NYC XYZ wrote:
> SMS wrote:
>>
>> I guess you don't get out much,
>
> I guess you missed the part where I noted that I dine rather widely.
>
>> as sharing fees have been on the menu
>> for decades.
>
> Oh, man, it's worse than I thought!
>
>> Often the wait staff doesn't enforce the sharing fee,
>> especially if the total order per person is sufficiently high. Other
>> restaurants implement a minimum order amount per person, which I think
>> is a fairer way of ensuring that seats are not used by people that
>> aren't ordering enough to cover the fixed costs.
>
> What the hell, just have a damn cover charge or something, then!

The minimum order is an alternative to a cover charge. Just like some
night clubs are "no cover, two drink minimum."