large booking at restaurant- how to split the bill?

bylromarha

Get every family to set up their own tab/order from the off. Makes life FAR easier when the bill comes. Each family pays what they owe.

I've done it this way a few times - sometimes the restaurant staff get a little reluctant but a big smile and silence goes a long way.

Spendless

Let the people go up to the bar to get their drinks. This means they are paying for them as they order, rather than 'forgetting' who had what when the bill comes. The food bill can be itemised and each party paying for their own. Alternatively suggest somewhere where it's a set price menu and keep drinks separate as before.

Jagraf

14 of us went out a couple of weeks ago. We were all asked to choose a starter and a main in advance. Prices were roughly the same tbh and no one ordered the expensive steak. One out of each couple was driving so actually splitting it worked out pretty even. I think if you see the menu in advance it is easier to work out roughly how much it is going to cost and gives you the option not to go. All things being equal I would rather not faff about over a tenner and if I can't afford to overpay by a little I wouldnt go probably.

My brother buys very expensive bottles of wine which makes a huge difference.

onlyroz

Is there a set menu which could be booked in advance? That way you can tell everyone it'll be £20 a head (or whatever) for food and they can pay for their own drinks at the bar.

boliston

onlyroz wrote: »

Is there a set menu which could be booked in advance? That way you can tell everyone it'll be £20 a head (or whatever) for food and they can pay for their own drinks at the bar.

My other pet hate is the dreaded "set" menu - this assumes people have a "set" appetite which is far from the truth normally.

Homeownertobe

Doesn't having to go up to the bar each time you want a drink rather negate the point of going to a restaurant? Isn't it easier for everyone to just put in for what they've had?

suki1964

Just let everyone pay their own family groups bill. When booking let the resturaunt know ( or when you get there) and the waiting staff will keep more detailed notes rather then just charging everything to the table so there's no " mistakes" at the end of the night

This happens a lot where I work. We are used to it, don't turn a hair, and indeed the waiting staff prefer it as they usually do better on tips

Person_one

boliston wrote: »

My other pet hate is the dreaded "set" menu - this assumes people have a "set" appetite which is far from the truth normally.

Yeah, I don't really like being told what to order either I'm afraid.

System

my take on it is each individual/family group pays for their own, everytime i've gone out with friends this is what we do, you pay for your own (i find otherwise those who eat/drink less end up subsidizing everyone else), and everyone chips in a quid or two for the tip

seven-day-weekend

When I go on a 'jaunt' with my scrabble friends, we each pay for our own..