Going Out for a Meal - The Awkward Moment When Someone Says...

PasturesNew

GobbledyGook wrote: »

Most restaurants with decent POS till systems can easily split a tables bill. It doesn't have to resort to get the calculator out at the end of the meal.

I have never known a restaurant to admit to being able to do it. The bill is a series of squiggles you decipher. It's not difficult though.

PasturesNew

Timmne wrote: »

If you put my post back into context (which was disagreeing that this site is purely to spend less), you'll realise that you wasted your time typing yours.

I can't do that. Too hard. Thread's moving.... let's just keep up.

FatVonD

LandyAndy wrote: »

A night out with friends isn't all about what the food cost.:)

True but surely manners come into it at some point? If you know (not you personally, I mean if 'one' knows) the bill is likely to be split then surely good manners tell you that you don't order lobster?

zzzLazyDaisy

I remember years ago when I was doing some vacation work as a student, going for a meal with work to celebrate a junior member of staff's birthday. There wasn't a NMW in those days, and I expect the staff on that grade got a pay rise when NMW did come in! Anyway, she had a bowl of pasta and a soft drink. The two most senior members of staff who were on good salaries, had starters, steak, wine, dessert, the works. When the bill came, they just said 'lets split the bill'. I remember being really shocked because this girl was sitting next to me and I knew what she'd had. But no-one said anything and the bill was split equally. The two managers went on for days about what good value this place was... I am certain they didn't realise what had happened.

But I learned a lesson and in that situation since, I've suggested before hand that we split the bill so as to pay for the birthday girl's meal, and when some people are drinking alcohol and others are not, I usually suggest that we split the meal and everyone pays for their own drinks (which is because we are all more or less in the same financial situation).

I must say I really hate it when people get out the calculator and argue about who pays what at the end of a meal, it just ruins the experience for me, so I would much rather come to an agreement before the meal, and if someone says 'actually I am on a tight budget, I'd rather just pay for my own' thats fine, it isn't rocket science for the waiter to keep a separate bill for that person/couple.

elvis86

PasturesNew wrote: »

That's just so wrong.

The OP could afford to go out - and had enough money, PLUS 25%, on them, in cash ..... maybe the thieves who robbed her of more money should be locked up.

Where did you go to school? She knew the buffet was £16 per head and had apparently "planned" to have a single soft drink (all part of the "excitement" of looking forward to a night out, I guess), an she took £20 out with her? Even if she assumed that a coke cost 1p, she didn't have 25% more than her projected costs.;)

I just think it's just a very sad way to approach what should be a nice occasion. If you feel like that you're best not socialising. On account of you being anti-social.

irrationalactor

FatVonD wrote: »

True but surely manners come into it at some point? If you know (not you personally, I mean if 'one' knows) the bill is likely to be split then surely good manners tell you that you don't order lobster?

If you're going to a nice restaurant, which doesn't happen very often, and you would like to treat yourself to lobster, then why shouldn't you?

Have people really been in situations where the bill comes, the suggestion to split is made, you object and say 'how about I just pay for what I had - you did have the lobster after all!', and the rest of the table...

What? Forces you to hand over your 'share'? I really hope you guys have better friends than that.

GobbledyGook

PasturesNew wrote: »

I have never known a restaurant to admit to being able to do it. The bill is a series of squiggles you decipher. It's not difficult though.

I always find places are fine with it if you ask.

Also places like TGI's where the staff use handheld PDA style order pads can do it even easier.

krlyr

elvis86 wrote: »

Where did you go to school? She knew the buffet was £16 per head and had apparently "planned" to have a single soft drink (all part of the "excitement" of looking forward to a night out, I guess), an she took £20 out with her? Even if she assumed that a coke cost 1p, she didn't have 25% more than her projected costs.;)

I just think it's just a very sad way to approach what should be a nice occasion. If you feel like that you're best not socialising. On account of you being anti-social.

So if you can afford a night out, but only within a tight budget (and without subsidising others) you should stay in. Yet if you go out and spend within your budget, that's when you're anti-social? If we're dipping to insults now, where did you go to school?!

GobbledyGook

FatVonD wrote: »

True but surely manners come into it at some point? If you know (not you personally, I mean if 'one' knows) the bill is likely to be split then surely good manners tell you that you don't order lobster?

Surely the better option is to order the lobster then when the bill comes you say "The lobster is at least £20 dearer than all the other meals so split the bill minus £20 between everyone" and then you chuck in share + £20 and everyone is happy?

archie9uk

Timmne wrote: »

You're still thinking of cost, not value.

Good value is a night out with your mates, eating and drinking away and having a great time, even if it costs a couple of quid more.

Poor value is spending !!!!!! all and being a tight wad, ruining the evening and getting tearful over a couple of quid and not sleeping over it.

So what you're saying is you pay for your meal and you pay extra for the company of your friends/family, while they pay for part of their meal and nothing for your company?

I fail to see how you would be ruining the evening by paying your own way and no more. It would ruin my evening if I was pushed into paying more than my fair share (and maybe even more than I could afford) and I would not wish to spend time with people who would treat me that way.