see if i got the drink discount i mean that is why i ordered the drink of the day. sometimes they do make mistakes on half price appetizers ect... I do it and I don't thibk it's bad manners. im not likE LET ME LOOK THIS OVER FIRST. thay lay down the bill and say theyll tak eit whenever I'm ready and when I look at teh price I skim down the receipt.

Answer 9

Assuming you offered to pay, right when they hand it to you is as good a time as any. It is bad manners to quibble about the check if you are going to split it.

Answer 10

no its not bad manners anywhere is suitable beucase if the restaurant is trying to steal your money then they can get in alot of trouble, i know this has happend to the place i worked becuase one of the waiters didnt get tiped from one couple and decided to tip himself 15 dollars on there credit card check and there was alot of trouble with the credit company and the boss.

Answer 11

Not a question of manners - it is what you SHOULD do, unless you want to pay for what could be a mistake that would charge you more than you ordered. It happens!