When someone asks you to his or her home, it is very clear who is the guest and who is the host, but invitations to restaurant f

When someone asks you to his or her home, it is very clear who is the guest and who is the host, but invitations to restaurant for lunch, dinner, coffee, a drink, etc, sometimes present problems, and the customs vary in different parts of the United States.
    In many instances it is the inviter who pays, as one would expect, but in some instances each one pays his or her own check: You “go Dutch.” This is often the case with friends in informal situations, such as “Let’s go get a beer” or “Want a cup of coffee?” In some parts of the country, however, some people like to entertain friends by taking them to a restaurant for a dinner instead of having dinner at home. In this case, the host expects to pay and the guest may offer to leave the tip, which may be declined by the host. If so, just let the matter drop. If the invitation is expressed in fairly casual terms, such as: “Let’s go to Greenwillow for dinner,” it may be more of a suggestion than an invitation, so you should be prepared to pay your part of the bill.
    If you want to invite someone for a meal at a restaurant, be explicit：“I’d like to take you to Greenwillow.” Americans should be explicit also, but they often assume you know the local customs in the matter. Ask a friend’s advice if you are not sure.