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Eating out with a group of friends, and the bill!

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    Eating out with a group of friends, and the bill!

    There are a group of 10 of us, 5 couples, who eat out together several times a year. For our birthdays (people sometimes Double Up if two birthdays are close) and we often go out in December for a pre Christmas get together. It is usually all of us but occasionally we just can't manage that and it may be 8.

    We enjoy these nights out. We do not enjoy settling the bill. Most of us just agree to divide it equally. Anyone who knows they have had a lot more alcohol than others always offers to pay extra so that's OK. There are 2 friends who sometimes leave slightly earlier and leave their share. Except it's usually not enough, or hasn't allowed enough tip etc. A bit annoying as the rest of us have to make it up.

    On Sunday night we had a lovely meal out, all 10 of us. We couldn't hear the discussion about the bill at our end of the table and I asked what we owed. We were told an amount and my friend sitting to my right asked whether it included a tip. We were told it did but those at the other end of the table had taken the decision to remove the optional 10% and add less tip less to our bill.

    We were not happy at our end of the table. This restaurant is excellent. Food, service, ambiance all perfect. To my mind its only acceptable to remove the 10% if the food or service were bad. Many restaurants add 12.5% now and I would agree about taking that off and paying 10, but in this case only 10% was added.

    My friend said she didn't agree with removing the tip. I said I didn't either but we couldn't really make others pay more than they wanted. The waiter had taken away the bill, removed the tip and bought a new one by this time. The four of us at our end of the table added what we felt was fair, not what the others were paying.

    It still makes me cross!!
    “A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.” – Unknown

    #2
    Gem, it's the sort of scenario that could risk friends having quite a serious argument. To me, 10% seems a minimum, especially if the restaurant adds 12.5%! Perhaps it would be good to air the various opinions before y ou go out in a group again. I hope it didn't spoil your enjoyment of the evening too much. xx
    "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognise how good things really are. "

    (Marianne Williamson)

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      #3
      When we go out for a meal with anyone we get our own bill.
      Sometimes I forget to like posts,but that doesn't mean I don't like them.

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        #4
        Nan2 that's probably the best way!
        “A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.” – Unknown

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          #5
          Nanto, that's a good idea.
          "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognise how good things really are. "

          (Marianne Williamson)

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            #6
            Nanto, I was going to say the same, I don't drink but would (and have done) be paying for drinks for the rest.

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              #7
              If we go out with the family and our SILs parents we split the bill 3 ways , we always all pay for GS& Lucie’s
              But if we go out with other friends who are drinkers where we are not we pay our own bill.
              Always leave a good tip .
              Different if service and food are bad , still leave a tip but adjust it accordingly.

              Gem I think it would be better if you paid your own bill and tip. That way there is no arguments or angry feelings , I am fully on your side about this .
              Im not fat just 6ft too small

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                #8
                Our next meal with this group will be in September, then another in October. We have a WhatsApp group so I think I may suggest on there that we have separate bills.
                G and A are our closest friends in this group and feel exactly as we do (A was the one who was expressed her displeasure on the night) I will speak to them first.


                Thanks for the input everyone
                “A grandchild fills a space in your heart that you never knew was empty.” – Unknown

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                  #9
                  Let's hope everyone agrees, Gem, and it will be so much better on your next outing. xx
                  "Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognise how good things really are. "

                  (Marianne Williamson)

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