Group dinner: How to split the bill

Just wondering what everone else does when they go out to eat with a group. Do you get one big check and split it even between the group or pay just your part or get separate checks for each of you? In the US when I was with friends the waiter/waitress would usually ask before we ordered how we would like the bill. I haven't been out with a group here so not sure how it works and what is considered acceptable or rude here or in the US for that matter.

Whenever we go out to eat with a group, we make sure and take cash with us.  Usually the whole group gets one bill and everybody puts in cash for it (either directly, or one person puts it on their card and everyone pays that person their portion in cash.) 

In our social circle, the bill is always split by what each person specifically ordered (plus a bit towards the tip), not equally (some people do it differently, but that's how my friends work it out.)

Whenever we go out to eat with a group, we make sure and take cash with us.  Usually the whole group gets one bill and everybody puts in cash for it (either directly, or one person puts it on their card and everyone pays that person their portion in cash.) 

In our social circle, the bill is always split by what each person specifically ordered (plus a bit towards the tip), not equally (some people do it differently, but that's how my friends work it out.)

this is how i have seen it done so far here, as well.  thankfully, no one has yet suggested splitting evenly-- i don't mind if there's not much difference in it, but back home many people would suggest splitting evenly when their bill was vastly more than everyone else, and it would drive me mad!

Whenever we go out to eat with a group, we make sure and take cash with us.  Usually the whole group gets one bill and everybody puts in cash for it (either directly, or one person puts it on their card and everyone pays that person their portion in cash.) 

In our social circle, the bill is always split by what each person specifically ordered (plus a bit towards the tip), not equally (some people do it differently, but that's how my friends work it out.)

That's my experience as well.

In my experience, it works the same in the UK as it does in the US.  If the group wants one big bill that they'll figure out themselves, that's fine, and if they want separate checks they should ask first, but that's probably fine, too.

As for how to split it, that's the same as in the US, too.  If everybody's is about the same, splitting it straight up is acceptable.  If someone had way more or way less, their share should be adjusted accordingly.

{x-posted with the rest of the universe }

We always split it evenly. I don't mind if I wind up paying more because maybe next time I'll pay less. Things have a way of working out like that. Besides, who wants to sit there doing math and quibbling over pennies when you're supposed to be having fun!?  

I like that attitude Chary!

I like that attitude Chary!

Me too!

This is why I love group dining in Germany. The waitress/waiter comes around to each person and you pay for what you've ordered. They probably do it in other countries on the Continent too, but I specifically remember it there.

Generally we tend to split things down the middle. If someone has ordered something significantly more expensive they generally offer to pay more. If they don't, I do think it's rude. But for small differences in price, I don't really care.

We always split it evenly. I don't mind if I wind up paying more because maybe next time I'll pay less. Things have a way of working out like that. Besides, who wants to sit there doing math and quibbling over pennies when you're supposed to be having fun!?  

Exactly. A kinda karma in the food circle.

Usually when I go out to eat with friends we all put in enough to pay for our own share, rather than splitting it evenly, although more recently we've gone for the 2-for-1 offers/set menu deals, which means that it often works out as being about the same amount each anyway .

The 2 for 1 or set deals are the best thing going these days! Now the only argument is how much we should tip the server! The cost if we paid full price or the discount price.

When we went out in a group we used to split the bill.  One of the larger groups was like 17 people or so.  However, I stopped doing this for the simple fact I don't drink and others were ordering multiple drinks at bar prices of course.  Which I didn't think it was far for me to pay a larger amount at that point and insisted on separate checks after that.

It wasn't anything personal against anyone.  But when you are paying 25.00 usd for a 10.00 meal, you really start to wonder.

Vince

If going out in a group for dinner, I highly recommend inviting Geeta along. She can divide a bill up and give everyone the correct change in seconds. No mess, no fuss, no quibbling. 

If going out in a group for dinner, I highly recommend inviting Geeta along. She can divide a bill up and give everyone the correct change in seconds. No mess, no fuss, no quibbling.