large booking at restaurant- how to split the bill?

Feral_Moon

Ames wrote: »

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.

When I see the likes of Brakes delivering to an eatery I usually mark it as one to avoid. I've worked in a couple of pub kitchens and know the quality, or lack thereof, these frozen food catering companies supply. When I'm paying for my meals I prefer to eat in places that source all their produce fresh and locally.

missbiggles1

onlyroz wrote: »

So say you had a visitor from abroad this weekend, and their visit coincided with a pre-arranged family meal. Would you not bring them along?

I don't mean to be either abstruse or argumentative but how many people would have "a visitor from abroad" drop in for the weekend - or at any time, for that matter?

I don't see the point of inventing unlikely scenarios and asking people "what if" unless you're inventing a new parlour game or comedy panel show.

Homeownertobe

PasturesNew wrote: »

I hate starters, as a rule. I'll always look at the menu, but find they're either yucky (prawns), or odd/trendy, or simply poor value when compared to the volume/cost of a main meal.

As a main meal fills me up anyway, I'd rather not pay an additional £4-5 for 2 lettuce leaves with something small lurking in them.

A dessert is better value than a starter .... and usually more tempting/exciting and larger.

I think your experience of budget chain restaurants is colouring your view somewhat.

There's more to a starter than a prawn salad or grilled lettuce. You could even order a few sides instead of a main, I do that frequently in one restaurant and I still come away with everything including wine for under £30.

missbiggles1

PasturesNew wrote: »

Were you never single, alone, hanging out with "a crowd", a random group of people who'd potentially be available to do stuff?

Never moved to a completely new town, alone, and had to meet all new people?

Blimey.

I've spent my life alone, far away, on my own, doing what needs to be done.

Sitting here now, I've the phone number of one person within 200 miles that I could potentially pick up the phone and say "wanna go to the carvery?" to.... but they have a dog, so know random dog walkers they've met (since they moved here), so they might invite them too - and their other random/newish friend that's a few miles up the road ....

Yes, I've been alone lots of times and in lots of places, as I am now - I might go for a drink with random strangers but not for a meal (unless on a date). And I know 2 maybe 3 people I could phone to arrange to go out with, at best.

(You're welcome to drop round any time as long as you don't mind the cats and the dogs.:))

Izadora

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I might go for a drink with random strangers but not for a meal

Sometimes it's unavoidable though. I don't know all of my friends' friends and therefore end up eating with strangers, in addition to people I've known for 20+ years, if we all go out for a meal for someone's birthday.

seven-day-weekend

onlyroz wrote: »

So say you had a visitor from abroad this weekend, and their visit coincided with a pre-arranged family meal. Would you not bring them along?

Yes I would, and wouldn't expect them to pay, they would be an honoured guest.

Pollycat

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I don't think most people put the whole fork into even their own mouths, you just use it to lift the food from your plate to your mouth with, perhaps, the ends of the tines just touching your lips.

Eating my dinner tonight is going to be a revelation. :rotfl:

I'm pretty sure I put more than the tip of the tines in my mouth but I'll have to check.

And check what my OH does.

I'm getting ready for him saying 'Oi! What are you looking at?' :rotfl:

And people-watching at my local Wetherspoons (we just drink there, rarely eat) on steak night, curry night and fish friday is going to be fun.

JasX

Homeownertobe wrote: »

So people who share food have the 'manners of pigs'? Lovely.

Yes, unusual position that poster has. I find it slightly odd to be specifically revolted by the thought of one's partner's saliva. However I'm also not a fan of unwanted plate intrusion and back in our student days a good number of us learned the value of a sharp jab of a fork in the back of an interloping hand if it crossed the perimeter of your platel...

"ooops sorry, I was going for a mouthful, I didn't catch you did I? that looks like a nasty scratch I've given you, please be more careful where you put your hand, ...waitress can I possibly have a replacement fork please...."

seven-day-weekend

mumps wrote: »

The problem is if the cast of thousands have all gone out for a meal and you don't have much money. Do you sit at home with your onion sandwich, say oh well I will use my emergency £10 and make sure I order something within that budget or go along split the bill and find you haven't got enough money.

Horrible sitting at home when your friends are all out and you have been invited but don't feel you can go and equally horrible splitting the bill and finding you don't have the money to pay.

Well.... I expect in that scenario the friends would do as I have often done and pay for me to have what I want. We've all been broke over the years.

No I would not go and have a sandwich while they were eating several courses. I would have told them beforehand I couldn't afford it, so splitting the bill would never be an option.

Person_one

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I don't mean to be either abstruse or argumentative but how many people would have "a visitor from abroad" drop in for the weekend - or at any time, for that matter?

I don't see the point of inventing unlikely scenarios and asking people "what if" unless you're inventing a new parlour game or comedy panel show.

Not everybody, but not so few that its an 'unlikely scenario'. Most people who've been to uni would have met a few foreign students I imagine, and its pretty common for Brits to go and live/work abroad for a few years or more and they still have friends and family here. I've visited friends in other countries for long weekends, I've had them come to visit me (well, in both cases it was a bit of a holiday too!)