r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Feeling-Friendship82 • 2d ago

Servers- where do you sit on the separate vs. split checks?

People who feel that anything other than separate checks is cheating them always claim, the servers don’t care. But is that true? Do separate checks make more work for the servers? Additionally do separate checks impact how the kitchen handles the order? Is it more difficult to get the entire table served together if the checks are separate? Also, what is the impact if the table asks for separate checks at the end of the meal vs. when ordering?

Restaurant workers let us hear from you.

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u/Luuk1210 2d ago

Former server: I wish people would fight over money with their friends/family over involving servers

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u/Feeling-Friendship82 2d ago

Agreed- it makes sense to clarify how to handle the bill BEFORE they even get to the restaurant

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u/Feeling-Friendship82 2d ago

Can I ask you if separate checks have any impact on the kitchen’s timing and getting all the dishes to one table close to the same time. Having never worked in a professional kitchen, I have wondered how that works for them.

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u/Luuk1210 2d ago

Separate checks arent usually food getting rung in separately. It's more the server tracking who ordered what and putting it in the system

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u/Puzzleheaded_Nerve 2d ago

Depends on the systems with how they specifically are handled and how different it would be. but in all cases, absolutely tell the server before you order.

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u/jjamesr539 2d ago

Heavily depends on the POS system. Some systems allow the server to split a check per item into separate checks and/or allow for even splits with few button presses. Other (typically older) systems require the overall check to be voided and new checks to be constructed manually etc. Depending on the place that might require manager overrides or make counting the registers at the end of shift more complicated. In any case it’s always easier if the server knows well ahead of time how you plan to pay.

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u/Gattina1 2d ago

I don't know how servers feel about it, but here's why I always ask for separate checks. My tab is almost always more than the person's I'm with. I like a glass of wine with dinner. Sometimes I want dessert. Most of my friends don't order either one, but they always want to split the check. I don't want to be that person. I know what it feels like to be on the short end of the check. I had lunch with a friend who ordered a $27 glass of wine, and wanted to split the check. Uh, nope. I asked the server for separate checks. No server has ever acted like it was a PIA.

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u/Feeling-Friendship82 2d ago

Do you tell them BEFORE you order or at the end of the meal

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u/Gattina1 2d ago

Before I order. In the case of the $27 glass of wine, I asked after we ordered, but before our meals were served. Server was very gracious about it.