Dining Alone

[City Girl]

I'll be away on business and dining alone for the first time. Any tips on how to go into a restaurant without feeling self conscious and actually enjoying dinner?

[adam c]

fast food?

[gp36912]

bring a laptop :D then you won't be self conscious because you are away on business.

other then that, i dunno.

[Dave P]

Sit at the bar?

[jer82]

I wish I knew, I have this problem all of the time. I usually order food to my hotel or I go sit in a lounge, eat and get the hell outta there. Its much nicer when you know somebody from the area. In a last resort effort sometimes I hit the drive through and header out. If you are working in a remote office somewhere find somebody who doesnt annoy you to much and take them with you.

Thats about all I can advise as I still feel self concious when I go eat alone :dunno:

I do find that the waitresses are nicer when you are alone however.

[bulaian]

get some take-out or order room service?

you could always go to a more casual dining place and bring a book or newspaper

[City Girl]

Fast food is out of the question! Dining alone is a fear I'm going to have to face...fast food would be somewhat of a cop-out. Plus...I can expense my meals...might as well spend it on something nicer!

[gp36912]

bring a laptop and get some stuff done :D thats what i did once :D

[01RedDX]

.

[ninjak84]

I love eating alone! I go out with groups so often that I look forward to being in a dining lounge by myself sometimes. Definitely understand the self conscious bit though.

What I like to do is bring a laptop and then angle myself so that I'm not facing the room, and neither is my laptop screen. I sit in a corner or along the wall, not in the middle of the floor. What I find is that if you're staring at the room, the room stares at you. If you quietly sit and enjoy, minding your own business, nobody will bother you.

Eating alone lets me order exactly what I want, and I get to keep whatever pace I decide on. You don't have to consider anyone elses time schedule, and you get to eat without conversation.

Last night, simple supper at Earls with friends turned into a 3 course meal with bottles of wine and hard liquor being poured. I did not get home until 3 am... It was great fun with the best people, but you get what I mean.

Dining alone is nice to do every once-in-a-while. I consider it a privilege.

Feeling like a lonely loser is just a ridiculous social stigma. When I was younger, I used to envy the lone businessman who could eat alone when he chose.

[t-im]

Nothing wrong with dining alone - at least you can try new things on the menu and what not..

Some people I know who are on business alot (and frequently eat alone) is bring magazines, or "work"..and put your rental keys on the table in plain sight (???)

[Oldskool]

eating alone is fine, When i was away working, I would just bring some notes or study material so i wouldnt be bored. the kicker is when you order 2 meals for yourself lol

[bigboom]

its just a mindset youll have to get over. what i usually do is bring a book or magazine and jsut enjoy your own company allows you to think and do things at your pace. like ninjak said its a privelage to do that :)

[Ripper]

If the place isn't busy I don't mind at all, but if its packed I feel weird taking a table to myself haha. So I'd sit at the bar in that case.

Depending on how nice it is bring a laptop or magazine or something. If its nicer you might not want to though.

[civic_stylez]

i bring a newspaper when i have to eat alone, you get to eat and catch up on world events!! if its a classier restaurant, grab a seat by the window, people watching is always good entertainment.

[yellowsnow]

eating alone means you can flirt with the waitress one on one :D just make sure you're sitting in her section

[sputnik]

Originally posted by yellowsnow
eating alone means you can flirt with the waitress one on one :D just make sure you're sitting in her section

Exactly. When I was single and travelling for work I would just go to a restaurant later in the evening after the rush. By that time the waitresses arent as busy and if you let them know you are from out of town you can usually get some tips as to what to check out while you are in town.

[Xtrema]

There is always escort service.

[FiveFreshFish]

Some restaurants will give you a shitty table if you're dining alone. To solve that, just say someone will be joining you later.

If you don't feel guilty about lying and wasting seating capacity, say there are TWO more people that will join you and they'll give you in a table for four. Now you'll have lots of elbow room! :D

[Dayclone]

When I dine alone... I just don't care what people have to say or look at me for like honestly just don't worry about what other people think and enjoy your dinner. Or sit in the lounge and bar and eat there if they let you... whatever is more of a comfortable setting for you... but yeh just worry about yourself and no one else.

Steve

[Supa Dexta]

I dont like the laptop idea.. "look at the dork over there, can't get away from the computer long enough to eat".. and a book? c'mon, your there to eat.. a window perhaps would be some entertainment. That or ask someone who's local to join you. Beit a co worker if thats the case, or anyone you meet really, good opener.. "I'm looking for a nice place to eat/certain type of place","see how they answer and ask if they'd like to join you.... It's only really akward when they sit you in a corner, or somehting, where you have nowares to look, so its either at your plate or another table, and they keep catching you looking at them...

[A790]

Man, enjoy the time alone. A lot of people these days don't really take the time to get to know themselves.

Walk in, ask for a table for one, and ask for a nice quiet spot. Bring something to do, or, just sit and think about what's going on in life.

You learn a lot when you listen to yourself.

Plus, you get a good meal :)

[googe]

dont do it. youll look seriously lame. who eats alone these days?


seriously though, not to be an ass, but i dont think its something to make a thread about. you pretty much just go and order what you want then eat it and leave. what are you looking for here? :) there are no "tips" to eating alone.

[coste]

Dinner alone isn't that bad. Bottle of wine, or a pitcher of beer (depends on where you go, and what you like.) Throw a book, or some work, or a laptop, or something on the table, and just hang out.

Anyone in the restaurant SHOULD be too busy to notice somebody eating by themselves, and even if they do notice, i doubt they are going to say anything, or make you feel un-comfortable.

Just make like you own the place, and you'll be fine. Or you can just give me a call, and i'll eat with ya, I'm always up for food.

[Manhattan]

FUCK EVERYBODY ELSE. Life is too short to worry about what everyone else in the world thinks. Eat that meal like you own the joint. Are you men or mice?

[Si_FlyGuy]

Originally posted by googe
what are you looking for here? :) there are no "tips" to eating alone.

Always the sleuth lol. I agree with you though.


Originally posted by Manhattan
FUCK EVERYBODY ELSE. Life is too short to worry about what everyone else in the world thinks. Eat that meal like you own the joint. Are you men or mice?

I think you misunderstood John Steinbeck's title...that's if you actually read the book.

[Manhattan]

Originally posted by Si_FlyGuy

I think you misunderstood John Steinbeck's title...that's if you actually read the book.

It was an ode to a hysterical line from Bad Lieutenant. A bit esoteric I suppose.

[GTS Jeff]

Do you look down upon people who eat alone? If not, then you should have no reason to assume that other people would look down at you for eating alone.

[JordanEG6]

just get take out. if not fast food, pizza or junk, swiss chalet and chilis have take out. in cases like that for me, i always take out some where or sit at the bar or lounge

[frozenrice]

I don't see any problems with eating alone if there is a good reason. Especially if you're on business who cares because nobody knows you and you'll probably never see them again in your life. The only time I took notice of somebody eating alone in a restraunt was years ago when I went out with my ex girlfriend on New Years Eve and there was this guy sitting at the table next to us by himself. When midnight hit, everyone was "Happy New Years -blah,blah while he sat there looking kind of depressed. I felt sorry for him.

[cityhunter2501]

is the OP a female?

IMO it depends also on what type and where is the restaurant is located at.

most of the time, when you see one person dining by him/herself in a restaurant in the downtown area of the city I would say its pretty easy to assume that the person is from out of town and only there for business.

also, to feel more comfortable you could start some conversation with your waiter/waitress.

I've eaten by myself several time, not in fancy restaurants though and what I do is just read the newspaper while waiting for my food.

[EK 2.0]

Originally posted by 01RedDX
PM EK2.0 and he will accompany you.


Yes I will...;)...

and yeah eating alone isn't bad at all...I do it for lunch all the time...read the paper as was mentioned...or just people watch...

[01RedDX]

.

[JRSC00LUDE]

I was away for meetings quite a bit for three years and I would just have supper in the hotel lounge instead of the restaurant. Pony up at the bar and visit with the bartender/waitress/waiter.

Met some nice and sometimes interesting people and enjoyed a couple hours of conversation on otherwise boring-ass nights.

Plus, if you frequent the place they usually remember you whether you chat with them or not. When you do, you'll find the element of service goes up considerably once they know who you are and see that you aren't a snobby little s.o.b. with a suit that thinks you're better than them.

[black_2.5RS]

I travel all the time on business and eat at restaurants quite often. I don't think anyone should be self-conscious when doing so. Life is to short to care what others think - particularly those you don't know or will ever see again. Go to a nice restaurant, eat some good food and enjoy yourself.

[Lexxan]

lol get some self confidence who gives a fuck what other people think

[turbotrip]

:rofl: great thread

[topmade]

It's not that bad, I hated it before but got used to it. Bring something to read and if you didn't just ask your server for a magazine or local newspaper. I don't like the laptop idea, it's too geeky.

[ninspeed]

I go out of town alot for training, and it will last 1-4 days. It has taken me all over us and canada. And there have been many night where i will go to the bar by my self, and start having drinks (one drink is never one drink!)... Like said above, the only people that will look at you and think "what a looser", are the people that are to scared to cross the street with out somebody, let alone themselfs.

Now when you can go to a bar you have never been too, and get plastred by your self .. sitting around a lounge to have just dinner
alone is no problem

[nonsane]

If you want to take me to dinner just say so, No need to make a thread about how you're "Dining alone."
















But i'm busy tonight, maybe tommorrow.

[Sprinter]

Originally posted by Xtrema
There is always escort service.


Originally posted by 01RedDX
PM EK2.0 and he will accompany you.

LAWL :rofl:

But yea... get some work done on your laptop, productivity FTW :thumbsup:

[nonlinear]

there was just an article about this in City Palate (free foodie mag that you can pick up at various foodie places throughout town). Pick up a copy, they give some pretty good suggestions in there. or, check out the website http://www.solodining.com/ which is cited in that article :thumbsup:

[JordanEG6]

Bring a camera and pretend your doing a Food Network show- a la "Rachel Reys tasty travels" :rofl:

[szw]

Originally posted by Dave P
Sit at the bar?

This is correct.

[DJ Lazy]

Originally posted by 01RedDX


I think she's a girl, but she might swing that way.




City Girl is probably a girl.




She's City Girl.



She probably is. At least I hope so, for EK's sake.

I am glad someone else noticed this.... :rofl:

[mekeni]

Originally posted by JordanEG6
Bring a camera and pretend your doing a Food Network show- a la "Rachel Reys tasty travels" :rofl:


:rofl: :rofl:


anyway, dining alone sucks especially when you're in a new place (very uncomfortable feeling). I would just go take out or order room service in one of the hotels resto and eat in my room while watching tv !!!! :thumbsup:

[alpha_gangsta]

Ask for a small table on the side and bring a book/newspaper to distract yourself.
I've alot of customers that come in later in the evening when it slows down and they just enjoy dinner by themselves fine.
but yeah, do your best to avoid over crowded restaurants.

[Hollywood]

Personally, just shoot urself!

Someone close this piece of shit tread....