large booking at restaurant- how to split the bill?

missbiggles1

onlyroz wrote: »

Have you never been out with a group of work colleagues? Or attended a conference? Or gone on an excursion while on holiday where you are put on a large table with a bunch of strangers? Or maybe been invited to a birthday party of a distant relative? Or perhaps met up with some old school friends you haven't seen in 20 years? Or maybe met up with a group of friends who have invited along some other people that you don't know too well?

Only a couple of times in 40 years at work.
Only with food provided.
Never - I wouldn't dream of it.
No, never.
No, never.
No, not that either.

I seem to have led a sheltered life.:o

FBaby

....and then there's the never-mentioned thought of "What happens about a tip?

Even though I am a fervent believer in paying for your own meal, it has never occurred to me to do the same with the tip. Firstly we are usually only talking a couple of £ or so, and secondly and more importantly, I see it as acknowledgement of good service from the particular waiter/waitress, not as an obligation to pay on the basis of a % of the bill, so I pay what I want and because I have great respect for them, doing a very tiring job for low pay (unless top restaurant/hotel).

Homeownertobe

pigpen wrote: »

but you are going to eat from it.. what if they have a coldsore? Or a fungal mouth infection? Or just gave their partner a bj before they came out? And how many infections and viruses are spread through saliva? colds, flu, chickenpox, glandular fever, HIV..

It's really not common, it is revolting!


If you put aside a sample of your meal and they got it with their own fork it would be less gross..

HIV is not spread via saliva. Please take your ignorance elsewhere.

lady1964

minimacka wrote: »

So what's the though's on someone ordering a starter as a main with some salad because they don't have a big appetite? My sister in law does this and I don't have a problem with it.

I do this sometimes, or I get a starter for my starter, then another starter for my main. Sometimes I can get a pudding if I do that, other times not. If I don't fancy a starter, I'll go straight for a main but reading some of the replies on this thread, I'm worried now I might be sitting there po faced while others enjoy their starter. 😉

I would far rather do this than order a starter then a full main knowing I'm unlikely to eat it all & waste food. Ive had the occasional odd look from a waiter when doing this but so what.

Georgiegirl256

minimacka wrote: »

So what's the though's on someone ordering a starter as a main with some salad because they don't have a big appetite? My sister in law does this and I don't have a problem with it.

That's fine IMO. I do it myself sometimes, or maybe even order two starters instead of a main.

I'd say that going by this thread, it'd all be down (whether it's deemed right or wrong) to who she goes out to eat with!

missbiggles1

Peter333 wrote: »

It's quite decent isn't it? Very cheap and always a nice atmosphere.



Well exactly. I go out for food with people I am not close to, as often as my family! (Work stuff/seminars/hobby group get togethers...)



You're contradicting yourself... You clearly said eating off someone else's fork; in other words SHARING the same eating utensil. Stop moving the goalposts!

I don't think I did, but if I did I didn't mean it in the way you think. Most restaurants I go to you get your own cutlery.:D

Feral_Moon

You wouldn't catch me in a Wetherspoons, Hungry Horse or Meat & Eat type establishment. I like to enjoy my food, especially when paying extra to eat out. Bargain basement freezer shop style food isn't my thing.

Feral_Moon

minimacka wrote: »

So what's the though's on someone ordering a starter as a main with some salad because they don't have a big appetite? My sister in law does this and I don't have a problem with it.

No problem whatsoever. I've done it in numerous occasions myself. Or sometimes ordered two or three starters as a main course mezze style.

missbiggles1

minimacka wrote: »

So what's the though's on someone ordering a starter as a main with some salad because they don't have a big appetite? My sister in law does this and I don't have a problem with it.

Seems reasonable to me - we used to go to a restaurant that served nothing but starters and that was great fun - a bit like tapas.

Ames

Feral_Moon wrote: »

You wouldn't catch me in a Wetherspoons, Hungry Horse or Meat & Eat type establishment. I like to enjoy my food, especially when paying extra to eat out. Bargain basement freezer shop style food isn't my thing.

Actually, the food in Wetherspoons is surprisingly nice, especially for the price. The city centre ones are quite grim, but my book club meets in one that's quite nice and I sometimes go early and eat there beforehand.