Credit Card Roulette

Just read the article in today's Sunday Tribune about Credit Card Roulette -- where everyone in a group throws their credit card into a hat/bowl/napkin, has the server remove the unseen cards one by one, and the last card remaining buys the meal for the whole table. Maybe it's because I don't routinely dine out with gambling buddies, but I've never come across it -- yet I could see this being interesting if the same group goes out to eat on a regular basis. Does anyone regularly play this, and has anyone been stuck for a thousand-dollar tab?
>>Brent

What does the server buy with the cards he removed?

This sounds like a silly attempt to gin up the next trend, now that Secret Restaurants Are So Over.

brotine wrote:Just read the article in today's Sunday Tribune about Credit Card Roulette -- where everyone in a group throws their credit card into a hat/bowl/napkin, has the server remove the unseen cards one by one, and the last card remaining buys the meal for the whole table. Maybe it's because I don't routinely dine out with gambling buddies, but I've never come across it -- yet I could see this being interesting if the same group goes out to eat on a regular basis. Does anyone regularly play this, and has anyone been stuck for a thousand-dollar tab?

For years, about twice a year, I used to meet up with an ex-co-worker of mine for dinner. We used this method every time. We gave the server both cards and told them to blindly pick one. I had a good run, four free dinners in a row at one point.

Best,
Michael

Maybe the Trib reporter used those friendly people at eatchicago.netas his source...

The husband and his friends go out every quarter for "man dinners" here in the city and have been doing this (Credit Card Roulette) for years. I guess it balances out eventually as each guy gets his turn at having to pick up the tab.

So, it's not necessarily just a manufactured story to take up ink in the Sunday paper after all.

I've heard of something similar but with keys.

I've read about this for a city-wide sushi-run in Austin. The group would go to the various sushi establishments around the city and have their specialty roll or nigiri or whatever was best that day, down some sake, play roulette, then head to the next sushi-house for another go. They'd chronicled each run with pictures and the running tab/losses per man. Sounded like fun to me. I'm surprised the restaurants didn't mind making 6 pieces of the same nigiri and settling the tab at that (I guess the alcohol helps pad the bill and makes it less irritating for the server).

My brother a graduate of Loyola, has been doing this with his college buddies for at least ten years, whenever they get together.

LTH,

5-6 years ago at Tango Sur the bride, niece and I were next to a table of 10-12 masters of the universe in training types. Waiter brought them the check, off came the backwards ball cap and each tossed in a credit card. They politely, almost shyly, asked our niece, who is quite pretty, to pick a card from the hat.

The lucky winner was in my line of vision and, when his card was chosen, his face momentarily clouded, eyes squinted and, I swear, a light sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead. This transpired so briefly I doubt anyone else noticed, and in a flash he popped out of his seat, raised his fist in the air, let out a Roar and drained his micro brew. King of the pride, if only for a moment.

It always seems like fun until someone pokes an eye out.

Enjoy,
Gary

When we used to have more frequent departmental outings, a version of credit card roulette was played with the officers to determine who was picking up the tab. The personal impact was minimal -- these were company outings and reimbursable. I never paid attention to how the game was played because I didn't have to ever pay.

-The GP

Not a fun game if you're on a budget.