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The same holds true if one orders the most expensive items on the menu, such as lobster, while the dining partner ordered very little such as an appetizer or the equivalent. In this situation, again, separate checks are best.

Other considerations:

Large parties:

• If you are dining with a large group (say six or more) and are going to be splitting the bill, then be considerate of your server and try to use only one or two credit cards to pay the tab. Afterwards, the group can reimburse those who provided payment. Handling several cards at once makes it much more difficult on the server, who may be covering many other tables beside your large party.

Contributing to a guest of honor:

• If you are dining with a group that includes an invited guest of honor, such as a birthday honoree, then it is customary that the group pick up the honoreeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s tab. Again, this should be made known to the server ahead of time so there are no surprises. In this situation, if someone does order more than others, the check should still be spit down the middle with the honored guestÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s portion included.

Buying a round:

• If, when dining with friends you impulsively decide to order a round of drinks for everyone, then be sure to cover that round once the check arrives. Your dining partners should not have to cover your spontaneous generosity.

Allergies:

• If you are allergic to certain foods such as shellfish, and everyone at the table wants to order the Seafood Extravaganza Platter and split the tab, then it is perfectly fine for you to order something else and request a separate check.

Lighter eater:

• If youÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re eating out with friends who order the whole left side of the menu and you do not want to pay for their overindulgence, then take control of your situation up front and let everyone know you will be eating light and will need a separate tab.

Business dinner

• : When attending a business dinner, it is customary that whoever does the inviting should also be the one who pays.
• Courtesy of tech, apps like Cashapp and SplitWise have made dividing a bill and paying your share of a meal easier than ever. In addition, in some restaurants, a customer may scan a QR code to browse a menu, enter their credit card details and place their order right from their phone. Thanks in part to COVID, we have had QR codes to view menus for some time; however, the addition of paying this way is new to many.

While there has been some pushback to those QR-code menus, payment this way means that one no longer has to attract a serverÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s attention to place an order. This may allow the server more time to take care of their customers, instead of spending additional time at a station running multiple credit cards through for those wanting to split a bill.