Think about it. Most people nowadays pay with cash, cards, or payment apps like PayPal and Venmo when paying for a meal. However, there are some who choose to pay using checks. Maybe because they’re more comfortable using them, maybe because they don’t like to carry money around with them, or maybe because they just dig the old-school way of payment. That leads us to the million-dollar question: which restaurants accept checks?
It is not so popular anymore, but there are certain restaurants, certain smaller restaurants or family restaurants, which will still accept checks. There could be some larger chain restaurants that will permit it at some of their stores as well. Let’s talk about where you can still use a check, why it’s not as popular anymore, and what you need to know first before you try.
Visual: Checkbook and pen and plate of food and restaurant bill.
Why Checks Are No Longer Common in Restaurants Today
Before indicating the restaurants that accept them, it is better to find out why checks are no longer usual nowadays.
- Risk of fraud: Restaurants got cheated with bad checks in the past.
- Slow process: Checks process slower than cards or cash.
- Technology shift: Credit cards and electronic payments are quicker and convenient.
- Bank rules: Banks sometimes impose restaurant fees on bad checks.
Because of those reasons, many restaurants simply don’t want the added risk. But it does not mean no restaurant will take them anymore.
Restaurants That Will Most Likely Accept Checks
While many of them abandoned the practice, there remain some restaurants where you can pay by a check.
Family-Owned Cafes and Diners
Small-town hometown restaurants, diners, or coffee shops are most likely to accept checks. They know their customers and trust them.
Sit-Down Chain Restaurants
Some sit-down restaurants still accept checks depending on the location. Some franchise owners, for example, may choose to accept checks or not.
Buffet-Style Restaurants
Small town buffet-style family-owned restaurants sometimes still accept checks, especially in small towns.
Pizza Places
Local pizzerias may accept checks, especially if they are established restaurants with a loyal customer base.
Hotel Restaurants
Hotel restaurants will sometimes allow charging the meal to the room and paying by check when checking out.
Examples of Chain Restaurants That Sometimes Accept Checks
It depends on the location and the store manager, but these chain restaurants have been known to accept checks at some locations:
- Cracker Barrel: Individual locations have accepted checks previously, but it’s store-dependent.
- Denny’s: Some locations will take personal checks if you show ID.
- IHOP: Some stores take checks, but you can’t count on it at every location.
- Local franchise fast food: Some Subway or Burger King franchises have accepted checks, but most no longer do.
Your best bet is to phone ahead and ask rather than risk that they will accept it.
Visual: A diner sitting at a table presenting a check to a smiling waitress.
Information You Will Be Asked to Give When Paying with a Check
If you do happen to locate a restaurant that accepts checks, be ready to give some more information.
- Valid state ID or driver’s license
- Phone number on the check
- Address typed on the check
- Even a duplicate identification at times
Restaurants do this so that the check authenticates and does not bounce.
Advantages of Using Checks to Pay Restaurants
- Good for people who have no cards: There are some people who don’t have debit or credit cards, so checks are their mode of payment.
- Paper trail: With a check, there is a paper trail of payment.
- Residents trust them: Small-town regulars can pay with a check no trouble.
- Backup available: If you’ve left your wallet at home but have a checkbook, it may be a life-saver.
Disadvantages of Paying by Checks
- Not accepted everywhere: You can’t rely on every restaurant to take them.
- Slower: It takes more time to process a check than to swipe a card.
- Bounce fee risk: You and the restaurant both pay fees when you don’t have sufficient funds in your account.
- Security risk: Checks have bank accounts and routing numbers printed on them that can be stolen.
Visual: A straightforward chart with green checkmarks under pros and orange warning triangles under cons.
Pay-by-Check Tips for Restaurants
- Call ahead: Make sure the restaurant accepts checks before ordering.
- Bring ID: Be prepared to show a driver’s license or ID.
- Write clearly: Make writing readable and numbers correct.
- Pay tips in cash: Although a restaurant may accept the meal by check, they may prefer tips in cash.
- Keep balance current: Avoid bouncing a check.
- Be respectful: If a restaurant declines, don’t dispute it. Simply pay another method.
Pro tip: Keep some cash as a backup in case your check bounces.
Real Talk: What People Say About Using Checks
The good
- “My local diner knows me and always takes my checks without problem.”
- “It is less hassle than having a lot of cash.”
- “I like to have a paper trail of what I spent.”
The bad
- “I once had my check declined and it was embarrassing.”
- “It takes longer and other people in front of me get aggro.”
- “Most chains don’t accept them.”
The lighter side
- “My friend tried to pay with a check at Taco Bell. The cashier looked like they’d never seen one in their life.”
Funny Facts About Checks at Restaurants
- Checks were the main non-cash payment vehicle in restaurants before the dominance of cards.
- Some states used to require restaurants to post warning notices if they didn’t accept checks.
- Technology like electronic check scanners now speed checks to verify, but most restaurants still avoid them.
- Older diners continue to prefer checks to cards or apps.
- Fewer checks are handled annually by US banks, yet millions still are written monthly.
Visual: An old check on a diner counter alongside a coffee cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do restaurants accept checks?
Most no longer, but those in small towns might.
Do huge chains like McDonald’s accept checks?
In general no, they like to accept cash or cards only.
Can you pay with a check at delivery restaurants?
Some tiny pizza joints might still accept it, but most delivery websites won’t.
What if my check does bounce?
You might get charged by the bank and the restaurant might charge you as well.
Do restaurants still accept checks anymore today?
Most prefer cards, but some small businesses or families still take them.
So who do they take checks from? Small family restaurants, local pizzerias, and a few sit-down chains if the store management just so happens to allow it. Large fast food establishments tend to no longer do.
Is it the best payment form? Not necessarily. Checks are less secure, more risky, and slower than cards or currency. But to some people, especially in small towns or with friends from way back when at the local restaurant, checks are still an option.
If you’re going to pay with a check, just be smart. Call ahead of time, provide some kind of ID, and always have a plan B. That way you don’t have uncomfortable shocks at the end of your meal.
Call to Action: Have you ever paid with a check at a restaurant? Was it a success or did you have issues? Write your tale in the comments, I’d love to hear your tale.
Visual suggestion: Final shot of the smile of a diner waitress as she accepts a handwritten check from a happy customer.