Splitting Bills in Restaurants

[TrinnersForWinners]

I'm a waitress part time in a fairly well known chain restaurant, often get people in who want to itemise the bill and pay separately which I don't mind when it's quiet but when it's busy it's irritating, especially when the difference amounts to less than +/- £2 per head usually.
Today I had two women in who had a total bill of £35.10 but insisted on paying for their food separately, when they asked I assumed there would be a difference to make them ask but after calculations it worked out as £17.40 to one and £17.70 to the other. AIBU to think that there's a cut off point where it just becomes ridiculous insisting on itemising everything? Surely part of eating out with friends is the social experience, quibbling over 15p (the difference between what they paid and what they would have done if they split it 50/50) doesn't sound like a very fun social experience to me tbh.

Totally agree Gemz. I often drive but my friends are good enough to deduct their wine before splitting the bill. The only one who ever quibbles is the one with the most money !

I think alot depends on whether its friends or acquaintances. Friends we agree up front splitting bill - that way they and we know not to go bonkers with ordering and if they do get that separate e.g. I would normally say "do you want to just straight split the bill?" or if I am not so sure of them or have been burned somewhat before just say "are you happy to do separate bills, then we can just order what we like no worries?"

I do recall going out once and we were fairly brassic but had aver 60 quid in vouchers - we didn't get them free but sort of - you know cash back type of thing, we mentioned it to friends who were far better off than we are. The friends with us when it came to the bill deducted the vouchers then split it!!! Frankly I took one look at it and just blurted out "err I think the vouchers just come off our half don't they?" and they sorted. Not even why she thought we should do that - craziness

OP...

Do men diners split the bill as often as women diners?

I was in a restaurant in Florida once and I noticed at the end of the bill it actually had a section that said "If you're splitting the bill, this works out at $xx.xx per person" which I thought was a fabulous way to do it. We were eating as a family but I thought it would be great to have that on the bill in Irish and UK restaurants too.

Even if you decide to split the bill evenly, surely it's still easier to just hand your card over for you bit, rather than someone stump up the whole lot and then have to sort it out after etc.?

It's your job as a waitress and if I want to pay my portion - whatever that might be - by card seperately I should be able to. I've never encountered an issue doing this?