Featured Image Credit: TikTok/stevie2chains
Topics: Food and Drink, Money, TikTok
Lucy Devine
There's nothing more frustrating than having to split a restaurant bill when you've had water and a starter, while everyone else has indulged in $12 cocktails and a three-courser.
One man was left fuming when he paid $150 for mozzarella sticks and water, leaving him unable to afford a taxi home.
TikToker Steve Guarino could be seen walking home in the snow after his friends decided to order lobster and split the bill.
"POV taking your broke a** home after your friends split the check evenly even though I got mozz sticks and they got the lobster," he said.
Advert
In the caption, he added: "Couldn't afford the uber cuz of the $150 water and mozz sticks."
The video seems to have struck a chord with other TikTokers, after it racked up hundreds of thousands of views within just a couple of weeks.
One person commented: "Normalize not feeling bad about paying only for what you ordered."
While another said: "I’m the friend that does the math, splits the tip and taxes evenly. Then I tell everyone what they owe."
And a third added: "Me and my friends always get one check. Pay for what we ordered and split the tip."
Another person admitted to missing a dinner so they didn't have to chip in on others' cocktails.
"I skipped a dinner tonight because I don't drink and Im not chipping in for Tina’s 5th margarita," said one, to which Stevie replied: "Tina needs to chill."
Deciding whether to split the bill can sometimes be an awkward situation.
In a 2021 study of diners by comparethemarket.com, 34 percent said the bill should be split down the middle, while 36 percent said it should be split by what each person ordered.
Nearly half said they felt awkward about the issue.
Other TikTokers shared how they manage the conversation, with one revealing they always leave early.
"And this is why I always plan to leave 20-30 minutes early... and pull the server aside and tell them to bring me my check separately cuz I have somewhere to be," they explained.
And another added: "As a server just tell your server from the beginning it will be split checks, if they are allowed to split it by item. Some places are implementing no."
"Nope I tell the waiter that my tab is separate when they take my order. I ain’t playing these games," commented a third.
What would you do?