1) It’s not that huge of a markup 2) For a larger group, consider the added cost of dining in - expectation of 18-20% tip, the wine (or other alcohol) is typic

1) It’s not that huge of a markup 2) For a larger group, consider the added cost of dining in - expectation of 18-20% tip, the wine (or other alcohol) is typically overpriced or there’s a $15-20 corkage fee per bottle. Transportation or parking is another potential expense. 3) Some foods lend themselves well to leftovers, so with marginal increase in price one might be buying a meal for the next day, too. 4) For family dining, this puts less pressure on kids and less stress on parents. Keeping the little rascals busy for 2+ hours that a typical dinner might last could get a tad hard.