I’m not a picky eater.. I have never returned something in my life lol.
Being able to pay beforehand is largely superior to me and here’s a few reasons why.
A- you can leave instantly when you’re done your meal don’t have to wait around for 10 sometimes 30 minutes until the waiter circles back.
B- if you tip them an honest amount beforehand, they are even nicer to you during the rest of your service because you have left a nice tip and they know they don’t put on some fake performance but will still go the extra
Mile for you (because of fair tip)
C-this kind of circles back to my first point but (time is valuable) I don’t want to wait for 10 to 30 minutes for my waiter to come around
D-
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Never order desert or a coffee after dinner?
Where do you wanna be that ten minutes is a big deal?
I won’t know if I have room for dessert until after I eat, so closing the bill makes no sense
If you’re waiting 30 minutes to pay your server you’ve failed the test and deserve to wait longer.
I agree with you in the sense that I can leave when I’m done and I don’t have to wait for the waiter to notice me. I’d love the option to pay beforehand. The only thing stopping me from fully agreeing with you, is the tip part. Some people are great and truly honour the fact that you gave them a tip, and will treat you well (like you said). But there are some who feel like they no longer need to “earn it” since it’s already been paid, and may resort to subpar performance.
Otherwise, I’m totally with you!
I love doing this but really only do it at Asian places
Even if it’s when you are meeting to eat out with others? Because that could be seen as if you want to spend as little time with them as possible
Honestly i do the same, i get weird looks but i just hate waiting around.
Its just easier to pay now and just leave when im done. Especially if i have plans or need to go somewhere
It’s common practice where I live that you pay at the counter, some beforehand where you order at the counter also, and others after your meal. But no waiting, you eat, get up, pay, and leave…. We don’t tip either, because our wait staff get paid a decent wage… I believe our system is superior 😅
If there had been a 4th bullet point you probably would have sold me
What’s D?
Depends on the restaurant for me. Not all restaurants will take payment right away like that while some will bring the check with the food.
Rule 6
You do know you can just flag down your waiter a bit before you’re done with your meal and ask for the check right?
I hate waiting for the bill too. I usually ask for the check when I get my food and the server asks if I need anything else. I just say “I’ll take the check please.”
I’m not sure how unpopular this is versus uncommon. In other words, people don’t think of it in the US, but probably wouldn’t be against doing it.
That said, many fast casual places ask you to pay at order while you wait for food, and paying at order is pretty common around the world.
Now, my family, and many like us, often prepay the bill at sit-down restaurants in the US. That’s because I have young kids and once they are done eating and the entertainment we brought starts to bore them, they begin losing their shit. Which is awful for us and any guests near us.
So, we order and pay immediately and ask for togo boxes to be brought with the food. That way we can pack up and GTFO as soon as those little angels start showing off their dark and piratical interiors.
Do you not have a counter/reception at the restaurants where you are? Here in New Zealand we go to a restaurant, eat our food and whenever you want to leave you can just walk to the counter by the exit and pay.
In my home country (Vietnam) we do that as well.
Benefit of this would bethat if you want to add more things while eating, drinks for example, you can pay for all that after you’re done with your meal.
Also no tips needed, the wages of the waiters/waitresses/cooks should be included in the price of food that we pay, they don’t have to rely on the generosity of the customers. Everyone can be nice to each other, if you’re a customer just be polite and it’s all good. You can tip if you want to but that’s not a requirement.
I do this but I don’t tip and close out right away, once I’m toward the end of my meal I will fill out the tip and have them run my card.
In Australia, this is the norm at most casual dining establishments. Pubs, cafes, Asian dining, and all fast food places take your order either in person at a counter or via self-serve app/kiosk and you’re free to leave whenever you want. Fancier restaurants run a bill, either individually or for the table, but you can often go up to the counter and pay whenever you want, no need to wait for the waiter to notice you.
You know what you would love tho. The restaurants where you pay with the QR code