Splitting A Restaurant Bill

[wincrasher]

That's the risk you take when you go out with a group. Smart to ask the waitress first for separate checks - it's also easier for her knowing up front.

Some people are just plain rude about it though. I took my extended family out for dinner one night. A friend of my sister tagged along. She's pretty loaded, but never picks up a check. I get the bill - her two glasses of wine were $90! How can any restaurant charge that much? Ridiculous.

But I said it was OK for her to come, just was surprised at the thoughtlessness. So I quietly paid the bill.

[inneedofhelp]

Too me, that is not being thoughtful. I would have at least asked the person if they are sure that they wanted to cover the bill..

as for 90 bucks for wine? That is beyong reprehensible, in my opinion. Sorry, I prefer 2 buck chuck, or wine below 10 bucks.

[cschin4]

It is far easier than everyone trying to figure out how much each one owes individually. Sometimes I pay a fair amount more than I should, other times not. It all balances out over time.

Not necessarily. And, you may be out with someone who hadn't planned to spend more than X for that evening and splitting puts them over budget but doesn't want to say anything.
So, why doesn't everyone just get their own checks? What is the big deal and resistence to that anyway? I don't get it? It just makes life so much simpler all the way around and much more comfortable to eat out with others in my opinion.

[cptacek]

So, why doesn't everyone just get their own checks? What is the big deal and resistence to that anyway? I don't get it? It just makes life so much simpler all the way around and much more comfortable to eat out with others in my opinion.

I agree with this. Every time we go out, either we request separate checks up front, or someone fights to pay the whole bill.

[disneysteve]

So, why doesn't everyone just get their own checks? What is the big deal and resistence to that anyway?

It depends on the restaurant. Some places will only do one check per table.

[cschin4]

It depends on the restaurant. Some places will only do one check per table.

Then I would eat somewhere else. Seriously, if they cannot give me a seperate check then they don't need my business.
For those of you who don't mind splitting the bill, there are many of us who do. And, probably most of us have been burned along the way funding someone else's alcohol bill while we drank soda. So, no thanks.
My own bill means I can order whatever I feel like having with no regard to the cost for myself or not. I find the "splitting" very uncomfortable at the end of the dinner and then figuring out the tip, etc. This way, I pay and tip on my own bill. And, unless it is a birthday dinner or I am treating, I insist on separate checks. Over time, people just get used to that and it becomes no big deal and I think people are actually relieved.

[cicy33]

I waitress and believe me it is so much easier for me to know ahead how to split the bill. I usually ask. I have never heard of wine costing 45 dollars per glass. What on earth did the entree cost??? We charge $3 per glass of wine. but our glasses are full and not the skinny type. When I eat out I request separate checks when the waitress firsts takes the order. The other thing you might do is when the party is planned, get a take on how the bill will be done. Most people these days are on a budget and will understand you need to know if advance. or just say you need to know about how much to bring with you. if they don't understand then they are being flat out rude.

[Bimmer]

I get the bill - her two glasses of wine were $90! How can any restaurant charge that much? Ridiculous.

For two glasses?!?!?!

Wow, I could really load up some decent wine (even with this state's ridiculous alcohol taxes) at the liquor store for $90.

[Scanner]

As an ex-waiter at Pizzeria Uno's (years ago - in the 90's), I'll explain the 1 check per table policy.

It's not really a policy. . .it's just really a pain to go back to the computer (most resteraunts are computerized nowadays) and generate 8 checks per table.

If you are going to do it that way, what I would suggest is, "Can we each have a separate check? We know it's extra work for you but we would very much appreciate it."

It's a subtle hint to the waiter/waitress there's a little extra for his/her time and efffort and all of the sudden you may have that "policy" disappear. I would do it when I waited tables but it was a pain. Not just because of the extra keypunching but getting all the orders to come up at once is nearly impossible. . .you would get your food runned to your table at separate times. You may want to indicate it's okay with you if that happens. . .seperate drink delivery, seperate food delivery, etc. Not only that, now you have to make change for 8 different checks, swipe 8 different credit cards being sure not to mix them up. Collections is part of the waiting business and now you are slowed down on your other tables.

I know, I know. . ."well, I'm out to eat and that's the waiter/waitress's problem, not mine. People have such a poor work ethic nowadays!" Yes, I see what you are saying. But you can see the problems bound to occur and all it takes is 1 problem. . .and boom. . .the tip is gone and large tables like that. . .well let's just say they have a reputation for stiffing you on the tip. Generally, waiters/waitresses treat their customers lke a portfolio - it's better to diversify your efforts over 4-6 tables, instead of 1 or 2 big tables.

It's not necessarily laziness on the part of the waiter/waitress. . .it's the mental coordination when you are balancing your table of 8 and 2-4 other tables of 2 to 4 people simultaneously on a Friday night at 8 p.m. and trying to meet their needs as well as the table of 8 who all decided they wanted separate checks.

[zetta]

It seems to me to be a regional thing -- in the Midwest people are more likely to go for separate checks, while on the East coast splitting the tab seems to be more common.

[cschin4]

If you are going to do it that way, what I would suggest is, "Can we each have a separate check? We know it's extra work for you but we would very much appreciate it."


I would think a waitress/waiter would prefer seperate checks and would have much better odds of getting a decent tip versus gambling on one large bill and whomever happens to have control of the tip.

[wnlbutterfly]

I think that might be the clue..."a regional thing", because here in the midwest I haven't been where they wouldn't do separate checks. They usually ask first in fact. No problem.

Splitting the bill would be okay if everyone was buying in a certain price range but that never happens and when you add a glass of wine when someone else might drink water....that just doesn't add up. I am sure the person that orders on the HIGH side LOVES this.

Sorry you were stuck in a bad situation, but sounds like you handled it best you could and at least you didn't get stuck with that $90 wine tab...I am sorry, but if that happened I probably would have just flat out told that person they need to pony up. That is just nuts. Of course around here for the tab to even get close to $90, it is the fancy steak house and there are 6-7 of us eating. Honest!

[disneysteve]

Generally, waiters/waitresses treat their customers lke a portfolio - it's better to diversify your efforts over 4-6 tables, instead of 1 or 2 big tables.

It's not necessarily laziness on the part of the waiter/waitress. . .it's the mental coordination when you are balancing your table of 8 and 2-4 other tables of 2 to 4 people simultaneously on a Friday night at 8 p.m. and trying to meet their needs as well as the table of 8 who all decided they wanted separate checks.

This is somewhat OT but something that has always annoyed me at restaurants. When there is a larger party, like 8 people, why do they insist on assigning only one waiter? What always ends up happening is that half the table is nearly done eating before others are served because one waiter can only carry so much stuff at once and has to make multiple trips back and forth to the kitchen. Why not split the table among 2 or more servers. You'd get the customers served more efficiently which would also turn over the table quicker which is part of the goal of the restaurant.

[cicy33]

This is somewhat OT but something that has always annoyed me at restaurants. When there is a larger party, like 8 people, why do they insist on assigning only one waiter? What always ends up happening is that half the table is nearly done eating before others are served because one waiter can only carry so much stuff at once and has to make multiple trips back and forth to the kitchen. Why not split the table among 2 or more servers. You'd get the customers served more efficiently which would also turn over the table quicker which is part of the goal of the restaurant.

I do agree with you but the reason is simple. the other server won't get tipped. these people make very low wages and can't afford that.

[disneysteve]

I do agree with you but the reason is simple. the other server won't get tipped. these people make very low wages and can't afford that.

Why wouldn't they both get tipped? I've been in numerous restaurants that do it the way I suggested with multiple servers for the group. I know a lot of restaurants pool their tips and then split them up. Maybe that's what these places do. If there are 2 servers, they should each get half of the total tips from the group. That seems simple enough to manage.