A service charge for large groups though is understandable as they typically will require much more attention and work from waitstaff than the typical small dining party.
They’ll take longer per person to order because they’ll be coordinating appetizers and who’s sharing what, etc.
They’re more likely to be celebrating a special occasion which means people less familiar with the restaurant or even people who don’t eat out much at all.
And the group is big enough that people will be having side conversations while one side of the table talks to the server, which also slows things down.
More likely to have such a person in a group of 8 than in a group of 1 maybe but that's meaningless.
> for whatever reason plus people trying to help them which can slow things down more.
And group members helping each other never saves the restaurant any time?
> They’ll take longer per person to order because they’ll be coordinating appetizers and who’s sharing what, etc.
Appetizers they would likely have never ordered if they did not have people to share them with.
> They’re more likely to be celebrating a special occasion which means people less familiar with the restaurant or even people who don’t eat out much at all.
So they're even bringing new customers that would have never given the restaurant any money on their own.