Separate Checks

Dear Diary,

Sometimes when a group of people venture out to eat at a restaurant, they often regret to communicate to each other about paying the bill. Most people just assume they will be paying for themselves. However, some will pick up the tab for the entire party, or one other person in addition to themselves. No matter what the situation is, no one seems to bring it up until they all have finished ordering, completed their meals, and the check is delivered to the table.

Then all of a sudden, someone looks at the check in surprise and says, “Oh! Can we have separate checks?” As if it was my job to know and create separate checks for them from the beginning.

Some restaurant computer systems give Servers the ability to separate a check on their own. Other computer systems only allow a manager to do the task. Why, I need a manager to separate a check for me, is beyond my comprehension. Either way, the whole thing is very time consuming.

1. I have to figure out what each person is going to be paying for. Who had the iced tea, who had the burger with no mayo, who is paying for the appetizer, etc. *with a party of 2-4 this isn’t so bad, but with larger parties, it can be very confusing.*

2. (A) If the manager is required to separate the check, I have to find one! Good Luck With That! (B) I have to go to the computer and physically separate the entire check by highlighting each item individually and creating a new ticket.

3. Print each check, then find a check presentation tray / book to put each one in. *again, with larger parties, this can be a real pain, trying to find enough check presentation trays!*

4. Once I arrive back at the table, I have to hand each one their appropriate check, again, trying to figure out which person should get which one. “Alright, Bitch with the glasses ordered the Cobb Salad. Fatty over there had the nachos, cheeseburger with bacon, fries, ice cream sundae, and oh yea… the Diet Coke.”

5. After I hand deliver all the checks to the right Monkeys at the table; they will sit there and analyze it to make sure they are only paying for what they ordered. Then they will scratch their heads, ask each other questions, and pick fleas off each other for a few moments before each one of them hands me back a 20 dollar bill.

In this day and age, most people use the luxury and convenience of paying for items using their credit / atm cards. These people I love. It’s easy for me to simply open their check in the computer, swipe their card, and print out their receipt to sign; Done Deal. But when everyone hands me a 20 dollar bill, and each of their checks is only about $8….now…I’m pissed.

*Here is something I guess NO one seems to know about restaurants. There is No such thing as a cash register! (Only little diner-type places like Denny’s have one) Each Server has their own “bank” of change which they carry on them. However, this little “bank” is usually only stocked with the ability to give change for a single 20 dollar bill.*

So, when I’m handed five 20 dollar bills, you can understand my frustration. Now, I have to go on a treasure hunt in the restaurant for change. A server’s best hope is to ask the bar tender for change. They are the only ones in the entire restaurant that usually have a cash register stocked with efficient funds. If not them, another server (who all just say no, even if they do have it!), if not them, I have to go to a manager. The manager will then go to the back office to retrieve change for me.

(Meanwhile, one of my other tables need drink refills, and another one needs a side of ranch dressing, and another one is waiting for me to take their order, all the while, another table’s food needs to be ran out to them, and I just got a new table sat in my section)

6. Once all the checks are closed, and the change is counted and figured out, I can finally deliver it all back to the table. Again, trying to remember who was who. Sometimes, I’ll just leave it all in a pile at the end of the table and let them figure it out!

One thing I always love, is when all the guests of the table who demanded the separate checks, are standing up, with their coats and purses on, arms crossed, impatient and desperate to get out of there; As if I took months to get them their change. Believe me; I’m just as irritated as they are.

A lot of these time consuming and annoying steps can be avoided, when it comes to separate checks. As long as you let your server know you need separate checks before everyone orders. That way, they can be aware of who is on who’s check, who ordered what, etc. Also, if you plan on using cash and know you are going to be paying for only yourself, bring some small dollar bills to avoid your server’s desperate search for change. If you do, I guarantee, you’ll get service with a smile!