In dining out with family, how do you split the tab if some members of the family have their significant others join the meal?
Is it fair to count the couples as 2 separate persons, or is it just being petty? Can it be considered unfair to the non couples members to cough up more than their share, especially if everybody has decent jobs. Obviously, children are exempt from this.
2007-09-06 12:34:51 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Everyone coughs up for whatever they consumed - its up to the couple as to how they pay THEIR share of the bill.
and unless someone volunteers to foot the tip, the entire table should contribute an equal amount to the tip.
I should clarify - unless it has been a formal invitation - in which case the person who is doing the inviting, should expect to pay for dinner and tip.
2007-09-06 12:38:06 · answer #1 · answered by allusian_fields 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It seems as though most places allow separate checks. I do not recall where my husband and I were, but we were with another person or couple, and we were not allowed to have separate checks. Okay. We just took what we ordered, paid for that plus tax, and split the tip.
My husband and I often go out for dinner with his parents. They pay for the food, but if we want a beer (well, I don't drink because I'm nine months pregnant), we pay for it ourselves.
As for couples, and the same check if we were out with others, it would just be something like, "Andy had X which is $9. Laura had Y, which is $7." So my husband and I would kick in $16 plus a dollar or so for tip and be done with it.
I'm both cheap and fair, so I make sure I pay my portion. If I have a $4 salad and water (because I did not have a say in the restaurant, so I order something to keep my tummy pacified until I get home and because water is free and works best with a meal, I think) and Joe has the $20 steak and two $5 beers (while I'm still pregnancy dry), why should I pay for part of his dinner and his beers, especially when he is supporting something with which I don't agree?
2007-09-06 21:30:37 · answer #2 · answered by Vegan_Mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's a formal invitation, such as an engagement dinner, then the person hosting should pay. When I go out with the family for a formal invitation, my grandmother, for example will pay for the meals, but if I get a cocktail, I will approach her later and offer her the money I spent on my booze. Or perhaps thank her very much for the meal and offer to take her out to Sunday brunch (which she loves to a ridiculous degree).
If you all just go out to Chili's or something, just to get together, then everybody pays for their own food. I have a HUGE family. I mean, HUGE! So we are all pretty used to tossing our best estimate into the pile. We pay attention to how much our food costs before we order it and keep a running tally in our heads. It would be a huge burden if 40 of us went out and expected one person to pay. Even at a cheap restaurant, it is not unusual for our family to run a $1,000 bill. Waitresses and waiters both love us and hate us, LOL. They get a big tip, but they REALLY earn it!
2007-09-06 19:59:55 · answer #3 · answered by Yup Yup Yuppers 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know what you mean. My sister and I are single, my brothers are married. We count the couple as 2 seperate people. Everyone is considered an individual and pays for themself. If my brother wants to pay for his wife, that's between them. They're still counted as 2 people.
2007-09-06 19:50:00 · answer #4 · answered by ☆skyblue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you invite them to dinner, and you know they have significant others you need to expect them to bring them, so I say you pay.
2007-09-06 19:39:45 · answer #5 · answered by Glinda W 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe it should be split evenly amongst the adults.
2007-09-06 19:42:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
we usually just split it evenly. it all works out the more you go out together.
2007-09-06 21:13:16 · answer #7 · answered by racer 51 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋