I just moved to a new town. People here split checks at restaurants evenly instead of by item. Is this normal?

If you are not the guy who orders the most expensive steak and the two cocktails you have a problem. So be the guy who orders two steaks and one cocktail.

if the split checks are under 2 hours wages for everyone, then no one cares except people with 5 kids to feed.....and how often do you go out with them?

Heykittygirl wrote:

I think this is normal protocol when ur out of college. It’s easier, faster, more convenient.

Sometimes a friend will be like ‘I ordered two more cocktails, let me leave the full tip’ and we’ll do that but otherwise, it is viewed as petty and uptight.

Are people here posting from 1994? Now that restaurants are all computerized, all that happens is you say “separate checks please,” and the server hits a different button on the computer that prints a check for each seat (which is how the order is already in the computer). This seems like the fastest, easiest, most convenient way to do it.

Splitting checks is pretty normal unless one guy orders six drinks or $100 bottle of wine Then make him pay for what he imbibed.

I've heard of it from someone who was not happy about that. The others had full platters and they had salad. Next time make it clear before going out that you would prefer separate checks.

check splitter wrote:

Heykittygirl wrote:

I think this is normal protocol when ur out of college. It’s easier, faster, more convenient.

Sometimes a friend will be like ‘I ordered two more cocktails, let me leave the full tip’ and we’ll do that but otherwise, it is viewed as petty and uptight.

Are people here posting from 1994? Now that restaurants are all computerized, all that happens is you say “separate checks please,” and the server hits a different button on the computer that prints a check for each seat (which is how the order is already in the computer). This seems like the fastest, easiest, most convenient way to do it.

^This. People who think this is a matter of "age" probably grew up in the era before restaurants started using computers to keep track of orders. Back then, it was simple to evenly split the check. Those old folks simply keep doing what they were accustomed to do when they were young. It's a generational thing, not age.

Another Option wrote:

If you are no longer a student and have a secure job, place to live, etc. then there's no need to quibble over a few bucks among friends/co-workers.

If I invite people out for lunch, I pick up the tab. If they invite me, they usually pick up the tab. If it's a large group at some event, then separate checks is probably the norm, but if that doesn't happen then splitting the check evenly to avoid unseemly discussion over a few bucks seems reasonable to me.

exactly--once you have a decent job/income no need to eyeball the bill and quibble over a few bucks-only if you are either broke or cheap-just split it down the middle...

I feel like almost everyone here is trolling. I’ve lived everywhere from small college towns to NYC on everything from a student’s budget to an attending physician’s salary. Asking for separate checks always and everywhere means that each person gets a bill for the items they ordered.

It wouldn’t bother me to split a check down the middle if local custom dictated, but I’ve just never seen it done that way.

I already posted and I’m in the splitting evenly is normal camp but I will add one caveat. In my experience if you are eating with good friends, family, or co-workers you eat with even occasionally then yes, splitting even is the norm. However, when you are for example, at a conference or somewhere out of the norm, eating with people you don’t normally eat with, then separating checks is more customary. With people you eat with normally I feel the assumption is it will eventually even out. With someone you may never eat with again the feeling is I’m not buying this guys lunch nor are we friendly enough to split evenly.

Hardloper wrote:

No it isn't normal, it's Socialism and laziness

How would you know? What self-respecting conservative lady gets involved in settling checks at restaurants?

never seen this wrote:

I feel like almost everyone here is trolling. I’ve lived everywhere from small college towns to NYC on everything from a student’s budget to an attending physician’s salary. Asking for separate checks always and everywhere means that each person gets a bill for the items they ordered.

It wouldn’t bother me to split a check down the middle if local custom dictated, but I’ve just never seen it done that way.

You've ever seen checks split equally? huh?

I don't think any of these posts are troll posts, they line up with my experience.

'Separate checks' means to bill items to the person that ordered them, 'split checks' usually means to divide evenly.

There is a bit of inherent rudeness when asking for separate checks among friends. It is not slap-in-the-face rude, but it's a bit awkward. It quietly implies 'I care more about the 8 dollar difference in our bills than about our friendship.'

Is this a West coast thing? I always assumed it was universal.

you must be trolling wrote:

There is a bit of inherent rudeness when asking for separate checks among friends. It is not slap-in-the-face rude, but it's a bit awkward. It quietly implies 'I care more about the 8 dollar difference in our bills than about our friendship.'

If you think this is awkward, then that tells you more about the awkwardness of your "friendship"than anything else.

Or you are a perennial free rider who orders more expensive stuff and forces your friends to pay for it in the name of "friendship."

Don't you just pay for your own meal when you order from the kiosk out front?

It's also pretty common for people to do the math and throw in extra money to cover their excess, leaving a surplus and an opportunity for people who can't afford to overpay to pay less.

Definitely times it inappropriate. Went out w a large group recently and some younger nieces and nephews decided to grab a 70 dollar bottle of wine and 20 dollar appetizers only shared down at their end of the table. When first dividing the check evenly everyone was startled by the high cost. Fifty bucks each when most had a twenty buck steak and a beer. Realized what happened and then awkward adjustments had to b made. Always someone who eats and drinks heavy or light.

Before registers easily made separate checks including each tax amount it was easier to split evenly. Especially when paying with cash but even if some throw in their cards.

Often with splitting the payment without separate checks you’d get people that didn’t realize the cost of their soft drink or didn’t figure their tax or think of a tip.

Then either someone else would have to overcompensate by putting in more than their share or the tip would be tiny as everyone chips in too little.

Let’s say four people eat together and the total with tax come out to an even $40.

You figure $8 for a tip.

One person had an $8 meal and a water.

Another had a $7 meal and a coke.

The other two had similar variations.

Maybe the individual totals would be $8.50, $9.50, $10.50 and $11.50.

Their respective tips would be $1.70, $1.90, $2.10 and $2.30.

They would chip in $10.20, $11.40, $12.60 and $13.80.

You’d spend a while passing that bill around as everyone realizes their beverage cost and then figures their tax and then tip on top of that.

Or take take two seconds and decide to have everyone put in $12

Oldcrowbar13 wrote:

Definitely times it inappropriate. Went out w a large group recently and some younger nieces and nephews decided to grab a 70 dollar bottle of wine and 20 dollar appetizers only shared down at their end of the table. When first dividing the check evenly everyone was startled by the high cost. Fifty bucks each when most had a twenty buck steak and a beer. Realized what happened and then awkward adjustments had to b made. Always someone who eats and drinks heavy or light.

But don't you make more money than your young niece and nephews? Isn't family bonding more important that 30 bucks difference? Why don't you be an adult and stop behaving like a poor college student?

never seen this wrote:

I feel like almost everyone here is trolling. I’ve lived everywhere from small college towns to NYC on everything from a student’s budget to an attending physician’s salary. Asking for separate checks always and everywhere means that each person gets a bill for the items they ordered.

Weird. I live in NYC. Ive NEVER in the last 13 years here (except one woman) asked for separate itemized checks. And my circle of friends and I eat out very frequently.

I agree with those who called troll on this post. I work in sales and travel all the time. I have probably asked for separate checks (which we always have to do if there is no client or superior with us) in over 40 different states. I have never once seen a separate check come back that was evenly split.