large booking at restaurant- how to split the bill?

Person_one

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I must admit, I can't understand why someone would go out for a meal and then have a fiddly little portion and tap water.They may as well have stayed at home, imho.

For the company, of course!

Even poor people deserve to get out of the house from time to time you know.

seven-day-weekend

Person_one wrote: »

For the company, of course!

Even poor people deserve to get out of the house from time to time you know.

Yes, I agree. But I would chose somewhere with a fixed price set lunch with several courses, or an all-you-can-eat at a set price, not somewhere where I could only afford one course. I would rather not go than have to scrimp on the food. I don't see any point in going for a meal if not to eat. I'd do something else instead. Each to their own.

Pollycat

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I didn't say you shouldn't go. I just can't understand why you would want to if you don't enjoy the food. If I felt like that I would rather entertain at home. But each to their own.

I don't 'eat my own bodyweight', but I do enjoy the food and often have a sweet. I don't often drink with a meal because I am often driving, but I have a non-alcoholic drink such as soda with ice and lemon, to make it a bit special, not just tap water. I don't see any point in going and then picking at the food and drinking tap water. It would actually spoil the experience for me if I had to 'make do' with a child's portion and drink tap water, so I wouldn't go at all. But I say again, each to their own.

It's not necessarily a case of not enjoying the food.
Some people just don't have large appetites.
And some people don't drink alcohol and don't like soft drinks.
Just because they're having just a small main course & water doesn't mean they don't enjoy a social occasion with friends or family.

Georgiegirl256

Pollycat wrote: »

It's not necessarily a case of not enjoying the food.
Some people just don't have large appetites.
And some people don't drink alcohol and don't like soft drinks.
Just because they're having just a small main course & water doesn't mean they don't enjoy a social occasion with friends or family.

Exactly. I think people are missing the point that it isn't always about the money. Some people can afford to have the whole lot but choose not to because they have a very small appetitie, or they don't drink wine (I hate the stuff personally!) but still like to go out and experience a certain place and enjoy the ambience and company. I still gave a starter and main, so I'm still enjoying the food.

I wonder what would happen for the people who are for splitting the bill, if their dining companions could not eat or drink their usual amount (and it turned out to be a permanent/long standing thing) due to say illness, lack of appetite for example? Would they be excluded from their social circle? Would they still expect them to cough up an equal share even though they'd had less than them? Also, would they ever feel guilty for having their meal subsidised?

missbiggles1

Person_one wrote: »

For the company, of course!

Even poor people deserve to get out of the house from time to time you know.

There are plenty of cheaper places to go out and meet friends if that's all you want and lots of cheap restaurants if you want to eat as well.

Thoughtful people agree on a venue that's suits everybody's pocket rather than somewhere that those who are less well off have to watch every penny.

Person_one

missbiggles1 wrote: »

There are plenty of cheaper places to go out and meet friends if that's all you want and lots of cheap restaurants if you want to eat as well.

Thoughtful people agree on a venue that's suits everybody's pocket rather than somewhere that those who are less well off have to watch every penny.

I have no problem with going somewhere a bit more expensive but eating less. All you can eat grease-fest places have their benefits, but I don't see why everybody should always go to those if the lower earning diner is perfectly fine with having just a main at somewhere of better quality.

I don't really understand why its so important to avoid paying for what you've consumed, to the point where you'd compromise everybody's enjoyment of the evening just to make sure everyone pays exactly the same!

seven-day-weekend

Person_one wrote: »

I have no problem with going somewhere a bit more expensive but eating less. All you can eat grease-fest places have their benefits, but I don't see why everybody should always go to those if the lower earning diner is perfectly fine with having just a main at somewhere of better quality.

I don't really understand why its so important to avoid paying for what you've consumed, to the point where you'd compromise everybody's enjoyment of the evening just to make sure everyone pays exactly the same!

Everyone should pay for what they've consumed. I just don't understand why anyone who doesn't enjoy eating and drinking as a social activity would want to go out for a meal at all.

I don't like going to the cinema as a social activity, so I don't go to the cinema and then just watch a quarter of the film, or sit in the foyer while everyone else watches the film. I do something else instead.

Some friends of ours held a murder mystery evening. We were invited, but I can't bare the thought of hiring costumes and then getting 'in character'. So I politely declined. I didn't go and then decide I was only going to join in for ten minutes.

This to me is what someone stoically sitting with an empty plate whilst others are enjoying the food feels like. It probably isn't like that, but that's how it appears to me.

But, as I say, each to their own.

missbiggles1

Person_one wrote: »

I have no problem with going somewhere a bit more expensive but eating less. All you can eat grease-fest places have their benefits, but I don't see why everybody should always go to those if the lower earning diner is perfectly fine with having just a main at somewhere of better quality.

I don't really understand why its so important to avoid paying for what you've consumed, to the point where you'd compromise everybody's enjoyment of the evening just to make sure everyone pays exactly the same!

You may not but many people find it awkward.

It's also a bit insulting to categorise cheaper restaurants in that way and somewhat ironic given that a poster earlier referred to expensive restaurants in very similar terms.:rotfl:

Despite what you keep implying about my attitude to paying, I'm very generous and would happily pay for the other person to have a proper meal rather have them sitting glaring piously at the rest of us enjoying ourselves.

boliston

I find a good tip for group meals (eg with work colleagues etc) is to take a quick snap of the bill with your phone as you can then calculate your share without feeling "rushed". I normally then pay my exact share (including 10% tip if service was good!) on a card as i don't normally carry much cash so having your own e-copy of the bill makes this much easier.

Person_one

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Everyone should pay for what they've consumed. I just don't understand why anyone who doesn't enjoy eating and drinking as a social activity would want to go out for a meal at all.

I don't like going to the cinema as a social activity, so I don't go to the cinema and then just watch a quarter of the film, or sit in the foyer while everyone else watches the film. I do something else instead.

Some friends of ours held a murder mystery evening. We were invited, but I can't bare the thought of hiring costumes and then getting 'in character'. So I politely declined. I didn't go and then decide I was only going to join in for ten minutes.

This to me is what someone stoically sitting with an empty plate whilst others are enjoying the food feels like. It probably isn't like that, but that's how it appears to me.

But, as I say, each to their own.

Eating a bit less doesn't mean you don't enjoy eating and drinking!

This thread is getting a bit all or nothing. Split the bill or go to the chippy. Eat 3 full courses or stay at home. Its not how life really works, is it?