isn't it as simple as requesting seperate checks when ordering? or is this a trick question.

The first option is best. Write it down.

Simple answer: don't be a cheapskate. If everyone followed this rule, checks would be a lot easier to split. If I end up chipping in a few bucks extra when dining with friends, I don't mind because I know that they are not cheapskates and it all evens out eventually. Also it helps if everyone has cash handy for a group meal, so the server doesn't end up running 6 different cards. If you can't stand the thought of paying $3 extra on the tab, just eat at a place where you pay at the counter, like a pizzeria or burrito joint.

When we split a check, we write down last names and how much to charge each card on the bill. Then there's no need for guessing on the server's part.

Whenever we go out with friends, I make a point of taking cash. That way, I'm out of the discussion about who should pay what. Luckily, the issue of someone not pitching in enough hasn't happened in awhile, but when people get out the calculators, it makes me cringe. So much so, I have opted to take care of lunch alone instead of putting the server through that. So, how do you tell your friends or guest that they are being a bit rude when asking to split the check 5 times oh and the artichoke dip is on Brian's tab etc.

I'm with dieselboi...
When I am going out to eat with friends I always stop at the ATM, or I plan on footing the whole bill on my CC.

Oh and I didn't mean that I am "with" him...I just meant I agree with him.

It takes less time to wait on and split a check for a table of 6 compared to 3 tables of 2. Quit yer whining. It's what you do for a living.

In England, politeness dictates that whatever people say they think they owe, they owe. Even if you think they're being "cheap," it's bad form to question it. So you end up paying for them. And you do so without airing your discontent. To get out a calculator or to even discuss the issue for more than two seconds is just so damned embarrassing to most English people, we'd rather pay the whole bill.

That's why pubs are great. Because you go up to the bar and buy your own drink. You don't have to worry about the bloody waitress wanting her tip all the time. The number of times I've walked into a bar here, sat down and had to wait ten minutes for a drink, AND paid 15% extra for the privilege, it's so frustrating when in London you'd just walk up to the bar and be self medicating within minutes. But I seem to have gone off topic here...

What I meant to say was, I like the "honor" system. If your companions don't chip in what they owe, just never go out for lunch with them again, ever, ever, ever—rather than have "a scene" in the restaurant because of their bad manners. And yes, I know that's very English and completely mad. But it's a point of pride for most English people to have ridiculous rules about manners that don't make any sense.

Try tipping 20% next time... Then maybe the "bloody waitress" won't make you wait so long.

Sorry, I should add that the bloody wait-ers are just as bad.

I never ever want to be at a table that splits a bill more than two ways. Hopefully most people have cash and if not, have one person pay and the rest settle it later (write an IOU or something). Don't make the wait staff deal with the fact that you fucked up and didn't bring cash (hey, sometimes I fuck up, too, but at least I don't make the wait staff pay for my mistake).

And, yeah, what Matt said. If you want to be cheap, fine, but you're probably a dick and I'm not going to hang out with you again. (And if you're rude to the wait staff, I'm just done being friends with you because you're probably an total asshole.)

I'd actually like to hear from a server about the "here's our bill, with last names and amounts written down, and here are four credit cards."

Sure, it's not one card or one pile of cash, but is it the end of the world? Especially when we all tip nicely once we get our slips to sign?

Amy, as a server of too-many years, here's my take: the model you mention is best when it's essential to split it a million ways. It's far from ideal (the fewer transactions the better), but it's a lot better than saying "put everything I had on the black AmEx."

Uh, dude, I've got 34 customers right now. How about you tell me down to the penny how much to put on your credit card? (And it better add up.)

But if the table can figure it out to where just a few people are paying instead of one card per person, your restaurant karma will soar.

On the flip side, there is nothing worse than when one person pays for a big party, and stiffs the server. When Grandpa wants to pick up the tab for your 16-person family dinner? Sneak a look at that credit card slip and make sure the server is getting taken care of. If you give a friend cash and they put the bill on their card, make sure that the twenty percent tip you included makes it to the server, not your friend's pocket.

It’s not rocket science, people. When you have a group of 4, 5, or 6, just write down/punch in their orders separately, even if they don’t ask. It’s easier to add them together later than to split them apart. I waitressesed for 6 years and was glad to accept my customers' money however they were willing to pay. And if I wasn’t in the mood to split a check, the owner was quick to remind me who was paying my rent. That's how the restaurant business works--a server is there to serve paying customers.

People eat at restaurants for convenience and most don't give a rip if a waitress “doesn't feel” like splitting their check.

Jeezus allison, what kind of people do you dine with?

I try to make it easy on the wait staff as well but it does seem that if there are multiple cards that the tipping generally is more than if just one person paid. In that regard, it seems beneficial to the server.

naw, its the people I've waited on who have given me such a dim view of folks' check etiquette.

i am a server and it's the worst to split checks.

i had a table of 19 that wanted 14 different checks. it took me 10 minutes to split the checks, but if i had not had my manager set the "auto grat" for tables of 6 or more, i know i would have walked with less than the 18% i tacked on there.

tip 20%. even if it's coffee, tip 20%. you went out for the meal, you can afford the service. if you don't want to pay for service, make it at home. foie gras is easy to make, but you're not going to get it as pretty as i serve it.

sure, tell my manager and owners to pay me more than minimum and they'll laugh as they're basking in puerto rico with jewels on their fingers (no joke).

if you're going out, tip 20%.

also, if you're paying with a card, tip 1$ on the card and the rest in cash. thanks.

i was a waitress for exactly one night before i knew it wasn't for me, so i don't know the details. but i've always liked servers who figure out who should be on which check as they take orders in a large group.

failing that rare circumstance, IF you know everyone you're with earns a good $24,000 a year or has mommy's credit card, splitting evenly should be fine with anyone who isn't super-stingy.

splitting evenly absolutely killed me when i was working a bunch of low-paying jobs at a high-price college. i'd order the cheapest thing on the menu, not even a soda pop, only to watch in horror as appetizers and $8 drinks showed up on our table, and my mac and cheese cost me $15-$20.

there was a good episode of "friends" about this, you know. i have no idea how they worked it out. probably by phoebe sleeping with joey or something.

and another thing (you've hit a nerve!).

before i met my boyfriend, i had only ever been in groups where we'd end up with $5-$20 too much money. with my boyfriend's friends, it's always $10-$20 too little and there's an awkward moment when the people who have already overpaid by a buck or two realize they'll have to throw in another few dollars as though they're the culprits. it's too chaotic to figure out which one (or more) is doing this. it's all the more shocking because they're all really nice people.

i always tip 20%+, but i wish i knew where miguelaron worked so i could tip him less. open your own place and take the risk if you're so jealous of your boss' profits, dude.

as far as splitting goes, anyone who doesn't split evenly is a dick, unless it's a big deficit over many hours, etc., then simply do what amy said and write the totals for each card on the back of the bill. most waitstaff are more than happy when you do that.

I am the person who never has cash - often it's more of a pain then debit cards. Everyone has fresh from the ATM $20 bills but the bill is somewhere in the $18-30 range per person - so with tip each person needs change. Gigantic pain.

We often go out in a big group and almost always split the bill. But we usually ask when we order - 'Do you want this on one bill - we're going to split it? Or do you want us on separate tickets?'

But if we don't split hairs over the exact amounts - put $25 on these two cards, $40 on this one, and the rest on this one....that shouldn't ever be a problem.

Dining out in groups of seperate payers is the nature of the restaurant business. If it's such a hassle for servers to split the check, then why not ask groups if they need seperate checks at the beginning? Or at least give customers a pen and paper to split up the bill. Most friends and family I dine with are very conscious about the hassle of splitting the bill and don't mind finding some way of splitting the bill.

So, I have been out with family where father-in-law insists on paying. He doesn't tip 20%. Not sure why, but I actually believe it is his prerogative. I once threw in a few more bucks in order to get the tip up and got a stern look as if I had offended him. Tough situation with the older generation.

i will never eat out again.

Dieselboi,

When you go out for dinner with the father-in-law who insists on paying for dinner just say "Hey, thanks! That's very gracious of you. But please, at least allow me the honor of taking care of the tip." That plan of action generally works out pretty well.

I am a server and I actually like my job. Running several separate cards on a bill is no big deal...even if that means running 6 or 7 cards. It is FAR better for the patrons to tally what they owe and hand over the cards. Splitting a large table down into separate checks is a major NO NO. First, it takes AGES. Seriously....ages.

I can't remember who had what when dealing with a large party, ...splitting appetizers, rounds of drinks, people forgetting a thing or two, etc. It is a serious hassle and most places probably won't accommodate to that. Most restaurants make rules (ex- all one check for large parties) for a reason. Not to be arbitrarily cruel or unjust. Fortunately, most grown responsible people realize this and flow with it. Secondly, large parties (6+ generally) are auto-gratitude 15-18% at most quality restaurants. This takes out the cheap, but so sweet grandpa issue. Personally I would prefer to get a cheap ass tip from some grandpa treating his family to dinner over a good tip (after jumping though unnecessary hoops) from a bunch of young adults who can't agree and trust that their friends will be decent enough to cough up their share.

Ask first? The answer would still, politely, be no. The kitchen needs to look at the tables order all at once. That means turning in one bill, not 8 separate orders. Most dining faux pas' seem to come from a complete lack of common sense on the patron’s part. It's not their fault, they just don't know and maybe don't care. Being polite and explaining why is better than a bitchy attitude.

Splitting checks just seems cheap most of the time. I even see people ask for separate checks when it's someone's birthday. Man, what a bummer! Get some new friends and generous spirit. It makes the world a better place in the end!

The point- DON"T SPLIT CHECKS. But, running different cards is not a problem.

Our waitress at Jimmy Maks the other night magically brought each person's check as we departed the table one by one. We didn't even have to ask for them separately. No muss, no fuss. Five stars!