large booking at restaurant- how to split the bill?

duchy

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

But I do take exception to the words 'lardy' 'lavish consumption' 'gluttony' and 'greedy' being used just because someone decides they might like a sweet and a glass of wine.

I think the difference is if you are paying your fair share then you are bonny with a healthy appetite ........ if you are trying to divert some of your more lavish meal onto someone else's bill then you're a greedy pig......... It's all about where you and your wallet are standing at the time

Person_one

silvercar wrote: »

Part of the reason you go out for a meal with friends is to enjoy their company, enjoy being waited on and enjoy the surroundings. That people should only pay for what they eat ignores the value of the non-food part of the evening.

You don't get billed for the non food part.

FBaby

Not everyone wants to drink like a fish or eat until they can barely move.

There is also the issue of the choice of restaurant. I am not keen on Indian, so if that's what is chosen, I'll be less likely to eat a lot, and even less intend on paying the odd for a meal I wouldn't have chosen in the first place.

If we are invited to a restaurant I really like the food, I am much more likely to consider a starter or dessert.

SingleSue

silvercar wrote: »

Part of the reason you go out for a meal with friends is to enjoy their company, enjoy being waited on and enjoy the surroundings. That people should only pay for what they eat ignores the value of the non-food part of the evening.

Unfortunately, it is sometimes the only thing some of us can do to be able to go out. Splitting the bill with others who sit there and drink all night whilst eating would make it unaffordable for me to actually do it in the first place.

cadon

In a large group, it's too awkward to not split the bill evenly.

First, deal with the non-drinkers. Either come up with an arbitrary amount, or let them put in what they think they owe. If I'm drinking, I always make a point of standing up for those who were only on soft drinks because it's not fair they get stiffed.

Next, split what's left evenly amongst the other drinkers.

In the OP's situation, there are children, so I'd deal with them in the same way I do non-drinkers, I'd take them off the bill first. If they're young children, they've probably ordered from some cheapy set menu and had tiny soft drinks, so even a half-share of the adult price will be too much.

I always try to match others in a group situation - if they all want starters, I'll have a starter. If no one really wants a desert, I won't have a desert. When everyone orders from the same ballpark, it makes splitting the bill seem fair. It gets complicated when people start doing different things.

Imp

PasturesNew wrote: »

If my meal's cost me £8 at that point, then I'd not want to have to put £30-40 on the table because some lardy greedy couple both had starters, mains, desserts, two bottles of wine between them and he had a brandy to finish! Especially when we step outside and I get into my 10 year old car and they breeze off in their Merc.... hopefully whining about how stingy I was because I insisted they pair their FAIR share.

Fr33l0aders.... bullies in the main that throw it back on YOU to make YOU look like the bad guy.

When you go out for a nice meal at a restaurant, you are not just paying for the food. You are paying for the service and the ambiance and most importantly, a good experience with people you like and enjoy the company of. This whole experience comes to a certain amount, and it seems fair to split the costs evenly.

Given what you say about your fellow diners, it sounds like you are not choosing your friends well!

My favourite way to split the bill is everyone puts in what they feel the meal as a whole was worth. Any excess goes towards the tip. Any amount to be made up is split evenly. But for this to work, you have to dine with people you like and trust.

seven-day-weekend

PasturesNew wrote: »

This isn't about just a sweet or just a glass of wine though. It's usually because somebody orders, say, all the big/expensive stuff, wastes a lot of it, orders the special dessert and 2-3 bottles of wine as well as a couple of other drinks.

If I walk into a place to eat I expect to come away with change from £10..... others will order starters (two at £6), the most lavish main (two at £25), the most lavish dessert AND coffees (two at £10), two bottles of wine £30) and a brandy for the man (£5) ..... two of them doing that ... and their bill is £117.

So, my bill £10.
Their bill £117 for two of them.

Now split the bill?

That's £127, or £42 quid each - "Let's call it £50 each then, eh"

So my £10's now cost me £50 (with a forced tip)
Their's has cost them £50 each, a discount and no tip, although they additionally made it look like they're a generous tipper.

Oh I see. No-one I eat with does that, however. As I say, I think everyone should pay for what they have had, unless they have agreed differently beforehand.

cadon

PasturesNew wrote: »

Now split the bill?

That's £127, or £42 quid each - "Let's call it £50 each then, eh"

So my £10's now cost me £50 (with a forced tip)

I wouldn't dream of not tipping in a group situation, unless the service and/or food was dreadful - groups are more work for the waiting staff and kitchen.

However, paying closer to £50 rather than £10 if that is indeed all you ordered - what kind of inconsiderate jerks are you going out with? I'd expect the people who sat next to you to pipe up and point out you had hardly anything and the bill isn't fair on you.

cadon

Imp wrote: »

My favourite way to split the bill is everyone puts in what they feel the meal as a whole was worth. Any excess goes towards the tip. Any amount to be made up is split evenly. But for this to work, you have to dine with people you like and trust.

It's not just about trusting people. It's about those people still being able to add up after consuming a lot of wine.

In my experience, it's actually the accountants who crumble first after drinking too much - they ask someone else to add up their share for them!

FBaby

I always try to match others in a group situation - if they all want starters, I'll have a starter. If no one really wants a desert, I won't have a desert. When everyone orders from the same ballpark, it makes splitting the bill seem fair. It gets complicated when people start doing different things.

I think that is the fairest approach if you are going to split the bill. If you are not and each pay for their own, then the least awkward is to round it up, rather than taking the calculator out and turning the party into an accounting lesson! it is usually easy to do when people only had a main and a drink, usually rounds up to £10/£15/£20 depending on the place.