Tables for one - the rise of solo dining

[Impasse]

I've been dining alone ever since I've been dining out. I had the company of a book to begin with which has morphed through a Kindle into a Nexus to occupy my mind while chomping. The idea of enforced socialising is simply awful and would only make me avoid any restaurant insisting I talk to someone.

But what really grates is when a solo diner is shown to a tiny little table, not much bigger than a tea tray. It's usually right in the flight path of the waiters/waitresses as they make their way to and from the kitchen, so they're never afforded any real privacy. You may as well have a neon sign pointing out the lone diner.

[jmorgan]

Another living out of a suitcase when working and a book and a good bottle of water (stopped the booze years ago). Nothing wrong with it.

Except on valentines night. Take the sodding candle and flower away and no, she has not stood me up. Constant glances from other diners oozing sympathy .

[calibrax]

jmorgan said:

Another living out of a suitcase when working and a book and a good bottle of water (stopped the booze years ago). Nothing wrong with it.

Except on valentines night. Take the sodding candle and flower away and no, she has not stood me up. Constant glances from other diners oozing sympathy .

Could always play the sympathy card and get the meal for free

[KFC]

jmorgan said:

Another living out of a suitcase when working and a book and a good bottle of water (stopped the booze years ago). Nothing wrong with it.

Except on valentines night. Take the sodding candle and flower away and no, she has not stood me up. Constant glances from other diners oozing sympathy .

As much as I love dining out alone, I have to admit I'm not going to go as far as doing it on valentines day. Surely thats the one night of the year you'd rather just get a decent takeaway and eat in the hotel??

[Mastodon2]

I've done this plenty of times, it's great. I don't see why people have the social hang-up of feeling that they have to be accompanied by at least one other person in these situations. The same applies to cinemas - I had a lengthy debate with a rather image-obsessed girl at university who was desperate to go and see a particular film at the cinema, but felt she couldn't and in the end didn't go to see it as none of her friends went and she felt that she could not go to a cinema on her own for fear of looking like a pariah.

[smack]

SlidingSideways said:

Ate alone lots while travelling for work. I find it much nicer to head out somewhere than hide in your hotel room with room service (which is also an indication of how bad most hotel food is).

Being alone also means you can eat wherever the hell you want, when you want. None of this "well Bill doesn't like anything spicy, how about we just grab a pizza" when you're craving thai food, or "I've just got to ring the wife and have a shower, how about we head out in a couple of hours" when you're starving there and then. Bliss.

An if you do want company, sit an prop the bar up, the staff are generally up for a natter, especially if it's quiet.

Just back from a 2 week business trip, exactly the above. When other workmates are with me, we ended up eating the same dull places, when solo I go out and try out all the places locals recommended to me, that is too adventurous to give a go. Plus it is all on expenses!

Bar staff in the US are always up for a natter, since they want a good tip!

[HarryW]

Mastodon2 said:

I've done this plenty of times, it's great. I don't see why people have the social hang-up of feeling that they have to be accompanied by at least one other person in these situations. The same applies to cinemas - I had a lengthy debate with a rather image-obsessed girl at university who was desperate to go and see a particular film at the cinema, but felt she couldn't and in the end didn't go to see it as none of her friends went and she felt that she could not go to a cinema on her own for fear of looking like a pariah.

I think you missed out on an open invite for a date there......

[prand]

0a said:

I'm a big fan of eating alone at restaurants as I'm away on business a lot. I don't really care what other people think - restaurant managers like people who eat at 8pm on a Monday in a random town so you usually get treated very well. Pistonheads, Autocar or Evo are preferred reading.

Same with me, a copy of Evo or Stuff and a curry and a pint or two to while away an evening is quite a treat given my usually noisy and disturbed family life.

I've done room service/sandwiches in my room away on business too, which is nice enough when I'm knackered, but I like to get out and about even just to stretch my legs and sometimes strike up conversation with people who don't cringe away as if I'm some sort of nutter.

It's fairly commonplace weekdnights, not sure about weekends though!

[bad company]

I usually eat in my hotel room if alone.

I once booked a solo table at the restaurant but forgot all about the date. It was f*****g Valentines day! Lots of couples enjoying a romantic evening, guy going from table to table with his violin & me feeling like a prize idiot.

[SlidingSideways]

Impasse said:

But what really grates is when a solo diner is shown to a tiny little table, not much bigger than a tea tray. It's usually right in the flight path of the waiters/waitresses as they make their way to and from the kitchen, so they're never afforded any real privacy. You may as well have a neon sign pointing out the lone diner.

Just ask, nay insist, on being moved. As long as it's not a packed Fri/Sat night it usually isn't a problem.
I have a slightly bigger problem with restaurants insisting on seating you in the window seats, to make them look busier. I'm not a bleedin' mannequin, I'll sit somewhere theta's not on display to every person walking past, thankyouverymuch!!
I think that eating out regularly makes you far less tolerant of an unsatisfactory experience.

[Mr. Potato Head]

KFC said:

As much as I love dining out alone, I have to admit I'm not going to go as far as doing it on valentines day. Surely thats the one night of the year you'd rather just get a decent takeaway and eat in the hotel??

Last time I was away on Valentines Day I went to KFC.

[Moulder]

I eat out 3 or 4 times a week with my book, looking around and overhearing snatches of conversation my book in no way suffers by comparison as dining companion. Some couples/groups stare through each other in silence, argue, or spend time texting or browsing so it is not really much different anyway, just more individuals at a table.

As an aside that table for one place looks dire. Just because I sometimes eat on my own doesn't mean I need a special place to do it.

Right, time to go and see my friends at the petrol station...

[jmorgan]

KFC said:

jmorgan said:

Another living out of a suitcase when working and a book and a good bottle of water (stopped the booze years ago). Nothing wrong with it.

Except on valentines night. Take the sodding candle and flower away and no, she has not stood me up. Constant glances from other diners oozing sympathy .

As much as I love dining out alone, I have to admit I'm not going to go as far as doing it on valentines day. Surely thats the one night of the year you'd rather just get a decent takeaway and eat in the hotel??

Nah, tough it out, you have to push the chair back at the end of the main course, belch and undo your belt and start picking your teeth....

Tried the takeaway at the hotel once, late arrival and the Holiday Inn Express always have a few local takeaway menus yet it all arrives in a bag, have to scrounge cutlery or stuck with a cracked plastic spoon, then you have that small table in the room and an oily meal and the mess and ..... never again.

[Cotty]

jmorgan said:

Tried the takeaway at the hotel once, late arrival and the Holiday Inn Express always have a few local takeaway menus yet it all arrives in a bag, have to scrounge cutlery or stuck with a cracked plastic spoon, then you have that small table in the room and an oily meal and the mess and ..... never again.

Order a Chinese and ask them to chuck in some chopsticks, most provide wooden disposable versions or buy yourself a spork to leave in your suitcase.

[jmorgan]

Cotty said:

jmorgan said:

Tried the takeaway at the hotel once, late arrival and the Holiday Inn Express always have a few local takeaway menus yet it all arrives in a bag, have to scrounge cutlery or stuck with a cracked plastic spoon, then you have that small table in the room and an oily meal and the mess and ..... never again.

Order a Chinese and ask them to chuck in some chopsticks, most provide wooden disposable versions or buy yourself a spark to leave in your suitcase.

The indian probably did as well if I had asked. Says something though when I used to carry a waiters friend rather than a fork and spoon. Eatin irons is healthier.

[Cotty]

jmorgan said:

fork and spoon.

Sorry my typo I ment spork
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Light-Fire-various-colors-...

[zygalski]

I would have thought going on your own to any half-decent restaurant armed with a diary & making occasional notes throughout the meal would ensure the most fantastic service imaginable.

[Mastodon2]

HarryW said:

I think you missed out on an open invite for a date there......

She wasn't getting any candy from me, I can put up with vacuous morons as long as they've got some looks to sweeten the deal, she was no hottie, that's for sure.

[hairyben]

Mastodon2 said:

I've done this plenty of times, it's great. I don't see why people have the social hang-up of feeling that they have to be accompanied by at least one other person in these situations. The same applies to cinemas - I had a lengthy debate with a rather image-obsessed girl at university who was desperate to go and see a particular film at the cinema, but felt she couldn't and in the end didn't go to see it as none of her friends went and she felt that she could not go to a cinema on her own for fear of looking like a pariah.

Never been out for a meal on my own (although I've not done the working away living in hotels thing) but used to go to loads of gigs on my own, when most people seem to need a posse and would miss their favourite bands rather than go alone

maybe the wrong forum but it just struck me there's a lot of parallels- you decide when to turn up, whether you're gonna bother watching support acts or watch the entire gig rather than "get home", you decide how much to drink rather than waiting on everyone on rounds, you decide where to stand rather than be dictated to by people who'd rather not get jostled or want to rabbit away etc

[speedysoprano]

Bradgate said:

Me too.

I enjoy sitting on my own in the corner of a pub or restaurant, reading my book.

I treat it as valuable, relaxing 'me-time'. On business trips, it provides a welcome respite from having to make polite conversation with colleagues with whom I may have little in common other than work. Or, worse still, colleagues who actually want to discuss work at the dinner table.

I never feel out of place, and have never had any odd reactions. Eating alone is probably easier for blokes than for women, however.

Edited by Bradgate on Thursday 24th July 15:03

Doesn't happen so much anymore, but I used to travel alone quite frequently, and eat out at lovely restaurants, because why not? Never once had an issue with being a female dining alone. Think my attitude helped - never tried to hide away, often took a book (or my Kindle) with me, enjoyed the food at a leisurely pace. Have never minded dining alone, in fact I found it really enjoyable.