Just to clarify the point about mixed drinks before - or (gasp!) with a meal.

If you go to upscale restaurants with a largely non-Italian clientele you will find some places do serve cocktails (like the Bellinis at Harry's in Venice) - but this is not the norm in the average or modest Italian restaurant. In those places one drinks wine or water with the meal - and coffee AFTER the meal.

What I love about this thread are the screeds where people state their own idiosyncratic ways of eating and of viewing the world while denigrating other people's idiosyncratic ways of eating and of viewing the world.

The conclusion here, although it was not the original question or intent, is never travel with anyone else on the Fodor's boards, unless you schedule time for self-righteous bickering.

as a compromise - could the two drinkers ave one bill and the non drinkers have another? Rather than split 4 ways it seems this might help some of the work on both sides.

Newtone

That is a reasonable and logical compromise, thus it would have small chance of success.

What I think I am going to suggest is as follows:

1. Politely ask if the waiter can split the check. I hate to hear how they will pronounce the word for check in Italian but include at least one per favore and grazie.

2. If the waiter refuses, quietly demure and use whatever plan they group has devised to solve this riddle.

3. Stand away.

The aforementioned example of receipt being needed to get expenses reimbursed is a bit too.. narrow.
We have 28 different tax regimes over here, and in several it is quite the opposite:
I won't get meal expenses back if I just "invite myself". I NEED other people from different companies on my receipt so the taxman will accept it as business expenses.

Instead of rotating around the principle (and honestly, no one in Firenze or Roma gives a youknowwhat about how you in New York City think his business should be run) I would look for alternative solutions.
If you feel that you have free-loaded on the others in your party because you got a more expensive meal why not buy your friends a round of drinks afterwards, or pay for the taxi back to the hotel?

I would have assumed that you have friends around you when you travel, and that no one is keeping track of pennies lost or gained... Who wants to travel with a bunch of accountants

The word for check is "conto", pronounced roughly "KOHN toh". You would said "possiamo avere quattro conti, per favore?"

The solution with the kitty is one that was followed when we went on a cycling trip with eight other people in Lombardia. Everyone put in the same amount initially, and the kitty holder told us when it was running low, so we could add to it. The only difference would be that the drinkers would put some extra in every day to cover their wine tab.

The kitty solution only works if people are willing to pay an "approximation" of what they actually spent.

We usually just split the check. But if someone wants separate checks, that's OK.

When we were in Spain last year the other couple wanted separate checks and that's what we did. I never question the other couple for their reasons.

With this same couple in the US we have just split the check.

>>I won't get meal expenses back if I just "invite myself". <<

What if you're traveling for business? You don't get to eat?

I think 2 checks for 4 people (2 couples) is OK. But that it is different from 4 individuals each wanting their own checks.

My sister pays all the bills when her group travels, keeps all the checks, marks who had what, and works out who owes what when they get home. She doesn't mind. It takes very little time. The others trust her.

We have an accountant friend who actually likes doing that. He's scary.

Bvlenci

Thank you for the translation and pronunciation. I will gladly pass the along to my sister. Please note that the word "conto" is very close to a very vulgar word in English.

Cold
Please find out if your sister is available for a trip to Italy.

Cold's sister travels with her brother.

<i>What if you're traveling for business? You don't get to eat?</i>

Whether traveling or not you need to eat. That is why a business lunch must include others; you are being paid for the transactional element (time spent at work) of the meal.

Padraig that is why we go hiking. She doesn't hike.

To answer the OP's question. The practice of asking for separate checks is not all that common in Italy. One thing that may help is that the single check presented will be fully detailed, so each diner can pay their proper share.

I have no idea what Michael said, but it rally sounded good.

That is why a business lunch must include others; you are being paid for the transactional element
____
What happens if they aren't vegans?

Peter S

Please do not answer the original question, it will confuse everyone.