text: what the best way to treat with people around?   if you mean "treat" as in pay for dinner or something - as opposed to giving your kid or dog a treat :) - this is the best way i've ever seen:  courtesy of a friend of mine, i have learned that the easiest way to treat for dinner & not get an arguement of discussion (in most cases) is to inform the server at the beginning of the meal, when ordering. it can be done quietly & with no fanfare - my friend tends to make as if asking a question about the menu & telling the waitstaff at that time - or you can simply precede your order with, "and i'll be paying tonight." another approach is to inform the waitstaff who shows you to your table or to excuse yourself for the restroom & tell the server while you are away. in most of these situations it is an easy thing to do even if other people are around.  another thing my friend does is that he will normally jump in to order first when he's decided that he's treating us. it can be quite funny to watch he & my husband if they've both decided to treat on the same night. one server brought the house down one evening when, as they were beginning to discuss the pay issue, she said; "why don't you just split the bill & be done with it?"