Splitting the restaurant bill with many people?

[Beth76]

I'm going to Chicago in a few weeks with a group of 10 girls. We'll all be eating dinner together every night. I know some are concerned about how the bill will split. I guess they've had problems before with people not paying their share. How do you do this usually? Will restaurants (generally speaking, of course) split the bill 10 ways? Will they keep seperate checks? I've never had to split the bill between this many people before. Just wondering how some other people do this that's hassle free.

 

[LoraJ]

Probably depends on the restaurant. Many of them do not want to be bothered with seperate checks.

When I was younger and would go out to dinner with the ladies in my office, they would order tons of wine and expensive meals. Myself and this other girl would order a salad and appetizer because we were on a tight budget. It would really upset us at the end of the meal to be asked to cough up $50 because they split the bill equally.

I just think everyone should keep track of what they ate and pay for that plus tax & tip. Only way it should be split equally is if everyone ate around the same amount.

 

[summerrluvv]

Around here you would take the total bill, divide by 10 and that's what each person pays, regardless of what you order. That's why it's a good idea to not order salad and water 10 separate checks is a pain for the server, and I wouldn't even ask for that.

 

[Just2554]

I think splitting the bill would be the best bet. That way, you're not making up for anyone who didn't put in enough money.

For what it's worth, I'm a waitress and splitting the bill is the easiest thing in the world, as long as you're not a difficult group. Let the server know ahead of time how you're going to be splitting the check. That way, they can put everything in the computer in an order that makes sense to them and they won't have to work themselves in a panic attack trying to figure out who ordered what in order to split it later.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[SRUAlmn]

We frequently did this where I used to work for lunches. We normally had about 8 people. Some places we knew we could ask them to split it with no problem. At others, they would get upset and annoyed if we asked.

At those places, we just each kept track of how much our individual order was and we tipped based on our own order. Then we put it all together and one person was usually in charge of making sure there was enough there and the tip wasn't too small.

The problem we ran into was when many of us didn't have cash and wanted to use our debit/credit cards. In those cases, we just took turns paying for each other. The majority of us were good about making sure that it evened out the next time. Are these close friends of yours? If so, I don't think you'll have a problem

PS It's NEVER hassle free

 

[PattnFmly]

When my church choir goes out, we have an agreement. Everyone is allowed one alcoholic drink on the bill and we just divide it by the amount of people. No matter if you got the least or most expensive entree. If one doesn't agree to just divide, they are welcome to stay home. We tried so many ways to divide, figure out who had what etc. It just didn't work well. So since we are all friends and go out a couple times a year, we just split. Oh and if someone wants more than one drink, they just go to the bar or pay the waitress cash for that one drink. It works for us.

My DMom's friends bring a pad of paper and all write their own entree, drink prices etc and do the tax and 20% tip on their own piece of paper. Then they each know how much to put in the kitty when the bill comes without anyone even having to look at the bill!

Good Luck!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Around here you would take the total bill, divide by 10 and that's what each person pays, regardless of what you order. That's why it's a good idea to not order salad and water 10 separate checks is a pain for the server, and I wouldn't even ask for that.

Just like in the episode of Friends when Rachel, Phoebe, and Joey get upset because the other 3 always want to go out for expensive meals and split things 6 ways and the 3 of them couldn't afford it. Must be a NY thing

Also, I agree with Just2554, I was a server and it is VERY easy to split bills if you know in advance. They will usually write it down separate, but place the order all together so it comes out at once, and then they split it in the computer before they print the checks.

 

[disneylizzy]

Shouldn't be any problems with people not paying their share if you take the bill, add the tip and divide by 10. Make sure you have some singles for change.

I bet the problem is that some want to pay for just what they ordered - too confusing. You guys better lay the ground rules before you go.

 

[Mickey527]

I get together with a gang of CT DIS people and we always go out to dinner. We have never had a problem when we asked the waiter or waitress to split the check. We try not to get to complicated, the couples pay together and if the wait staff seems to be upset we will get the check split into groups of two then only two people have to haggle over the check. It does make it easier when you have those who are small eaters like me and those who order two appetizers, a big meal, three drinks and dessert. I have always hated splitting the check unless it was with my family.
The only place that had problems splitting the check into seperate checks was Rainforest in Hartford. We have had the check split into single checks in places like California Pizza, TGIFridays, and Ruby Tuesday's.
We usually stay in the restaraunt longer than most guests so we can enjoy each other's company and chat over coffee. We always make sure to leave at least a 20% tip.
If the waiter does split the check for you make sure you tip generously, those seperate checks take time to do. Peggie

 

[raammartin]

Just lurking, but wanted to say, SRUAlmn, the puppy in your signature is adorable!!

 

[Chilehead Too]

Around here you would take the total bill, divide by 10 and that's what each person pays, regardless of what you order. That's why it's a good idea to not order salad and water

Same here

 

[dcgrumpy]

We always divide the bill evenly.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Just lurking, but wanted to say, SRUAlmn, the puppy in your signature is adorable!!

Aw Thanks!! That's my Riley!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

When I know I am with a group that will split it x ways regardless of what we order, and I know I am only ordering something cheap because I can't afford to order something expensive I will quietly ask the waitress if I can have a seperate check and I have explained that this group is going to split it and I can't afford to do what they are doing. I've never had a problem.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

When I go out with a big group from work, we always ask for separate checks. It's been years and years since I've had a server decline to write out separate checks. Ask them as soon as they come to the table.

DH and I have been stuck with the bill a few too many times to dine out with a large group without separate checks! It can be a big mess.

 

[eclectics]

I always ask the server for my own separate bill. I've never had a problem. I sure as hell am not paying for someone's Steak and someone else's three Martinis when I'm having a Taco Salad and a Coke!

 

[arminnie]

Just lurking, but wanted to say, SRUAlmn, the puppy in your signature is adorable!!

And I'm now dogless - don't let me find out where that puppy is. I don't want to end up arrested for dognapping, but it might be hard to resist that cutie.

Back to the OP - It seems to be a regional thing. In Louisiana - there are notices on the menu "No separate checks." In Arkansas they almost always do separate checks unless you ask them not to.

Especially if one person is on a very tight budget and has only ordered one tiny thing, sometimes that person will put in her amount the the rest of the crew will split the balance evenly.

 

[Beth76]

The exact thing we are trying to avoid is people being stuck paying for steak when they ordered a salad. We're all visiting Chicago from out of town, so no one will be staying home. I guess there really is no good way to do it. I'm just going to suggest that we all might want to bring cash with us for this reason. That surely will be easier than dealing with 10 credit cards.

 

[EthansMom]

I've "shared" meal tabs where the person collecting the money got shafted with people not putting in their fair share, meal tabs where I've been asked to fork over $30 more than the cost of my meal (plus tax and tip), and meal tabs where I've watched the other person take my share (meal plus tax and tip) and chip in only the cost of their meal, stiffing the server of a tip.

I prefer to ask for separate checks. Ask when you are placing your order. Very rarely have I had a server that had a problem making separate checks.

 

[Kae]

When I go out with a group we are always asked how we want the check before we order. Now if you are making ressie have the person who call ask if it can be done. I think it is more of the norm now because alot of people bill with CC or Debit Cards. Alot places like Applebee's it's divided on the bill even if it has one total.

Kae