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Original poster

Splitting bills in restaurants

13 replies

platinumplus · 04/12/2023 10:53

Is there a foolproof way to do this?

Been on a few Christmas nights out (already, I know!) and each time there's been a total palaver when it's come to paying the bill. Not always possible to split equally when some people are drinking and some aren't etc. So then you have to go down the route of each person remembering what they had. Inevitably it doesn't add up and then some poor ends up putting the excess on their card just to get the bill paid.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips to make it easier! I feel like there should be an app or something!

OP posts:
Rosecoffeecup · 04/12/2023 11:21

The bigger the group the more difficult in my experience. You always end up with someone either accidentally or deliberately trying to pay less than they've had

You could ask for separate food and drinks bills - that way you can split the food bill equally (assuming everyone is happy to do so) and then the drinks bill is much easier to split between drinkers and non drinkers. I always try and speak up for the non drinkers if they haven't done so for themselves.

Or some restaurants will let you pay for drinks as you order them, even at a table

mindutopia · 04/12/2023 11:22

Surely, it isn't hard to know what you ordered. You find it on the bill, add it up on your phone, add 10%+ for tip or whatever service charge is.

I think the people who 'can't work out what they owe' are the people who are looking for a free meal. No app is going to help them. They are just waiting for someone else to give up and pay for them so they don't have to.

TeenDivided · 04/12/2023 11:24

Ask for separate bills when you first order.

catin8oots · 04/12/2023 11:24

Any decent restaurant will be able to split bills by person if you tell them at the start

lesdeluges · 04/12/2023 11:26

As I don't drink alcohol and that can be a large element of group gatherings, I (very discreetly) note what I have had and round it up with a tip added. Then I Revolut it to whoever is taking care of the bill. I never volunteer that job!

If I know the group well, then alcohol or not, we just split the bill evenly + tip, but my friends are not piss takers.

Quartz2208 · 04/12/2023 11:29

You tell the restaurant - it is easy for them to allocate out what each person orders and then give separate bills

or pick a restaurant where there is an app and all order separately lots of pubs now have it from covid

Original poster
platinumplus · 04/12/2023 11:37

Rosecoffeecup · 04/12/2023 11:21

The bigger the group the more difficult in my experience. You always end up with someone either accidentally or deliberately trying to pay less than they've had

You could ask for separate food and drinks bills - that way you can split the food bill equally (assuming everyone is happy to do so) and then the drinks bill is much easier to split between drinkers and non drinkers. I always try and speak up for the non drinkers if they haven't done so for themselves.

Or some restaurants will let you pay for drinks as you order them, even at a table

Great idea to split the food and drinks bills

OP posts:
Original poster
platinumplus · 04/12/2023 11:38

mindutopia · 04/12/2023 11:22

Surely, it isn't hard to know what you ordered. You find it on the bill, add it up on your phone, add 10%+ for tip or whatever service charge is.

I think the people who 'can't work out what they owe' are the people who are looking for a free meal. No app is going to help them. They are just waiting for someone else to give up and pay for them so they don't have to.

It's hard when there are 15 of you and most of them are quite inebriated

OP posts:
InTheRainOnATrain · 04/12/2023 11:44

Don’t go for dinner with tight arses that pretend they can’t remember what they ate 20 minutes ago?? I don’t believe for a moment that anyone gets that fucked just during dinner, if they did they would probably asked to leave the restaurant because that’s a whole other level of sloppy.

But if you’re stuck with the stingy people as they’re work colleagues or family you can’t avoid then do food on one bill, drinks on another. Then you can slap down the £5 for your soft drink and let the rest of them squabble. Or go to a pub where you can order your own food and drink at the bar.

BullysSpecialPrize123 · 04/12/2023 11:46

Honest I just wouldn't go!

Original poster
platinumplus · 04/12/2023 15:17

It's various different friend groups though so it's not happening just with certain people that I can avoid. It just seems to happen every time there's a big group gathering.

OP posts:
ILikeItWhatIsIt · 04/12/2023 15:18

I make a mental note of the rough cost when I'm ordering, then when the bill comes I have a quick double check & put down a rounded up amount. Then just keep quiet & let the rest of them argue it out. You only need to know what you owe. Not your concern how the rest of them do it.

Hedonism · 04/12/2023 15:20

I think the app you need is your calculator app.

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