Work meals have their own unwritten rules. Here is how to navigate them without creating office drama.
Company-sponsored dinners: If a manager or the company is paying, order in a mid-range price point. Do not order the cheapest thing on the menu (it looks odd) or the most expensive (it looks greedy). Follow the host's lead on appetizers and drinks.
Team dinners (no company card): Ask for separate checks at the start if the restaurant allows it. If not, an even split is the path of least resistance — most coworkers will not quibble over a few dollars. If there is a big disparity (someone did not drink while others had bottles of wine), offer to adjust: "Should we split the drinks separately?"
Client dinners: The hosting company always pays. Period. Do not let the client reach for the check.
The intern/junior employee situation: If you are the most junior person at the table and significantly lower-paid, it is okay to Venmo your exact share rather than splitting a large tab evenly. No reasonable senior colleague will judge you for this.