A University of Illinois study looked at what people would order when eating together as a group. They found that they tended to order many of the same things. Apparently, people want to "fit in" with the people they eat with. They also noticed that people were happier if they were making similar choices as those sitting around them.
Dr. Len and Vicki report on a study done that analyzed receipts of what people ordered when sitting in groups...you'll find the results interesting!