The 10 Most Controversial Restaurant Policies: The Comments

By Kelly Dobkin

Our post last week where we called out some of our most heated conversations here on the blog between our two Zagat Editors (and included your feedback as well), non-shockingly stirred up some equally entertaining comments. The most debated topics in the comments included protocol over splitting the bill in a group setting, when should a server clear the table and whether restaurants have a right to charge diners for a missed reservation. Check out some of the best comments below.

Anonymous on check-splitting: "I agree. There's nothing less classy that saying, your dish cost more than mine. Or whipping out that trusty calculator to figure our your cost of the meal. Here's a suggestion, why not drink and eat as much as everyone else? I actually go out of my way to eat and drink more than everyone else so I would get the better bargain ;) The couple that complained they only had lemonades are basically dummies and deserve to be punished by paying an equal share if not more. But I always try to be classy by offering to pay more if I order more. However, I cannot deny that afterwards, I would always hope somebody would stop me from doing it. I then do my oscar-winning performance of insisting only to give in and split the bill equally...whew, that was a close one!"

Commenter odaraia on check-splitting; "Some smaller restaurants in my neighborhood have started asking members of our large group to come to the cashier and pay separately. This honor system seems to have worked in polite Seattle at least. I'm honestly grateful when servers and managers put up with the multi-card split, but the most polite approach, in my opinion is for us to pay one bill to the restaurant/server, settle it among ourselves, preferably in equal shares."

Anonymous on check-splitting: "I always take MY cost, and add 30% to it. (ie $10.00 x 30% = $13.00) That is somewhat over the amount for tax and 20% tip. I do not eat meat; and sometimes I drink a lot, and sometimes I drink a little. I do not want to pay for YOUR Prime Rib; nor do I want YOU to pay for my Amaretto Sour!"

Anonymous on the issue of when should a server bring the check: "#5, I'm with Kelly on this one. If you say you don't want anything else, then there's nothing to be added to the bill, so why shouldn't they just politely bring it??? I've had that happen and felt no pressure to actually pay and leave - unless the place is busy and there's a line. If there's no line, then any pressure you feel is totally your own. At times, I've been stuck wanting to pay and leave, but can't find the server so as to request the bill. I'd RATHER they just politely leave it (perhaps with a "there's no rush" comment)."