A Tip20! Original Article, by Tom Mason
Paying your bill may seem like a mindless and mundane procedure when you are dining out, but the way in which the process happens can make life easier for everyone involved. The following are some tips for streamlining the bill payment at the end of your meal.
Don’t be afraid to ask for your check. The server appreciates knowing that you’re ready for your bill. Servers do not want to continuously bother you to see if you are ready for your check, but they don’t want to make you wait for them either.- If paying with cash or credit card let the cash or card stick out of the check presenter a little and place on the edge of the table. This will let your server know you’re ready to pay.
- Pay promptly even if you plan to stay at the table for a while longer. Often the server may be just waiting to leave at the end of his or her shift and can cash out his receipts after all bills have been paid. Even if you intend to sit for a while your server can get their accounting done while they wait for you to conclude your visit.
- If you are going to be sitting for a long time (in the industry this is known as “camping”) let your server know. If you are the servers last table, they may want to leave. Your server will make sure that you have everything you need before he or she goes and will likely tell another server to keep an eye on you for any further needs you may have.
- When paying cash always use the smallest bills you have available and let the server know if you need change back. Exact change is always appreciated.
- When paying with a check it is a good idea to ask if checks are accepted first and also automatically include your home phone number and address and any other information that may be helpful or required.
- If you know you are going to be splitting your tab different ways among the parties at the table, let your server know when you sit down. It may make a difference how they ring your order in to speed up the payment process at the end of your meal.
- If you know you are going to be picking up the tab for the entire table, discreetly (or not) let the server know in advance. This will help avoid the uncomfortable situation at the end of the meal with a fight over who will pay the bill.
- If you were planning to pay your bill with a credit card it is a nice thing to do to leave your tip in cash. Some restaurants will take fees out of servers tips when paid by credit card.
Please just be courteous and considerate of your servers time. A servers section has a limited number of tables. Servers only make money when they are “turning” tables so if you are going to take up a table for a long time, it is a nice gesture to give a little more of a tip to help the server make up some of their potential lost revenue.
Shout out to Tim at the CG for the idea for this story.
Related Information
March 9th, 2009 | 
Interesting read. Great post, as always!
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]
[...] (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started [...]