Seating at a counter?

I figured that parties will find a table that will seat everyone in their party. Since counters only seat one person per counter, a party would not likely choose a counter since they can not all sit at one counter. So, I tried sending one Sim to see if he could be seated at a counter. I tried everything I could think of, but I still couldn't get him seated at a counter. I put a stove in the mix of counters and the Sims can use it to make their own food and sit at the counter, but that's not quite the same. However, it is nice having the stove by the chef station so I can dress the owner up as a chef and he can cook right next to the chef station! Kind of neat, except the patrons won't eat what he cooks.... oh well.