Support NeoGAF

[entremet]

I hate splitting checks. I usually cover the check and go back and forth with close friends.

However, you can do that with everyone, especially in large parties in company I may not be too familiar with--friend's new girlfriends and such.

One of my pet peeves are those who comb over checks and want to pay exactly what they ordered for.

Sure if they only ordered an appetizer and don't other any drink, I understand. But most of the time, everyone gets an appetizer, an entree and few rounds of drinks. It just seems very annoying to nitpick over dollars. Not just that, we usually get bottles of wine, instead of glasses, so everyone can share, and it's also more economical in the long run.

Usually I just recommend a full even split and no one has a problem. It's just way easier.

Do you itemize ever little item when you split a check, or do you just split it evenly?

 

[Delta Assault]

Just go dutch every time. it's simple.

 

[VOOK]

Remember what you order, give the cash or transfer the money to the person paying. Easy.

I'm not paying for other peoples booze or $40 steaks.

 

[SwiftDeath]

What about people who don't drink alcohol if it's like half the bill?

I agree if it makes little difference but that's not always the case

Yeah separate checks can be great

 

[Escape Goat]

What's wrong with separate orders and everyone pays for what they eat?

 

[8 X 11 Printer Paper]

Unless my bill is half of most of my friends I'll just split it even.

 

[Zeyphersan]

Completely dependent on the situation

Obviously lopsided bill: itemize

Casual lunch with good friends, no major differences in meal price: make it easy, split it

 

[kami_sama]

If there's no expensive item, I like to do an even split. Hassle free.

 

[RyanDG]

Some people may not be as financially secure as others, and as a result, order items on the menu in a specific manner to ensure that they can still socialize with friends while still being able to pay for bills and the roof over their head. As a result, I see no problem with people wanting to itemize the bill and pay for what they ordered as opposed to an even split. Even if its haggling over a few dollars, the benefit of the person's company far outweighs any inconvenience caused by having to break out out a calculator on your phone.

 

[tokyostomp]

As long as you don't tip split it whatever way you want.

I say pay for what you got, no even splits unless everyone is drinking.

If OP disagrees, we shall go out to dinner. I will order Lobster, Steak, and several cocktails.

 

[FunkyMunkey]

Some people may not be as financially secure as others, and as a result, order items on the menu in a specific manner to ensure that they can still socialize with friends while still being able to pay for bills and the roof over their head. As a result, I see no problem with people wanting to itemize the bill and pay for what they ordered as opposed to an even split. Even if its haggling over a few dollars, the benefit of the person's company far outweighs any inconvenience caused by having to break out out a calculator on your phone.

Well-said *nods approvingly*

 

[entremet]

What's wrong with separate orders and everyone pays for what they eat?

It's just easier.

Especially if we're ordering tons of booze by the bottle. We sometimes order around 8 bottles of wine. Itemizing that per glass would be annoying and time consuming.

As long as you don't tip split it whatever way you want.

I say pay for what you got, no even splits unless everyone is drinking.

If OP disagrees, we shall go out to dinner. I will order Lobster, Steak, and several cocktails.

Tips are already added for bigger parties. At least most restaurants do this.

 

[SwiftDeath]

It's just easier.

Especially if we're ordering tons of booze by the bottle. We sometimes order around 8 bottles of wine. Itemizing that per glass would be annoying and time consuming.

But what happens if someone at the table drinks 4 bottles of scotch by themselves to get mildly buzzed?

 

[jesu]

Just roughly work out what you've spent and round it up.

 

[way more]

Ask the server to split the check eight way, when the amount comes people can debate it amongst themselves. Then simply hand the server 8 credit cards with directions of the amount to pay on each one.

 

[entremet]

But what happens if someone at the table drinks 4 bottles of scotch by themselves to get mildly buzzed?

Doesn't really happen in the groups I've been with. Mostly wine consumers. Not many of them do liquor with food.

 

[arts&crafts]

When I go out in Toronto they ususally keep the bills seperate even without asking (when we have like 6+ and go out for dinner and drinks) and just bring them to us at the end.

 

[MikeOfAllTrades]

I find it best to let the waiter know ahead of time that "us two are on one bill". I don't want anyone paying more due to what I order, and likewise for the opposite.

 

[xenist]

Even. Don't be the gross kind of people that start doing math at the table. In fact with friends I often eat with its usual for one person to pick up the entire check at a time.

 

[peakish]

I personally don't mind splitting if it means me losing a small amount of it but I don't feel comfortable making that decision for others. For example, when eating with my family we have vastly different incomes and my little sister tends to pick from the cheaper parts of the menu and not order in additional drinks, while me and my brother who are currently better off do. Even when dining with my friends or colleagues I tend to not bring it up since I feel even doing that is putting pressure on them to conform (and, again, I tend to eat pricier stuff so it shouldn't be on me to propose it).

What I can do is ask my company if they're willing to share individual items, like bottles of wine, or dishes brought out for two or more persons. Depending on how close I am with others I might offer to pay the bill and have them reimburse me afterwards, so the server doesn't have to fiddle with a lot of cards.

 

[MikeOfAllTrades]

I personally don't mind splitting if it means me losing a small amount of it but I don't feel comfortable making that decision for others. For example, when eating with my family we have vastly different incomes and my little sister tends to pick from the cheaper parts of the menu and not order in additional drinks, while me and my brother who are currently better off do. Even when dining with my friends or colleagues I tend to not bring it up since I feel even doing that is putting pressure on them to conform (and, again, I tend to eat pricier stuff so it shouldn't be on me to propose it).

What I can do is ask my company if they're willing to share individual items, like bottles of wine, or dishes brought out for two or more persons. Depending on how close I am with others I might offer to pay the bill and have them reimburse me afterwards, so the server doesn't have to fiddle with a lot of cards.

Former waiter here. It is their job to properly exchange money for goods and service. Don't feel bad about that, but as always, tip accordingly.

 

[peakish]

Former waiter here. It is their job to properly exchange money for goods and service. Don't feel bad about that, but as always, tip accordingly.

Hah, fair point Though another benefit is avoiding the ever cumbersome receipt math.

 

[oni_saru]

The hell with paying for other people's shit. If everyone ordered close to equal amount, equal split is okay.

But when you're in a group and one or two people are ordering way more then everyone else. Fuck equal split.

Was at a sushi place for a bday and these two girls kept ordering plate after plate and drink after drink. The hell i was gonna pay for their shit.

 

[Persona7]

I'm not paying an even split if I ordered a two dollar soda and everyone else was drinking expensive alcoholic drinks.

 

[tokyostomp]

It's just easier.

Especially if we're ordering tons of booze by the bottle. We sometimes order around 8 bottles of wine. Itemizing that per glass would be annoying and time consuming.

The trick is to make the wait staff do it. They are getting paid AND tipped.

 

[TUSR]

i pay and tip for my own food.

everyone should.

 

[EatinOlives]

What's wrong with asking the waiter to split the checks? He/she already knows what you ordered.

 

[Quick]

Separate bills. It's just easier.

At worst, your server will ask you guys what you ordered each. I've been to a few places that actually either assumes the bill will be separate or will ask if that will be the case.

 

[Fuzzy]

This is the problem we have with the Toronto-GAF meetups. We each just put in some money and then next thing we know we're tipping 40% so a few of us just take some back to get the tip down to the 20-25% level. :lol

 

[way more]

The trick is to make the wait staff do it. They are getting paid AND tipped.

A good waiter always knows how many glasses of wine each customer has had to drink from a split bottle, it's their job.

 

[Randam]

Food: everyone pays for what they had.
Drinks: we take turns ordering and paying rounds.

 

[Trouble]

My friends and I have strict split evenly rule. If you can't deal with it, fuck off and don't come to dinner with us.

 

[BigJonsson]

Pay for what you ordered, one person puts it on their credit card and everyone pays them back

 

[Brian Fellows]

Can't say this has ever come up. Then again I've never eaten at a fancy restaurant. At a place like BWW's I just get a separate check.

 

[dc89]

Itemised. You can fuck right off if you think I'm paying for your steak and half a dozen drinks.

The only time I've done an even split was when I was working away from home for 3 weeks earlier this year. I got a £25 evening meal allowance that I just claimed back (if I wanted to spend more I could but I couldn't claim back more than £25), so if I was out for dinner with colleagues we'd just split it and claim it back.

 

[aku:jiki]

My friends and I have strict split evenly rule. If you can't deal with it, fuck off and don't come to dinner with us.

Damn right. Strict rules and absolutely no compromise under any circumstance is how to properly do this "friendship" thing.

 

[way more]

You never call on the "check-splitter?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p8mhQ9wINI

You need to tip him of course.




And the non-splitters should find a better argument than, "But I just had the gruel on toast while everyone else had lobster stuffed tacos." Clearly you should pay less.

 

[Necromanti]

And the non-splitters should find a better argument than, "But I just had the gruel on toast while everyone else had lobster stuffed tacos." Clearly you should pay less.

Doesn't that contradict the mantra of splitting the check evenly, though? That would be more of a middle ground.

 

[The Faceless Master]

My friends and I have strict split evenly rule. If you can't deal with it, fuck off and don't come to dinner with us.

mine are the exact opposite. everyone pays their own way. don't go if you don't got the dough!

 

[Kitsunebaby]

I eat a lot when I go out. If we split the check evenly I'd be fucking my friends over most of the time. Separate checks from the get-go for us.

 

[Christina Mackenzie]

Usually it's just me and another guy and our orders are almost of equal value so I just split it.

 

[Snoshado]

But what happens if someone at the table drinks 4 bottles of scotch by themselves to get mildly buzzed?

Then he dies because that's impossible - oh wait, he only gets buzzed after drinking 4 six-packs and is the DD?

Spoiler

Split the check evenly, he's a God.

 

[neorej]

Even split. We used to do a lunch, drinks, dinner day out with coworkers (about 12 people) twice a year. No hassle, just an even split, everyone was happy.
Then we got a new coworker who insisted on itemizing. We spent more time on who had what, than actually enjoying ourselves, all because of a whopping 5 euro difference.

 

[Lagamorph]

Itemised every time.

 

[Brianimaniac]

I tell the waiter I want a separate bill before I ever order.

 

[Alienous]

Unless someone/s in particular spends much more than the average of the group, even split.

 

[Phat Michael]

I hate splitting checks. I usually cover the check and go back and forth with close friends.

However, you can do that with everyone, especially in large parties in company I may not be too familiar with--friend's new girlfriends and such.

One of my pet peeves are those who comb over checks and want to pay exactly what they ordered for.

Sure if they only ordered an appetizer and don't other any drink, I understand. But most of the time, everyone gets an appetizer, an entree and few rounds of drinks. It just seems very annoying to nitpick over dollars. Not just that, we usually get bottles of wine, instead of glasses, so everyone can share, and it's also more economical in the long run.

Usually I just recommend a full even split and no one has a problem. It's just way easier.

Do you itemize ever little item when you split a check, or do you just split it evenly?

I agree with the bolded. Here is what i do.

1) if im with a group of people i care about and we are sharing food (i.e. chinese style meals) - i insist on paying because then i get to order whatever i want. No one will say "oh dont get scallops, they are too expensive" - fuck that, ill order everything and pay for it. If i get this one, you get the next one.

2) semi close friends or extended group with single meals - just divide it by the number of people - who cares if you lose out on a bit or come ahead - it evens out over time.

3) if i see people reach for calculators and argue over who have what, i walk over to the desk/register and pay for everything myself to save from the embarrassment of watching people argue over who had a slightly more expensive starter than another person.

life is too short for this shit. Those who argue and bring out calculators to work out how much they had are people not worth wasting time over.

 

[entremet]

Even split. We used to do a lunch, drinks, dinner day out with coworkers (about 12 people) twice a year. No hassle, just an even split, everyone was happy.
Then we got a new coworker who insisted on itemizing. We spent more time on who had what, than actually enjoying ourselves, all because of a whopping 5 euro difference.

Yep. It's never a huge amount. I would never order a 50 dollar entree in mixed company.

 

[LanceVance]

Depends, if I'm having a rich month and I'm with other rich people then we usually just split. If I'm poor and my friends are poor, we usually itemize. Not really that much hassle either, one person has the bill, you tell them what you ordered, they add it up and tell you how much you owe. Pretty simple

 

[joeyjoejoeshabadoo]

For the most part we'll split it evenly, but we will kind of itemize drinks. Basically, anybody who ordered alcohol puts in more to cover the booze.