Restaurant Bills - To Split or Not to Split

jazzyjustlaw

IvanOpinion wrote:

I was talking to a friend about this last night and he informed me that he used to go out with a group of people for the odd meal. There were basically3 sets of adults but one of them also brought their 4 children - who would also get full meals (never anything off the childrens menu - apparently most of them just pushed it around the plate) and lashings of fizzy drinks.

You know the next bit. Whenever the bill came one particular set of adults wanted it split 3 ways. When the others questioned this the response that came back was something along the lines off ' the children didn't eat that much ... none of them finished their meal'.

In the end they just stopped inviting the other family with their entourage of children. I got the impression though that the financing of the meal had been sorted out, the reason for not inviting them was that they allowed their kids to run riot around the restaurant chasing each other, screaming and generally disturbing everybody else from enjoying their meals ... which my friend found embarassing because there was always at least one complaint sent to their table every time they went out.

Ivan

Thats outrageous some people! How can they justify others paying for their 4 children?

roses

Your friends don't really sound like friends to be honest. Whenever I have been out with both aquatances and friends when it comes to paying the bill, if what I had is significantly less than splitting the bill equally then I always say "do you mind if I just pay for what I had since I don't drink". There is only 1 time where I was made to feel cheap & I haven't been out for dinner with that "friend" since.

99% of people are understanding, it's the people not worth knowing that cause a fuss and to be honest they are the cheap ones, not you, for making you subsidise their lifestyle.

Wig

OP, as with 99% of the replies this practice is frowned on by most of those who don't drink or eat much. But the ones who do the drinking eating are usually mouthy and expect others to pay.

As usual most people are too sheepish to stand their ground, so hats off to you for standing your ground.

I'd like to point out that it's not just dining out, it also applies to drinking out with friends/work colleagues. Some people (like me) are tee total (I drink squash which can be as cheap as 30p/pint) or don't drink very much, yet the heavy drinkers still expect you to buy everyone else a round of drinks. Unless I'm with my very best friends I always refuse in these situations when someone else offers me a round, I reply "Thankyou but I don't drink much so I'll buy my own." I don't go out much but when I used to I never really had a problem with this.

My OH found the same with her work colleagues she had drunk a couple of pineapple juices all night bought by herself, and someone asked her when she would be buying a round, I can't remember what happened but the bottom line is that these people are selfish inconsiderate barstewards. Now when they arrange dining out events with work colleagues they have all agreed to buy their own drinks from the bar.

LondonDiva

mancrob26 wrote:

We on the other hand, have budgetted for £50.00 entertainment and treat money each week, which will go down now cos my missus gave birth to baby Jack on Friday.
...
Now how's about giving me fifty quid towards Jack's college fund by voting me best post for May....!!! :T :A :T

Congratulations Mancrob!

Lovely name for the baby. - I'm a little excited too. I became a godmother for the 4th time last Saturday:D:D:D:D

Hope you've come down to earth a little now & are not tooo sleep deprived

This thread struck a bitter, bitter, bitter cord. When I was a stiudent, I remember paying £45 odd for a plate of pasta and an orange juice (driving not teetotal ) when out with some friends all in work and earning .

Teaches you to either sort out the bill issue early or play the guilty game of eany meany miney moe on with things you always wanted to order on the menu, but were too broke to order. Mind you I hate it when people do that *shrug* no winning is there?

*sigh*
Diva

Poppy9

When I go out with friends we always divide the bill by the number of people present (not all couples some singles in our group). All bar one of us drink (the one that doesn't is too mean to pay for a taxi home - yes really). We often go to BYO restaurants but she only pulls a face at the bill if she has ordered cheapy courses etc. Even her husband is embarrassed by her. She always has 4 course whereas the majority of us are usually 2 or 3. We don't give a fig though. I am veggie so my meal is usually cheap but the effects of the wine make it easier to settle bill. Don't particulary like starters but love pudding and hate coffee - so I am quite a cheap date (if anyone is offering ) .

Personally do what you feel comfortable with. We don't choose expensive restaurants as a couple of our group are single parents. Meals with drinks tend to come to about £25-£30 per head. We order 8 seater taxis to take us home in economical groups - bar the couple who drive - so the taxi's both way are usually less than £5 per person. Plus the taxis drop us off and collect our babysisters and take them home en route. If there are just 4 of us sharing a cab we usually pay on the way down as we are last pick up and reverse on way back. We always offer other couple more though as we are aware fares go up after midnight.

Only once had a friend who wouldn't buy a round of drinks. We all drunk Lager most of the evening while she only drunk shorts. We got around this by having a kitty everytime we went out. It worked brilliantly - I was the keeper cos a couple of the girls didn't trust each other ! The surplus used to buy us lunch once a month.

Once my OH treated all of us to our meal and drinks to celebrate my birthday. You should have seen their faces - its so nice to give:D