Do you leave money on the table in a restaurant?

[johncrossley]

Do you leave money on the table in a restaurant? How do you know that someone else in the restaurant won't steal it, then the restaurant reports you to the police for not paying?

 

[MikeWM]

If I'm by myself, I usually stick around until the staff collect it. Which can be a pain, as often staff are in no hurry to do so and you waste minutes of your life trying to get them to get on with it, but at least you make sure what you suggest doesn't happen.

If I'm in a group, most of the other people pay by card nowadays unfortunately, so then the question is fairly moot as you just hand over the cash while the other people are arguing amongst themselves as to what fraction goes on what card.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, I ask them to bring the card machine.

However in the past when I did use cash, the way this was done was to place it on the table and make eye contact with a waiter to indicate it was there. They'd presumably collect it pretty quickly.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2023 ==

If I'm in a group, most of the other people pay by card nowadays unfortunately, so then the question is fairly moot as you just hand over the cash while the other people are arguing amongst themselves as to what fraction goes on what card.

One needs to agree what the split will be regardless of payment method.

 

[Cowley]

No I wouldn’t leave it on the table. No point taking the risk and having to worry about it.

 

[SuspectUsual]

If I’m paying, I’ll pay by card so this isn’t an issue. But if I’m tipping, that’s almost always cash and I give it directly to the member of staff who’s served us

Incidentally - it used to be commonplace that there was a “add a tip?” option on card machines, but I can’t think when I last saw this. Am I right that it’s far less common these days, and if so why?

 

[jfollows]

I sometimes leave the tip - in cash - on the table if I’ve paid by card.
I'd rather give it to a person, but some restaurants seem to operate a policy in which the staff hide when you want to pay the bill, in which case I'll leave what I think appropriate and leave (having paid the bill by card, that is).

 

[johncrossley]

However in the past when I did use cash, the way this was done was to place it on the table and make eye contact with a waiter to indicate it was there. They'd presumably collect it pretty quickly.

Thinking about it, even paying in cash by putting the cash straight into the waiter's hand isn't fool proof unless you get a receipt confirming the amount paid and the amount of change given. I only pay by card when cards are accepted and if the restaurant only accepts cash then maybe I should ask for a receipt confirming that I have actually paid.

 

[MikeWM]

One needs to agree what the split will be regardless of payment method.

I find this to be quite easy when paying cash and no-one else is. I've remembered how much the things I ordered were, add a tip, put that amount of cash in the centre of the table and then sit back and tune out the next 5 or 10 minutes of everyone else trying to work out how to split the remainder

 

[johncrossley]

Incidentally - it used to be commonplace that there was a “add a tip?” option on card machines, but I can’t think when I last saw this. Am I right that it’s far less common these days, and if so why?

There's one place I go where sometimes they give you the card machine showing the "add a tip" option, but other times they don't bother. Maybe they should put a contactless reader on the table for tips so it is done in a different transaction and not in such an "in your face" way.

 

[Cowley]

Thinking about it, even paying in cash by putting the cash straight into the waiter's hand isn't fool proof unless you get a receipt confirming the amount paid and the amount of change given. I only pay by card when cards are accepted and if the restaurant only accepts cash then maybe I should ask for a receipt confirming that I have actually paid.

Has something happened to you that’s caused you to ask about this?

 

[SuspectUsual]

There's one place I go where sometimes they give you the card machine showing the "add a tip" option, but other times they don't bother. Maybe they should put a contactless reader on the table for tips so it is done in a different transaction and not in such an "in your face" way.

I’d still prefer to tip in cash as I’m dubious as to where tips via card machines actually end up

 

[johncrossley]

Has something happened to you that’s caused you to ask about this?

Nothing like that has happened, but the original thinking behind this thread was the result of seeing someone today paying in cash by just leaving it on the table.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2023 ==

I’d still prefer to tip in cash as I’m dubious as to where tips via card machines actually end up

Arguably you should be more concerned if the tips are in cash as it is highly likely that tax won't be paid on the tips if you pay in cash.

 

[Ediswan]

Do you leave money on the table in a restaurant?

Yes.

How do you know that someone else in the restaurant won't steal it,

I don't.

then the restaurant reports you to the police for not paying?

Does this ever happen ?

 

[Cowley]

Nothing like that has happened, but the original thinking behind this thread was the result of someone paying in cash by just leaving it on the table.

Right ok, I suppose it really depends where you are. Personally I pay by card as a general rule but I would leave a cash tip on a table, although I’d give a nod to whoever was serving so that they’re aware of it.

 

[johncrossley]

Does this ever happen ?

Do restaurants report customers to the police for not paying?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Do you leave money on the table in a restaurant?

Can you even do this in a "Mucky D" type 'Restaurant'?

 

[johncrossley]

Can you even do this in a Mucky D type "Restaurant"?

You can't do it in most pubs that sell food either.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Arguably you should be more concerned if the tips are in cash as it is highly likely that tax won't be paid on the tips if you pay in cash

Not really my problem, and to be honest if someone on a low income pays a tiny bit less tax than they should, I can’t say I’m terribly sorry

 

[Tetchytyke]

Arguably you should be more concerned if the tips are in cash as it is highly likely that tax won't be paid on the tips if you pay in cash.

Not really. I tip in cash because there has been countless instances of employers hoovering up the tips left on cards. They’ve been shamed into behaving better, but I still don’t trust them.

The tip is for the person serving, what they do after is no concern of mine. But most places will put all tips into a kitty so that the cooks and bar staff and pot washers get a share too. A server who regularly “forgets” to do this wouldn’t last long.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Incidentally - it used to be commonplace that there was a “add a tip?” option on card machines, but I can’t think when I last saw this. Am I right that it’s far less common these days, and if so why?

I've seen it a lot less, I wondered if it was to do with how those machines implemented contactless or something. You do sometimes see it though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2023 ==

You can't do it in most pubs that sell food either.

Paying before you eat is increasingly common - easier if not paying together and you can't walk off without paying. And often the cost of waitstaff is reduced by having you order on your phone or at the bar.

 

[birchesgreen]

I wouldn't leave without making sure the server had had the money owed for the meal (though i'd be paying by card). I usually would leave the tip on the table in cash.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I find this to be quite easy when paying cash and no-one else is. I've remembered how much the things I ordered were, add a tip, put that amount of cash in the centre of the table and then sit back and tune out the next 5 or 10 minutes of everyone else trying to work out how to split the remainder

Unless everyone else contributes on that basis then that's going to be unfair (either on you or others) - it's something that needs to be agreed with everyone - does everyone pay for what they had, or is it split with/without drinks separate, and is the tip separate or not.

 

[johncrossley]

Paying before you eat is increasingly common - easier if not paying together and you can't walk off without paying. And often the cost of waitstaff is reduced by having you order on your phone or at the bar.

I've seen this is in Stonehouse Restaurants (formerly Crown Carvery) but the very slightly more upmarket Toby Carvery wants you to pay at the waiter at the end of your meal. These budget chains are almost indistinguishable apart from that and are both brands of Mitchells & Butlers. Does pay in advance exist in more "proper" restaurants? I'd rather pay in advance, primarily so I can leave quickly. If there is a problem with the food then in the cases where you might get money off the meal they can refund your card.

 

[birchesgreen]

I've seen this is in Stonehouse Restaurants (formerly Crown Carvery) but the very slightly more upmarket Toby Carvery wants you to pay at the waiter at the end of your meal. These budget chains are almost indistinguishable apart from that and are both brands of Mitchells & Butlers. Does pay in advance exist in more "proper" restaurants? I'd rather pay in advance, primarily so I can leave quickly. If there is a problem with the food then in the cases where you might get money off the meal they can refund your card.

You can ask to pay when your food is served.

 

[johncrossley]

You can ask to pay when your food is served.

I sometimes ask to pay when they come around and ask me if I am happy with the food. But it would be better if they gave the option of paying at the time of ordering.

 

[AlterEgo]

I haven’t paid by cash in a proper restaurant for years.

 

[Sorcerer]

Usually I will approach waitstaff or ask them when they pass by for the bill. I don't often eat out but I usually pay by card if I can, and if not I always try to check the menu online first to know how much cash I need. I don't tip, but if there is small amounts of change (ie. leaving a 20 for 18.50 meal) I usually just leave it there with the receipt.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Does pay in advance exist in more "proper" restaurants?

Nando’s. Although whether that’s a “proper” restaurant is debatable

 

[Hadders]

Thinking about it, even paying in cash by putting the cash straight into the waiter's hand isn't fool proof unless you get a receipt confirming the amount paid and the amount of change given. I only pay by card when cards are accepted and if the restaurant only accepts cash then maybe I should ask for a receipt confirming that I have actually paid.

Are there really any restaurants that are cash only these days?

 

[johncrossley]

Are there really any restaurants that are cash only these days?

Probably only "greasy spoons" and they usually want to be paid up front.