Al -- I guess it's my idea of courtesy. Everyone and most establishments are feeling the crunch. Business is down.

But in a better restaurant - I'd try to hold the credit card transactions down to two per table. Please keep in mind the establishment has to pay fees each time they swipe the card unless it's a French debit card.
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I really don't know for sure whether the restaurant is charged a fee or a percentage of the bill. In some fancy places they would be happy with the extra fee.And in a fancy restaurant with prices to go with it...why should one have concern?

Ron and Marc -- I don't hesitate you ask for a waiter to divide a bill and use two credit cards. When there are additional people, I suggest we use cash. Waiters are willing to give you individual checks especially at lunch where work colleagues go out to lunch together.

But in a better restaurant - I'd try to hold the credit card transactions down to two per table. Please keep in mind the establishment has to pay fees each time they swipe the card unless it's a French debit card.

Thanks, Minette and Marc. Also, I would never have the need to ask for
a doggie bag as I always clean my plate. ;-)

I don't think you have to be anxious about this, as long as you're polite in asking and aren't asking anything outrageous. Think of a group of Parisians who work in the same office going out to lunch together (something that must happen thousands of times a day). You know that most of the individuals in those lunch groups will want to pay separately. And wherever they're eating will accommodate them. For all that we think it's an American invention, cafés and restaurants in Paris have probably been doing this for decades.

I always used to do the dividing up in my head, then told people how much each owed. But after a while I observed that virtually every place where we wanted separate checks was willing to do it. I think it would be polite--and would increase the likeliness of getting what you want--to tell the waiter early on that you'll be wanting two or three checks.

Actually, now that I think of it, there have also been times we've simply said we wanted to split the bill between two or three credit cards, and the restaurant has merely asked, "How much did you want to put on each card?"

Now, the doggie bag: that's an American invention, and I wouldn't be asking for that.

Oh, great question! I actually had this experience one night while in Paris with three Parisians. I was renting an apartment for my stay and one night I bumped into the owner on the street who was with two of his men friends; all three, Parisian. We started chatting a bit and finally they invited me to a bistro with them. We had food, drinks, wine and lingered for hours. The waiter delivered three checks, per the instructions of my apartment owner, who had asked for it that way when we sat -- which I was not aware of. He paid for me and himself and his two friends each paid their own checks. I too thought it was an American custom and I was very surprised. When I asked my host about it after, he told me that outside of Paris it would be strange but in Paris it's OK in bistros, as long as the waiter is OK with it but he also said he'd not tried it in a restaurant and probably wouldn't.

I don't know if that helps -- as it is only one experience in a bistro, though with true Parisians, born and raised.

I'm sure this topic has been discussed on BP, but I couldn't find
a thread after a quick search, so I thought I would bring it up
for discussion.

The separate checks issue has never been a problem for me on my 12-plus
trips to Paris since I am usually traveling solo or with my neighbor/
travel companion (I pay or she pays and then we settle at the end).
However, next month there will be four of us making the trip, and I know
we will be dining together most of the time.

My Paris friends (natives) tell me that they occasionally request separate
checks and there has never been a problem, but I am under the impression
that separate checks is an American invention and probably is not appreciated
in Paris or the rest of Europe. Paris waiters are harried enough as it is
without having to deal with multiple credit cards, so I am inclined to
tell my friends that we need to work out a system and
not request separate checks. Whenever and wherever I travel, I try to
"go native" and respect local customs and manners and not offend anyone.

From the little bit of research I've done on the subject, it seems that
there are two views on this subject: it's OK to request separate checks
(not more than two credit cards) or it's really a tacky/touristy thing
to do.