When "friends" split a check, advice needed on getting them to fair share

[ArtP]

Back in the Mac User group days - a group of 4-6 of us would go out to dinner after the meeting. Not too much alcohol consumed but we always asked for separate checks BEFORE we ordered. The wait staff got to kinda know us every month and we tipped accordingly often a little extra for the trouble) so it was no big deal.

I think most modern registers/restaurants have a separate check feature?