How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

I went to a wedding last month and saw some friends I have not seen in many many years.

I want to plan a lunch for all of us and I have a good place for it (with a price fix menu).
The food is a set price for adults.
Kids under 3 is free
Kids 3 to 10 is half price
Drinks are extra

How should we handle the bill?

I think the easiest way is to take the total bill and split it by each head of house hold.
The problem with this is, people with no kids (or young kids) end up playing more than they normally would. And people who don't drink pay more than they normally would.

We actually have kids under 3 and don't drink so we'd pay a lot more than we should, but it doesn't matter, but I think a few of the other folks would be bothered (especially the newlyweds who have no kids)

I doubt the restaurant would do separate checks (I'm planning on inviting 10 households - with an average of 4 people per household thats 40 lunches plus at least 80 drinks, I'm assuming some people will get 2 drinks and a bunch will get coffee after)

Thank you all

Message edited 5/18/2017 5:47:56 PM.

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

Honestly, unless one person has a 6 kids and the rest don't have any, or the kids meals even at half price are over 20 bucks a head, I would say just split the bill evenly. It's not a huge difference and it all evens out pretty much. There is no way to be exact about it unless you get separate bills because even if each household pays for their kids who are charged, you still have no way of accounting for the drinks.

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

We usually just do seperate bills. So much easier and no one gets butt hurt.

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

What if you just had a separate bar bill? Then the people who drank could figure out how to split that, and the rest of the bill should be pretty easy to figure out, since it's price fixe.

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

I wouldn't mind to split it that way, but if they could do the 10 separate checks, that would probably be best. Any way you split it, someone will be grumbling.

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

Get a separate bar bill if you can. If not, split evenly.

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

Can you call the restaurant and ask if they can do separate bills for each family?

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

Message edited 5/19/2017 12:04:14 AM.

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

I hate separate bills, so annoying, I always split with the exception being if we are w people who don't drink and we drink we cover that, It is a night out w friends I just don't see the need to make sure it's even to the dollar..JMO

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

If you think others will be bothered by it just have everyone pay what they ate drank.


This shouldn't be that hard since its a fixed a price for everyone besides drink.

You should be able to figure out most of the bill before even getting to the restaurant.

Once you have the base price all you have to do is add on everyone's drinks.

You can prepare for that but you might be surprised and everyone says just split it evenly.

I will say though I do get it. If you don't drink and others do the bill can get up there. I always plan on having to pay for stuff I didn't drink eat but when I don't want to do that I just decline the invite.

Message edited 5/19/2017 8:51:52 AM.

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

Whenever I go out with others I just end up splitting the bill, even if the other person got drinks

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

I think its actually easy since all the food is a set price. Everyone know what they drank and you should know the food costs ahead of time.

Just have everyone pay for what they ate and drank and I'm sure with a big party tip will be included.

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

I think it depends on the people involved. I do not drink and I have no kids. I would just want to pay my own way honestly.

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

I would invite all the households first and see who comes.

If it ends up...say... 5 out of 10 can come; then I guess I would split the bill evenly.

Or I would just call the restaurant ahead of time to see if they can do 10 different checks. It's probably the most "fair" way to do it since so many households are involved. Like you said, some with kids and some without. Alcohol adds up quick. And for those that dont drink as much or at all; it isnt fair for them to contribute either especially if money can be an issue for some but feel funny saying so.

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

I am one of those people that does not split a bill. I always ask for a separate check when I order my food. My friends love to split bills.
We went out for someones birthday. I ordered a $20 entree and had water. They split their bill and it came to $85 each person. I always carry cash with me and if we are out celebrating someones birthday I contribute to the cost of their meal.

How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

Thanks for the responses.
I'll send out the responses first and then see what happens.

I always thought that we would just split the bill by household, but my friend said that some people might object to it since they have kids that are young (free meal) or no kids.

But then again my friend also said that probably most won't show up, I said "Why not, they all said 'we need to get together soon' "
Then he informed me "That's what people say, they don't really mean it. They'll go if they have nothing else to do, but they won't go out of their way for it"

oh =/

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

I have to be honest but I am not so sure I would want to go to this. The thought of bringing my 3 young children to a restaurant with a lot of other children and expecting that they will behave well enough for long enough that I could really enjoy myself would be slim to none. And my kids eat out often and are actually pretty well behaved in restaurants. Not to mention lunch on a weekend interferes with a lot of sports so it would be hard to commit that my whole family could be there.

I feel like if you want to plan something could it be an informal bbq at your house and have it be a pot luck so you don't have to foot the bill for everything? I think you'd get a better response rate for something like that and it would be a lot less complicated.

Re: How should we handle the bill? (eating out)

When I go out to dinner with someone for the first time, I just ask what that person likes to do.

I am always fine with splitting. If I order something more expensive/drinks/whatever, I offer to pay more, but I don't care about splitting even if I ordered less/didn't drink/whatever. It doesn't bother me, but I know it bothers others, so I just ask what they prefer to do.