The Real Simple Reader Etiquette Poll

If You’re Invited to a Birthday Dinner With a Large Group, Do You Expect the Organizer to Pick Up the Check?

Readers say:

The whole group should split the bill: 78.6%

He or she should, of course: 21.4%


 Experts say: Restaurateurs across the country said they find bill splitting more common among 20- and 30-somethings than older diners, who are more likely to foot the bill for a group. However, patrons of any age “who dine together frequently” often split the bill, says Jen Hansen, the director of operations at Le Colonial, a popular special-occasion dining spot in Chicago.