Separate checks

[evwhore]

I just remembered something I'd forgotten to comment on in my SCF diary: at various points during the trip I found myself in a bar/pub in Vancouver (the oddsmakers take a beating) and on at least three occasions they brought us separate checks without our even asking for them -- in one case we had 6 people and they brought us 6 individual receipts

Comments

[adbjupe]

It's common in Germany. You'll have to tell the waiter if you want combined checks. Also, here in NC, at least during lunch hour, the waiters ask if you want separate checks. Something nobody did in California.

[smartmeanfatkid]

Interesting.

I would say that I prefer that the default would be the "one check, broken down by each diner" way. At some point, say 6 or 8 diners, the default would become individual checks unless someone has previously indicated to the server that he or she will be paying for the whole meal.

I don't think the server should be thrown into the minefield of "Are these two people on a date? Or are they friends? Is this a gay couple? Two dudes hanging out? Polyamorous group? What do I do?" At the same time, I'm moderately irritated when I'm out with 3-5 cowerkers, and we're clearly paying for ourselves, and they bring one check and it's not broken down and we have to ask for separate checks.

[redessence]

When I've eaten out in Vancouver, Kelowna and Calgary, if the servers don't already separate the bill, they usually ask whether the bill is together or separate. I can only think of a handful of times that wasn't the case. In America, on the other hand...