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Find polite ways to request the check or split the bill

Savor the Flavors: Ordering Food & Drinks in Italian Restaurants Made Easy: Find polite ways to request the check or split the bill
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Here are polite ways to request the check or split the bill in a restaurant setting:

Polite Ways to Request the Check

  • “Could I please have the check?” or “Can we have the check, please?” — simple, courteous, and widely accepted.
  • “Would you bring the check when you have a moment?”
  • Making the silent hand gesture of writing a check and catching the server’s eye is an internationally understood polite signal.
  • In the UK, “Could I have the bill, please?” is common.
  • Saying “I would like to pay, please” or “Can I pay, please?” can also be polite ways to request the bill.
  • Always try to get the waiter’s attention first by saying “Excuse me” or “Entschuldigung” before asking for the bill.

Polite Ways to Request Splitting the Bill

  • “Could we split the bill, please?” or “Can we divide this, please?” clarifies that you want to share the costs.
  • It’s helpful to mention how you’d like to split, whether evenly or by item.
  • When with a group, asking the server at the beginning if separate checks are possible is often best: “May we have separate checks, please?”
  • For a discreet and dignified approach to splitting, holding up the check or wallet as a visual cue and asking, “Are we all putting in equally, or do you want to see the bill to split it up?”
  • When there are multiple people, you could just say, “Could we have 4 (or however many) bills, please?” and the server will understand.

These phrases and approaches maintain politeness and clarity when dealing with the check or bill splitting in social settings to avoid awkwardness or confusion. 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13

References

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