B1English🍽️

Paying & Splitting the Bill

Use these expressions when you have finished your meal and you want to pay the restaurant bill.

Key Phrases

Could we please have the bill when you have a free moment to bring it to us?

💡 You can say this to your waiter when you are ready to pay for your meal.

Can we pay for this meal by card, or do we need to find some cash?

💡 Many places in the city do not accept cards, so it is good to ask first.

We would like to split the bill equally between the four of us, if that is possible.

💡 This means that every person pays the same amount of money for the total bill.

Could we please pay for our items separately because we did not share any food today?

💡 Use this if you only want to pay for the specific things that you ordered.

Is the service charge already included in the total price, or should we add a tip?

💡 In some countries, the tip is automatically added to the bill that they give you.

I think there is a mistake here because we have not ordered these extra bottles of water.

💡 You should check the bill carefully before you give your money to the waiter.

I will pay the total cost with my credit card if you can bring the machine.

💡 Many restaurants have mobile card machines that they can bring directly to your table.

Could you please add a ten percent tip to the card payment for this meal?

💡 You can ask the waiter to add the tip before they scan your card.

Practice Dialogue

Traveler
Excuse me, could we please have the bill when you have a free moment to bring it?
Staff
Yes, of course, I will bring the bill to your table immediately, if you are ready.
Traveler
Thank you very much, but can we pay for this meal by card or with cash?
Staff
We accept both payments, so you can choose the method that is most convenient for you.
Traveler
Wait, could we look at the bill first to check that the total is correct?
Staff
Of course, please check all the items that we have written on this paper for you.
Traveler
Everything is correct, so we would like to split the bill equally between the four of us.
Staff
That is fine, because I can easily divide the total amount on the card machine for you.
Traveler
Great, and could you please add a ten percent tip to the payment for this meal?
Staff
Thank you very much, and I hope you will visit our busy restaurant again in the future.

More Eating & Drinking Out (B1)

← All English survival phrases