Split Checks?

[amg35]

Side note: for those who've never experienced separate checks, were you to enter an establishment where that was offered, and someone in your party said "sure", what then? Would you object, or go with the flow?

A new friend or friend of a friend, I wouldn't care in the least! Really! And it wouldn't change the way I would order.

But if it was a "regular" in our crowd, to be honest, I guess I would wonder a bit....but that's just because we've all been friends for years and it would just be a weird thing to do, know what I mean?

 

[eliza61]

Side note: for those who've never experienced separate checks, were you to enter an establishment where that was offered, and someone in your party said "sure", what then? Would you object, or go with the flow?

Once again it probably would depend. If it were me and my 4 buddies, I would probably assume she was on a budget crunch and simply pick up the entire tab but I can also say with 100% guarantee that the other 2 would throw cash at me.

but once again these are women I've slapped coco butter on their backsides when we tanned in our early twenties. so I'm comfortable saying that to them and covering for their meal.

As a general rule I'm a "go with the flow" type of gal so if I'm dining with some one who is new to our gang of merriment and ask for a seperate check I would definitely not mind. I'd like to think I'd want them to feel "comfortable" and enjoy their evening with me, so if having separate checks makes that happen, totally cool with it.

 

[Skip2MyLou]

But, didn't you say you live in Chicago, or surrounding area? By your logic, you would split the bill evenly. If I read wrong, I'm sorry.

Ooop, you visited Chicago and doesn't sound like you had very much fun, sorry. Was Detroit much different in this area of discussion?

And if it helps, some of my friends are from smaller towns in surrounding states, and they also never questioned splitting the bill evenly, or if they did, they don't seem to have a problem with it.

From the posts I can remember reading (30+ pages now, whew,) people either ask for separate checks or chip in what they think they owe. I'm sure someone will come along to prove me wrong But, the recession is still going strong in the Detroit area, so that may have something to do with it too. I just don't remember splitting checks evenly, or my parents doing that when I was growing up.

I enjoyed Chicago very much, I just did not care for the end of that one dining experience. I was extremely uncomfortable. I doubt I will go back for another "girls weekend" to visit my cousin any time in the near future. And she still does not know that I had a problem with it. She & I grew up close, and we had never split checks in that manor before. So it was a surprise to me.

Honestly, I went home, told my DH what happened, thought "well that was different" and forgot about it until I was reading that thread the other day.

 

[amg35]

Once again it probably would depend. If it were me and my 4 buddies, I would probably assume she was on a budget crunch and simply pick up the entire tab but I can also say with 100% guarantee that the other 2 would throw cash at me.

but once again these are women I've slapped coco butter on their backsides when we tanned in our early twenties. so I'm comfortable saying that to them and covering for their meal.

As a general rule I'm a "go with the flow" type of gal so if I'm dining with some one who is new to our gang of merriment and ask for a seperate check I would definitely not mind. I'd like to think I'd want them to feel "comfortable" and enjoy their evening with me, so if having separate checks makes that happen, totally cool with it.

Look! We're on the same page with how we pay but our answers were totally opposite! That strikes me as funny for some reason.

 

[sadiras]

Side note: for those who've never experienced separate checks, were you to enter an establishment where that was offered, and someone in your party said "sure", what then? Would you object, or go with the flow?

I'd go with the flow in that hypothetical scenario if I was with a group of co-workers or a large group of people that I was not friends with. If it were me, spouse and a few couples that I knew and wanted to dine with, I'd say to put everthing on one tab and we'd split the bill evenly.

 

[denisem]

I think I'll dine alone with a book from now on, thank you.

 

[amg35]

I think I'll dine alone with a book from now on, thank you.

Chicken.

 

[denisem]

Nah...chicken is for cheap, anal people.

 

[sadiras]

I think I'll dine alone with a book from now on, thank you.

Funny! Enough is enough.

 

[Skip2MyLou]

Nah...chicken is for cheap, anal people.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Nah...chicken is for cheap, anal people.

Even at Olive Garden?

 

[amg35]

Even at Olive Garden?

(just passed out on top of my decorated toilet)

 

[denisem]

Even at Olive Garden?

We do not have this...Garden of Olives (?) in Monaco.

 

[Bob NC]

Side note: for those who've never experienced separate checks, were you to enter an establishment where that was offered, and someone in your party said "sure", what then? Would you object, or go with the flow?

They would all go with the flow, but most at the table would give that little chin jut and wink to their real friends signifying that person was never to be invited to dine with them again.

If possible, they would be blackballed from restaurants that serve "our" kind of people.

 

[gina2000]

Side note: for those who've never experienced separate checks, were you to enter an establishment where that was offered, and someone in your party said "sure", what then? Would you object, or go with the flow?

Doesn't bother me in the least. But I've never been anywhere that it's been offered. I think that's what has amazed me the most (besides using multiple credit cards on one tab). I've never had waitstaff ask if a group I was with wanted separate checks. Ever. And I've travelled with extended family as well as friends. I'm a pretty observant human being. Often I'm in on dividing the bill (after a few drinks it can get pretty silly)l. So it's not as if I'm sitting there waiting for someone else to make a decision and missed it.

I'm really starting to think it's the large metro areas where this is done differently. A subset may also be chain restaurants verses privately owned establishments.

Now I have a question for those with separate checks: If you order a bottle of wine, do you share it? Or does each person order a glass? Or are there multiple bottles on the table? That's one area that confuses me.

And the last one that confuzzles me is what to do when you are on one tab and have multiple credit cards. How does the waitstaff know how to divide the tab? Is this a "divide equally only" situation? Someone did seem to have a method upthread but there was no elaboration.

I hate to say this but I think I would be the recipient of some major eye rolling if I asked for separate checks in some of the places we go. Maybe I'm wrong, though. I think I'm going to ask the next time I head out for dinner....a scientific, before the first drink inquiry.

 

[gina2000]

They would all go with the flow, but most at the table would give that little chin jut and wink to their real friends signifying that person was never to be invited to dine with them again.

If possible, they would be blackballed from restaurants that serve "our" kind of people.

You are really enjoying this....

 

[Bob NC]

You are really enjoying this....

LOL, this thread is just funny now.

 

[mjkacmom]

Doesn't bother me in the least. But I've never been anywhere that it's been offered. I think that's what has amazed me the most (besides using multiple credit cards on one tab). I've never had waitstaff ask if a group I was with wanted separate checks. Ever. And I've travelled with extended family as well as friends. I'm a pretty observant human being. Often I'm in on dividing the bill (after a few drinks it can get pretty silly)l. So it's not as if I'm sitting there waiting for someone else to make a decision and missed it.

I'm really starting to think it's the large metro areas where this is done differently. A subset may also be chain restaurants verses privately owned establishments.

Now I have a question for those with separate checks: If you order a bottle of wine, do you share it? Or does each person order a glass? Or are there multiple bottles on the table? That's one area that confuses me.

And the last one that confuzzles me is what to do when you are on one tab and have multiple credit cards. How does the waitstaff know how to divide the tab? Is this a "divide equally only" situation? Someone did seem to have a method upthread but there was no elaboration.

I hate to say this but I think I would be the recipient of some major eye rolling if I asked for separate checks in some of the places we go. Maybe I'm wrong, though. I think I'm going to ask the next time I head out for dinner....a scientific, before the first drink inquiry.

Lol - I also have never been at a restaurant, and asked if we want separate checks. And if someone asked, I would expect a really awkward moment of silence! Another thing I learned here is that multiple people can put credit cards towards one check. Who whooda thought?!

 

[Bob NC]

You are really enjoying this....

You know what the real difference is?

When I go out to eat I always try to pick up the check. My BIL and I have almost drawn blood fighting for it. I figure if I'm going to eat with you, it's because I want to spend time with you and I don't mind paying, it's not an issue. Sometimes I'll pay, sometimes you'll pay, sometimes we'll split it evenly, sometimes there will be separate checks, because yes, around here you are asked that at every restaurant whether the little breakfast joint or Ruths Chris.

The major thing is, I'm just saying what I do.

I'm not saying this is what I do and me and everyone I know could not imagine the strange, weird, cheap way you do it.

It's not the way everyone on this thread has answered the poll, it's the tone the 16% has used in implying their way is the only "classy" way to do it. If it's done any other way, well, you all are just not as civilized as us. Some folks are implying it's horrifying to do it a way other than theirs.

 

[gina2000]

I hate to say this but I think I would be the recipient of some major eye rolling if I asked for separate checks in some of the places we go. Maybe I'm wrong, though. I think I'm going to ask the next time I head out for dinner....a scientific, before the first drink inquiry.

And just to clarify, the major eye rolling would be on the part of the waitstaff, not my companions. They'd probably be just as confused as I have been throughout this thread.