I’m in NJ and we just split the bill evenly. If someone were to order something really above and beyond what everyone else was spending, they might offer to cover more of the tip on their card.
As far as the OP’s question (what’s the best thing to do?)…IMO the best thing to do is simply to ask the others in the party how they prefer to split it.
The easiest thing to do is everyone tosses in a credit card and we tell the waitperson to split the bill evenly to each card. I would never impose the hassle of multiple checks on a server, especially for a party larger than four. In our group, if someone orders a $100 bottle of wine, they’d better share it. I really don’t care if I just have a salad and others order lobster and champagne. Whatever I spend on dining out with friends is the cost of having a wonderful time, has nothing to do with who ordered what.
Separate checks are common here.
With my close friends, we just split it evenly unless someone decides to have that $50 glass of scotch. With acquaintances if the there are too many of us to easily ask for separate checks, people put in what they think they owe. The person throwing down the credit card may eat a couple of bucks but they got the points. Our kids and their friends pretty much all have check splitting apps that they use.
Add me to the group who would be annoyed at splitting the bill evenly. We don’t drink and lean towards the cheapest items on the menu. Our funds are limited. Servers here usually ask in the beginning if we want to split the check even if we are with our college/young adult kids, so it must be common.
I think I’d faint if I saw a $100 bottle of wine. Burger & fries and Diet Coke all the way!
It’s very common here. And often there is a sign or mention on the menu about separate checks. What difference does it really make? I mean all that’s going on is you are sitting at a table together. If each person or couple, etc, came in separately and sat at their own table there would be separate checks. The only difference is that you are sitting together.
@oldfort hope we get to hear where you went and what you loved.
I’d go with the flow of the group.
I don’t recall ever being asked about separate checks in my area. We split evenly unless someone has significantly less and we they will usually throw in their portion and everyone else splits the rest. Venmo or each person putting in a card. One thing that has helped solve this issue is that many restaurants even nice spots have gone to order at the counter and the server brings you your meal on real dishes not paper. So partial service less than a full service place but many steps above fast food.
Edited my post to clarify that dealing with multiple checks for larger parties at a single table is often a hassle for the server, especially if separate checks aren’t asked for upfront and it’s not made crystal clear when ordering what goes on each check. Sometimes seating arrangements don’t make the pairings clear. But I agree, do whatever works for your party. There is no right or wrong here.
It gets complicated with large groups, especially with kids involved. Kids often sit at the other side of the table or even at another table. Can be done, but then you really need to be organized at the time the server takes the order (identify who are on specific checks) so they can start and end with separate checks. Asking the server to recreate separate checks after service imo unfairly burdens the server (time, effort, complaints, questions) vs the group doing the math themselves.
^^^This. We posted at the same time.
Again, it is really really really really common here and is not an undue burden. Most servers ask if there will be separate checks if it’s a large party. Often kids sit separately and again not an issue at all. We always tip well (20% min) no matter which way we do it.
I was just out to eat last night in a party of 7 as the server cleared the plates he asked if we wanted to split the check and which folks went on which check. It’s a non-issue here.
I would care as I am fairly frugal, comfortable but not wealthy. And I don’t really like champagne or fine wine that much so if someone wants to split a bottle of champagne or fine wine , I’m not interested. I’ll take a Budweiser! 
Separate checks are not a big deal where I am. The only thing I’ve seen on a menu about not wanting separate checks seems to relate to bigger parties. At least 6+.
One thing I should note … our social circle seems to all be (broadly speaking) of similar financial means, so no one is going to suggest a restaurant that is $$$$ and no one is really likely to order a wagyu steak 
. The differences usually come down to ordering alcohol or dessert - so maybe a $15-$20 difference on a $200 check (for 4 of us). IMO, not an amount that matters to our group. I might feel differently if one in the group had wildly more expensive tastes.
I think this is one of those things that varies significantly by age. We always just split evenly - toss in multiple credit cards. As someone above said, if we ordered more or more expensive, we would offer to pay the whole tip. For my kids, it is totally different. They use an app. (I believe called Tab) where they scan the bill and each person “claims” their food, the app adds tax and tip and is linked to Venmo so when one person pays the restaurant the others just Venmo the exact amount. Not sure if that would be strange for your group - depends if they are app/venmo users, but it’s a way to avoid multiple checks but not have “strangers” subsidize each other.
Maybe some of the twist of this is of the server asks upon greeting or taking first drink orders if this will be on one bill or separate checks.
Here servers always ask that up front.
When I am out with friends, I have no issue just splitting the check. Eventually it all evens out…and we aren’t keeping score anyway.
@oldfort is with a group…not all close friends with whom she dines regularly.
I would do as suggested above…and see how others want this handled. Or…ask for separate checks before you order. My kid the waiter says It is all computerized in most places and giving seoarate checks isn’t a problem.
This is very strange…I am sure I didn’t start this thread and I didn’t post 9 hours ago. I was in Italy in Oct and it is an old post.
Yes, I do think it’s different if you are dining with people you regularly dine out with and when you have more similar ideas about what you like to spend. In that case, It could be easier to just split a bill as it will probably even out in the end. Younger folks seem to have maybe figured out this splitting the bill thing with all the newer payment apps.
Most servers where I am seem fine with separate checks. We don’t bother with kids or my sister with separate checks but don’t have a problem with indicating to a server before we order that we would like a separate check with other people. But we don’t eat out that much!
There were a lot of other posts before my post here.
In my previous posts as part of thread, I said I was with a group of people I didn’t know well. One couple ordered pasta with white truffles a few times we were out because they were vegans. Their pastas were 150 when our pastas were in the 20 range. We were out in the countryside and food very good, but inexpensive. When the bills came, they just assume we would split.
I always split with my friends because it usually evened out, but it was just strange with people I didn’t know that well.
Did you end up splitting then?
It wouldn’t have even occurred to me. I’d be saying “here’s 20 for my pasta.”