Separate checks?

[cluvsdisney]

So that would work if you tend to carry cash, but I don't, and a lot of the people I dine with don't either.

I get that. I don't know their cash carrying habits in general but since this is how we handle the check, we all come prepared with cash.

 

[threeboysmom]

Gosh, this whole concept confuses the heck out of me.

Is asking for a separate check different than splitting the check? Reason I ask is I've seen some restaurants say "no splitting of checks allowed" and I've never figured out what the reasoning is for that. I'm not even sure what that even means, lol.

When my girlfriend and I go out, we both throw our credit cards in with the bill (neither of us carry cash). So far we haven't had an issue, but I honestly didn't think it was such a big deal to the waiter/waitress. Now you all have me wondering if we're doing something wrong...

 

[ChiCat]

Wow I have a lot of different friends and we never get seperate checks. I never carry cash either but I stop at the atm on my way because there is one on like every corner.

My really good friends and I usually just have one person pay the whole bill and the other gets it next time.

I'm not concerned with paying more than my share I have set aside a certain amount to have a good time with friends and if I've paid more than someone else at the table, it's totally not the end of the world. Last week I went out to a restaurant where 3 of us girls ate for around $36, we all piled in the money that we thought we owed and another girl counted and said we are tipping her $17 is that ok? And we all agreed it was fine.

Not to trash anyone else's style of doing it, I'm just surprised by how many people get seperate checks since no one I know does.

 

[cornflake]

I'm glad someone else said that because I've never done it either.

If someone happens to order a bunch they'll pay for it, if someone only has a soda and everyone else has 3 drinks, the soda person will just toss in their $3 or whatever.

Among one group of friends we did have one guy who consistantly put in less than he should have - and if it was more than a buck or two someone would say 'wait, X, pony up $5 more,' no big.

 

[jensen]

I hate to drag this old thread out again... but, I just wanted to share my weekend experience. Hubby and I were with a group of friends for dinner at a nice restaurant. For once, we decided to splurge and didn't even consider price when we ordered. When the check came, one friend grabbed it and said it was $75 per person ($150 for the two of us). I about choked because I knew that even when splurging we didn't spend that much. But, I didn't want to ruin the fun we were having by arguing over money - and this thread was floating in the back of my mind. So, I paid up.

Today, I decided to do the test. I pulled up the restaurant menu online. I added up what we ordered and added 10% tax and 20% tip. Our total came to $115.

Call me cheap if you want... but, this is why I like to have separate checks.

 

[marthachick]

I have never done separate checks since HS. I've never witnessed anyone doing separate checks. I'd be horrified if anyone suggested it - tacky.

Tacky is when you eat & drink something very expensive & expect someone who ate cheaply & drank water to subsidize part of your meal! Separate checks here!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Usually when we got out to lunch at my work, we go to a restaurant where we order separately at the counter. There is one restaurant we go to that gives us one check, and we always end up with problems splitting the check when we all only have a 20. The last time this happened, the person at the counter told us "just ask us for separate checks."

 

[cornflake]

Tacky is when you eat & drink something very expensive & expect someone who ate cheaply & drank water to subsidize part of your meal! Separate checks here!

I don't think it's mutually exclusive. One more than the other, certainly (sticking people with a bill is really rude) but they're both kind of tacky, imo, unless it's the work-related lunch check splitting thing above, where people aren't really going out together, they're just going out, and happen to be together.

I've never done separate checks or had anyone do it when I was there. Nor have I had anyone summarily split a bill that was really lopsided unless it was known beforehand (like a preplanned birthday dinner thing). Frankly, if someone had said like 'it's $75 a person' to me when I know I'd ordered $20 or something worth (and it wasn't a preplanned situation where others meals are being folded into my cost like the birthday thing), I'd say 'sorry, can I see the check, I thought my salad was like $15,' take the check, confirm, toss in a $20 and be done with the conversation.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Wow I have a lot of different friends and we never get seperate checks. I never carry cash either but I stop at the atm on my way because there is one on like every corner.

My really good friends and I usually just have one person pay the whole bill and the other gets it next time.

I'm not concerned with paying more than my share I have set aside a certain amount to have a good time with friends and if I've paid more than someone else at the table, it's totally not the end of the world. Last week I went out to a restaurant where 3 of us girls ate for around $36, we all piled in the money that we thought we owed and another girl counted and said we are tipping her $17 is that ok? And we all agreed it was fine.

Not to trash anyone else's style of doing it, I'm just surprised by how many people get seperate checks since no one I know does.

You tipped like 47%? Wow! That was silly to do! Unless you got some kind of really outstanding service.

 

[cornflake]

You tipped like 47%? Wow! That was silly to do! Unless you got some kind of really outstanding service.

I don't generally tip 50% or more (unless it's like a $4 sit-down check or something) unless it's outstanding service but... why's it silly to do? I think it's nice, if you can afford to. Waitstaff makes so little and works so hard, in general.

 

[tasha99]

I don't understand why separate checks would be a big deal. Where I work, if they're paying for lunch, accounting wants your original receipt. They don't want a receipt from me, Linda, Suzy and Sally for Tuesday's lunch, and then me and Linda and Suzie (but Sally went elsewhere) the next day. We just ask for separate checks ahead of time and everyone turns in their own receipt. I'm shocked that someone could find that "tacky"--must be someone who would rather pay for their own lunch than get reimbursed.

When I go out with a friend, we usually just take turns buying.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

There is seperate checks, and then there is the extreme......

My DH took his elderly father to meet with some of his friends while DH was visiting him, he normally would not do this, but FIL had been very sick. There were four other people and my DH and FIL. Seperate checks were asked for - no problem. But then two of the elderly ladies decided to "split" a meal - yes half a salad, half an entree, each on seperate plates. When the bill came, then they asked to "split" the entree cost on "seperate checks"

DH just felt like throwing the cash down on the table for the entree/tip, he was sooooo embarassed.....

 

[JVelasquez]

I waitressed for a little while and splitting checks was not a big deal. Maybe our system was just made very well. You entered all items on one check so food and drinks arrived together and then at the end when you are ready to split the checks you just tapped and dragged the different items to separate receipts.

As a customer my friends and I will ask for separate checks when we go out. We are all on budgets so if I go out and know I have $20-$30 to spend I order accordingly and leave myself enough money to tip the waiter/waitress!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Gosh, this whole concept confuses the heck out of me.

Is asking for a separate check different than splitting the check? Reason I ask is I've seen some restaurants say "no splitting of checks allowed" and I've never figured out what the reasoning is for that. I'm not even sure what that even means, lol.

When my girlfriend and I go out, we both throw our credit cards in with the bill (neither of us carry cash). So far we haven't had an issue, but I honestly didn't think it was such a big deal to the waiter/waitress. Now you all have me wondering if we're doing something wrong...

It is the same--

No splitting checks means that the restaurant will not do separate transactions for the same table. It means you have to figure it out yourself and often means that you cannot pay with 2 credit cards. In groups where that was an issue, we gave our cash to the person with the CC.

I remember Jr Prom--oy was that a nightmare...1 check, 20 people and as the appointed math person, I was trying to get it all right. Crazy! (And no way is one high school kid going to pay for the other 19.) No clue on how we tipped as it may have been automatic. But I did make sure there was a good tip...but back then, if it wasn't included, I would not have left more than 15% as that was the suggested tip back then.

I know folks have posted to the contrary even if they are older than me by a couple of years--but it was suggested that on many menus and little tip articles in the news paper. But due to our group size--it may have been included and would have been 18%.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not to trash anyone else's style of doing it, I'm just surprised by how many people get seperate checks since no one I know does.

I think some are equally as surprised that folks do it your way. I've only heard about it on the DIS and have only experienced it when someone felt like treating the group. We have done this--but it was to host and never was it expected that someone would catch it next time. We don't eat out often enough with other folks to do that as a custom. And our budget would not support the shock of treating others, necessarily. I guess if you could go many times without paying until it was your turn again, it would work out. And that is where I wonder--how exactly does it all work out.

I went on a trip recently where a little here and a little there we were picking up each other's tab in one weekend--but that was because we were eating out frequently--it was a small group and it started as one person wanting to do something nice and the others doing it on the next go 'round. Each time we were asked if we wanted separate checks and someone just popped up and said they'd cover it.

But at home--I don't eat out frequently with others to do that and it would feel weird for someone to pick up the tab unless it was for something special--not just a Friday night out once every 3 months with different people.

 

[cornflake]

I think some are equally as surprised that folks do it your way. I've only heard about it on the DIS and have only experienced it when someone felt like treating the group. We have done this--but it was to host and never was it expected that someone would catch it next time. We don't eat out often enough with other folks to do that as a custom. And our budget would not support the shock of treating others, necessarily. I guess if you could go many times without paying until it was your turn again, it would work out. And that is where I wonder--how exactly does it all work out.

I went on a trip recently where a little here and a little there we were picking up each other's tab in one weekend--but that was because we were eating out frequently--it was a small group and it started as one person wanting to do something nice and the others doing it on the next go 'round. Each time we were asked if we wanted separate checks and someone just popped up and said they'd cover it.

But at home--I don't eat out frequently with others to do that and it would feel weird for someone to pick up the tab unless it was for something special--not just a Friday night out once every 3 months with different people.

Obviously it varies but in my experience, as I've never done the split or separate, it just kind of naturally works itself out.

If it's good friends you likely go out with and the group doesn't change much, it's just 'I'll get it.' As in a previous post, if someone ordered like, a $100 bottle of wine, they'd pass that over or they'd pick up the check, but in general, you figure it'll work itself out. If I have lunch with a friend and happen to pick up the check the next time the friend will or, say, if it was breakfast and it wasn't big, the other person will buy if there's a stop at Starbucks or whatever. It evens out.

If it's a bigger or changing group - like an after work group - tends to just be people throwing down what they figure they owe and someone gathers and makes sure it's right and may say 'we're like $5 short on the tip' and everyone will toss in an extra $1 or what have you. If people aren't sure what they owe, they'll just hold out a hand to see the check and then pass $, no big, it's never been a thing.

 

[denisem]

Gosh, this whole concept confuses the heck out of me.

Is asking for a separate check different than splitting the check? Reason I ask is I've seen some restaurants say "no splitting of checks allowed" and I've never figured out what the reasoning is for that. I'm not even sure what that even means, lol.

When my girlfriend and I go out, we both throw our credit cards in with the bill (neither of us carry cash). So far we haven't had an issue, but I honestly didn't think it was such a big deal to the waiter/waitress. Now you all have me wondering if we're doing something wrong...

Maybe I'm wrong, but I've always considered "splitting the check" as each party paying 1/2 (or 1/6, whatever the case may be) without nit-picking each individual item. Whereas, "separate checks" will give each person an itemized check for only their order.

For two or three people, I imagine it's not a big deal to the server in your scenerio.

Eh, I've done it both ways. With regular/long-time friends/relatives/co-workers where the bill pretty much evens out over time, we split it or do the "I'll buy this time, you the next".

But I can see separate checks for those who only drink water & keep it simple. No reason they should pay for everyone else's appetizers, desserts & drinks (where the $$ really add up) if they don't partake.

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

When some of my friend's go out, we always use the same check, I just pay for my share. I mean, I am perfectly capable of figuring out what my meal and drink cost, add on some of the tax and add in the tip. I mean it's kinda the same way when a bunch of us here at work order out lunch. I look at how much my meal cost on the menu add some tax on and throw in another dollar or so for tip. I mean sure, if I had a salad and water and people are just expecting me to split it evenly between us when they had steak and drinks, I would tell them no. I will pay only for what I have eaten.

Then again, I guess it depends on who you go out with. There is one person I go out with and I will always get a seperate check. Just makes things easier and we get to keep our friendship, lol.

I guess I am split on this because I see both sides.

 

[Bob NC]

I guess I am split on this because I see both sides.

Well, there's something new & refreshing on the Dis!!!!

 

[ChiCat]

You tipped like 47%? Wow! That was silly to do! Unless you got some kind of really outstanding service.

She was a nice server at one of our favorite restaurants on a Friday night and it was very slow there. Not that I tip 50% regularly or that it's based on certain criteria, just sometimes a server will get lucky!

I agree with cornflake it always works out with my group of friends to not split the check (everyone chips in) and/or have one person just pay the entire check.

Sometimes I will pay more and another person will pay less I'm sure but it in the end no one feels cheated. I also don't keep a tally in my head of who eats what each time we go out.

DH and I are DINKs though, not rich but we go out a lot so maybe that has something to do with it.