Re: Separate checks ??

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@chrystaltree wrote:
@depglass wrote:
Most servers in our area ask how we want the checks.

Every server, in every restaurant asks. It's very common and they don't want to risk being surprised at the end. Also it eliminates the haggling over who had prime rib and 4 martinis and who had chicken and iced tea.

@chrystaltree

ITA ..... and separate checks eliminates the potential awkwardness you don't want to create for people you care to share a meal with. Why create problems?

And what if one party wants to pay cash and one wants to use a credit card or a gift certificate? Keep the money separate!

Imaoldhippie · ‎06-10-2015

@zebra9 ............Your book club sounds like fun.

LIFE IS TO SHORT TOO FOLD FITTED SHEETS

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

@Squirrels Are Trash wrote:
@Enufstuff wrote:
@Carmie@drizellla   My daughter has a friend who would take advantage of her , when they went out to dinner.

           They have been best friends since high school and now in their 50's. They always split the bill 50/50. But a few times, it was not reasonable when, the friend always drank more than my daughter and then she would order a dinner to take home to her teenage son.

          My daughter would later complain to me, but she should have spoken up to her friend when it happened. The friend never offered to pay more to cover her share. It is too bad that some people will take advantage of others.

           Now her friend moved away to another state in
the midwest.

           I think that it is a good idea to ask for separate checks upfront.
@Enufstuff I think I had the same friend. We actually nicely called her out on it, and she went crazy. Cried and yelled at the table. Typical narcissist move. I don't miss her at all.

We've all had friends or coworkers like that. I had a coworker who would order a meal to take home to her husband and add an additional $10 to "cover it". We went out to dinner weekly for years and it was our habit to split the bill evenly. We all grumbled about pay for her husband's meal, which was always something expensive but we never said anything. It took some of the fun out of our dinners. That was in my much younger days. Now I wouldn't hesitate to tell her to pay for her husband's meal herself... separate from the group.

hckynutjohn · ‎06-15-2015

@Kitty Galore

Separate checks were the norm for me going back to 1951 when I started as a Car Hop. Waiting on cars with different couples, was the same as taking orders from 2 cars. And then their were the teens! That wanted only 1 check, that way they thought it was easier to skeu you outta money. Didn't work on me.

Going out to eat with other couples? Unless it was/is a special occasion, 2 checks was/is the norm for me. Split checks in half? Not how I lived at any point in my life. Either pay it all, special occasion. Or you pay for you 2, I pay for my 2.

I am with your friends husband on this one. No special occasion? No 50/50 check. All of it, or each pays their own.

hckynut 🇺🇸

hckynut(john)

nascarfan · ‎11-17-2012

The only time we ask for separate checks is when we dine with those who are stingy tippers. That is a deal breaker for me.

lynnie61 · ‎04-28-2010

My dad used to share the check with one couple they were friends with......until the husband of the friend, started making lemonade out of free water with lemon, and adding sugar. Then he started with you tip less for alcohol, than food served. He said quietly to his SO, if they pull out a calculator, I am out of here. Wouldn't even round the tip to the closest dollar. That ended that.

The guy was so cheap, and my dad more wanted the server to know HE was not cheap and tipped generously.

I serve at a local restaurant. People calculate their tips on their phone. you really can't round your 8.85 tip to $9. 🤣. I know I over tip, but it's because it's hard work and I know others may not tip enough.

CrazyDaisy · ‎03-20-2010

c@Kitty Galore wrote:
@nyc1 wrote:
@sunshine45 wrote:
i never ask for separate checks.

i noticed a sign at a restaurant at the delaware beaches. it stated "no separate checks, 3 credit card maximum per table." i am sure it is a pain for them to have to create 12 separate checks, for example, and keep track if you have a big table.

we either take care of the bill if we have invited someone OR split the bill evenly. i always prefer to leave a cash tip also.
@sunshine45 We do the same.
I can't imagine having to do 12 seperate checks or even 5 . I waitresses when in college and I just hated that it's a real pita!

It is 2023, ordering systems are computerized. Can print multiple bills from the same table. No longer need an adding machine to total them out.

Someday, when scientists discover the center of the Universe....some people will be disappointed it is not them.

Venezia · ‎03-09-2010

@lynnie61 - DH and I just ate out today. We always round up on the tip (based on the total food and drinks). I've never had to be a server, but I know it's hard work and we really appreciate good service.

We have a restaurant that we go to about once a week and have a regular server. We always add an extra tip at Christmas, too.

Neither of us can stand people being stingy about that. In fact, we were just laughing (ironically) at our regular server telling us about two ladies who came in for lunch - one of them had been given a $25 gift card.

Their combined meals (clearly only water to drink or coffee), came to about $24.50. The woman with the gift card handed it to her and said "Keep the change!"

They were sitting at the table adjacent to us and we overheard most of it, so we know it's true. We were all flabbergasted. And, no, they didn't leave any additional tip!

"" A little learning is a dangerous thing."-Alexander Pope

AuntMame · ‎10-16-2010

When I worked as a waitress ladies-who-lunch were rarely good tippers.

Which brings up another reason why I always ask for separate checks. One of the ladies in our dining group has the annoying habit of grabbing up all the bills the rest of us leave for a tip. She counts through them, examines the check, and calculates how much tip should be given. Then she hands back bills to diners scolding "You tip too much."

I find this apalling. Despite telling her that my tip was intentional and she should leave it alone, she persists in serving as the tipping police. Separate checks seem to limit this behavior.

@Venezia wrote:
@lynnie61 - DH and I just ate out today. We always round up on the tip (based on the total food and drinks). I've never had to be a server, but I know it's hard work and we really appreciate good service.

We have a restaurant that we go to about once a week and have a regular server. We always add an extra tip at Christmas, too.

Neither of us can stand people being stingy about that. In fact, we were just laughing (ironically) at our regular server telling us about two ladies who came in for lunch - one of them had been given a $25 gift card.

Their combined meals (clearly only water to drink or coffee), came to about $24.50. The woman with the gift card handed it to her and said "Keep the change!"

They were sitting at the table adjacent to us and we overheard most of it, so we know it's true. We were all flabbergasted. And, no, they didn't leave any additional tip!

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

Wow. Well, I recall my aunt telling me that "people can be very weird when it comes to money". If I read some of these posts to her, she'd burst out laughing.