A group of friends go to dinner at a restaurant. Laura orders an appetizer and a second course, Giulio orders an appetizer, a first course and a half dessert, and Cristina orders a first course and a side dish. One does not touch any wine, while the others share a bottle. When paying the bill at the end of the meal, Giulio will say: “let’s do it the roman way?” and silence will fall on the table, which was previously cheerful and carefree.
Why do they say “pay the Roman way”?
The Accademia della Crusca also expressed itself twice on the uncertain origin of the expression “Roman style”. For those living in Rome, paying the Roman way has a very special meaning: Get a bill and split it equally across all participants, regardless of each person’s spending. Ornella Castellana Italian language teacher and historian Pollidori writes in his article for the Academy: “This Roman style of payment is particularly common among young people for obvious reasons, but is now naturally practiced at all ages in certain situations.” is this “The absence of authorial examples in the historical lexicon of the language normally suggests a mostly oral and therefore popular tradition of the sound or formula in question.
It is undeniable that the moment of reckoning can be: Highlighting the economic and social inequalities of various guests unpleasantly regardless of age. When there is a group of friends, it is not uncommon for the bill to arrive on the table. amount currently divided by total number of guests to facilitate separate payments. From a practical point of view, paying in the Roman way saves time and worries: this is necessary with a “personalized” charge Mark the price of your meals from time to timeDivide the drinking amount by quotas, add up the total, and make sure it’s precise enough. A very difficult process This contradicts the idea of sitting at the table and just enjoying the moments together. So what do you do with shared plates and bottles?
Giulia Motta, Roman content creator interested in restaurants, Organize supper clubs, dinners or lunches where everyone can book a table, try out places, and make new friends. “In my supper clubs, I choose a fixed-price menu that includes drinks, so as not to create inequality and put people in the group in a difficult situation. If you know each other, it’s probably easier to say that someone at the table won’t pay for the wine because they don’t drink. However, in a group where there is no trust, this can cause embarrassment.”.
Mixed orders and different needs
Of course, over the years, people’s nutritional needs have become increasingly diverse (for example, diagnoses of celiac disease have increased). But in the meantime, the number of people eating out also increased, at least until Covid arrived. Among all these customers there are those who do not drink alcohol, those who follow certain diets, those who systematically order the most expensive dish, product or bottle on the list (caviar? Truffle? Champagne?). There is definitely a moral and emotional element that prevents you from blaming your friend for spending twice as much as your order: Who wants to be seen as the cheapest?
The Roman banknote also survived the disappearance of cash, giving rise to the gesture of placing a handful of crumpled bills and some coins on the table at the end of dinner. Instead, apps like Splitwise or Tinaba have been created that allow you to keep your expenses organized (for example, during a trip) by creating a digital common fund. Otherwise, if the restaurant operator does not turn his nose up too high, there is only one solution left. separate card payments.
Roman payment: a practical example
Fabiana Gargioli, executive chef of the Armando al Pantheon restaurant in central Rome, is used to interacting with an international and very Roman clientele at the same time. It’s never a problem for them to perform multiple transactions, she says. “We do this willingly, it certainly doesn’t change our lives. Not only Italians, but also Americans often pay in Roman style, especially to tour organizers”. At Armando’s, Fabiana is the one who takes care of the pantry and offers bottles to customers”It often happens that those who choose wine assume that they will pay for the bottle that will be used at the table. I admit to doing this too, especially if I find myself with people who are not equally interested in the subject. If the wine I like is more expensive, there is no problem in being the one offering it.”.
Divide among all or each pays his share: opposite meanings
The problem of tabular accounts is felt in various cultures, as evidenced by the existence of more or less equivalent translations of “Roman payment”. For example go to netherlands or go to dutchLiterally “to do it the Dutch way”, it is a formula commonly used in Anglo-Saxon countries. However, there is a truly surprising situation that this expression can have both one meaning and the opposite meaning. According to the Cambridge Dictionary “Splitting the cost of something, especially a meal“While at McMillian it is reported:”“Someone does it in Dutch, each pays for his own food and drink.” It can be seen from the online discussion that Crusca also mentioned (here is an example) that the same fluctuation exists regarding “Roman payment”, or according to some it may mean “”.divide into equal parts” and others “Divide according to everyone’s spending”.
Paying the Roman way: good practices to get out of this situation on good terms
Finally, the question is imperative: Is it therefore appropriate to pay in the “Roman way”? Correct answer: depends. While an account divided into equal parts from an organizational perspective can quickly solve the payment problem, on the other hand, it forces people with different spending capacities to spend haphazardly. It is solved by keeping in mind that the issue is not an economic problem at all, but a matter of sensitivity. Every human being for a painless reckoning you will be able to calibrate yours at the table Bring more expensive dishes and wines, being careful not to choose them. Or may offer pay extra for your additional costs. Finally, before dinner, you can share an idea about the budget and try to stay more or less within it, explaining at the end that your goal is to pay the Roman way to avoid any nasty surprises. It’s an age-old problem that can be solved with a little healthy communication.
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Source: Today IT

Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.