If you go out to dinner with other couples

[believe]

Separate checks. I never get a drink, just water. Usually DH and I split an appetizer and a meal, we just can't eat a lot. We would really get ripped if we split the check with a couple that ordered 2 meals, drinks and desserts.

 

[BethanyF]

With one couple, we take turns treating. The non-paying couple covers the tip. Wait staff must like when we do this since the tip is always generous. We eat and drink similar things with this couple, so the bills are about the same every time.
With another couple, we just split it down the middle, tip included. Here we go to more casual places with our kids (same age) and usually end up ordering pizza or similar things. Splitting the bill just makes sense.
Anyone else, we just cover our share.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We just split the bill. DH does not drink at all so I am sure our share is much less than our friends but we can't put a price tag on the fun times with have with them!!!

 

[peg2001]

Separate checks. In my experience, there is always someone who feels cheated if you split the check or even if you try to calculate what everyone owes off the bill. It's just not worth any hard feelings when it is so easy to ask for separate checks.

Peggy

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Originally posted by TINKTWINS
We split the bill. Id pay almost anything to get out of the house!

 

[Jeafl]

We always just divide the check equally.

We got burned big time though last August in Las Vegas. We went out with another couple to a restaurant called Kokomos at the Mirage. DH and I split a salad (they were HUGE!), then each had an entree about $27 each, we each had one drink about $7 each and that was it. The other couple each had their own salad, the guy got a lobster bisque as well, then they each had the $60 filet, 4 martinis at $9 each, then they each had a dessert which was about $8 each. When the bill came, the other guy picked it up and said we each owe about $150 plus tip (or something like that). I was truly shocked that he expected to just split the bill after all they ate. We paid half, but we were not happy. Needless to say, we won't be going out with them again.

 

[momm2four]

Oh wow! I would have been flabbergasted if someone who had ran up such a large bill expected me to pay half.

I wonder if it would work to say something like, "Oh really? When I added ours up, it only came to $75 or so." or "I wonder if the waiter made a mistake because our meal shouldn't have been that much." Hopefully, the person will get the drift that you want to pay separately.

Lori P.

 

[houseofmouse]

We have never had a problem with this, most of the time we trade off on who pays. But I am always mindful of what I order. If I wouldn't pay to eat it why should they pay for it.

Example.....
We just went out with our friends and our kids last Saturday for lunch. Just before we ordered my husband whispered to me that we would pick up he tab and was that OK with me (it was and we didn't tell them).

When we got the check the wife said, oh no I wouldn't have ordered what I did (she got a seafood sampler plate around $16, which she shared with her daughter) if I knew you were paying.
I thought that was a nice thing to say, and I knew she meant it so I was happy to pay the tab.

 

[Micca]

We don't go out with others very often, when we do, we just throw in an equal percentage and don't worry about it.