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Restaurants See Economy's Effect on Bills

Newest craze is splitting the check, to servers' annoyance

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 6, 2009 4:34 PM CST

(Newser) – Gone are the days when one friend would insist on picking up the dinner check—and with them, the practice of splitting bills evenly, reports the Chicago Tribune. More and more, newly budget-conscious diners are asking for itemized checks. "Why?" says one restaurant manager. "Because nobody is anxious to pay for anyone else now."

One owner sums up the atmosphere: "I think the whole tone at the restaurant table has changed. At the beginning of the meal, you see internal calculations in their eyes. There are more sidelong glances when someone is ordering wine. Which is why, at the end of the meal, a party of five drops five cards for five separate checks."

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

If you went with water, and your brother downed a bottle of Merlot, chances are that in this economy you wouldn't simply split the bill in half. (©allaboutgeorge)

Restaurants are getting used to a party of six asking for six separate bills, based on how much each person ate. (©stevendepolo)

Many restaurants used to balk at requests to split the bill into more than a couple parts; now, some are saying they'll do pretty much anything to keep people dining out. (©heldr)

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We used to frown on getting so many cards. But we've learned to accommodate it now. To be honest, we're trying not to say no to any request at the moment. - Kristin Jones, director of operations for Uncommon Ground restaurants

I think the meaning of 'split the check' is about to change—it now means paying for what you ate. At the end of the meal, we're not doing as much long division on our napkins anymore. - Jonathan Fox, chef-owner of La Madia in Chicago

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Restaurants See Economy's Effect on Bills