Splitting restaurant checks.

[randomness]

In Montreal most restaurants are exceptionally used to splitting checks. If you enter with a party of twelve, you can specify a single check, twelve separate checks, or anything in between. They just do it. Often, they ask before they take the order.

Sometimes, if you don't think to split the check until the end, they can get a little confused, getting person A's entree on the bill with person B's appetizer, or vice versa, but they are otherwise generally very good about splitting checks in contexts where around here they get all pissy about it.

They are so good at it that it's a bit of a shock coming back after being there. I guess it's a cultural difference. In any case, if you go out eating with a large group--and at a convention I imagine you will--you should find this particular bit of restaurant culture handy.

Comments

[rmd.livejournal.com]

i was at the cheesecake factory in cambridgeside a while back with a group of something like 30, who specified separate checks. i was stunned enough that i tipped big, because that's a lot more chaos, and i figure some of the folks are certainly tipping small.

Huh

[mamamoira.livejournal.com]

We split checks all the time, in Oklahoma and Texas with no fuss at all.

Re: Huh

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm convinced it's a regional thing.

Re: Huh

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

My aunts who live in Ohio but vacation out east regularly say yes, it is, and it's also a stereotype of the little old ladies who ALWAYS ask for separate checks and then usually tip small. A few years ago I pointed out the regionality of splitting checks to them, and they were a little sceptical. Last weekend, I was out with them and we had the above conversation, and I was pleasantly surprised.

[awfief.livejournal.com]

Oddly, all the restaurants I've been to in Ottawa seem to think a combined check is outside of the norm. Separate checks are the default and I had a few waitstaff confused when I asked for separate or combined checks because separate was the default (so why would I even ask?) and combined seemed to be pretty rare.