Do you sometimes dine by yourself?

[Amelia G]

Do you sometimes dine by yourself? There are times when I feel like eating but not cooking or I want to try some weird food or new restaurant I'm not sure my friends would like or I'm in a strange city by myself or I just feel like sitting down and making a to-do list uninterrupted. The last one is the most common and I enjoy coffeehouses largely because sitting in one and scribbling in a notebook is not odd or uncomfortable. Especially, as a woman dining alone, I'll find that either waiters will look on with pity or strange men will assume I want to eat their cock instead of the food I actually ordered and once in a while random people will assume I want to talk to them, the last of which occasionally is okay but definitely not often.

Do you sometimes dine by yourself? If so, why and what is the experience generally like?

[Pull~My~Hair]

i dont think i've ever eaten at a restaurant by myself. And I rarely eat anything alone, eating should be a social event

[Bikerpunk]

All the time.

What?

[Amelia G]

i dont think i've ever eaten at a restaurant by myself. And I rarely eat anything alone, eating should be a social event

Why do you feel it should be social? I mean, my nuclear family was always big on having meals, especially dinner, as a family, but food tastes good whether or not someone else is in the room.

[Deadly Envy]

All the time.

What?

Same here... I eat out about twice a week or so. I just don't get people who think it is so odd to dine by themselve.

[Bikerpunk]

guys dining alone? People just think "meh, what a loser". Not "poor her"

[Deadly Envy]

guys dining alone? People just think "meh, what a loser". Not "poor her"

lol I probably am a loser anyway.

[Wickedanima]

I loved going to eat at a pub. It was always so colorful and lively, alot to watch while I was eating. My second favorite is one of those little corner shops with the sweets and the coffee.

[Rockwulf]

All the time.

What?

I'm actually with BP on this one. It's not always my first choice. Usually I'll get some random impulse. A week ago it was to check out the Brazilian Steakhouse that opened up a year or so ago and I've been meaning to get to ever since.

Well at some point last week I just said, "Fuck it, I'm going to the steakhouse on Thursday for lunch." I made a few calls, sent a few texts along the lines of, "I'm going to be at this place at this time. If you want to eat with me, you're welcome to join."

Most people got back to me about, "I'll be in work." or "I have no money" or the other usual excuses not to do something. But 2 of my buddies said they'd be there. Since I showed up a little earlier than I expected to I told the woman at the front desk I'd need a table for 3 and that my friends should be arriving soon. I left my name and asked her to kindly direct anyone asking for me towards my table.

The two guys never showed (I found out later they were both too hungover to function as early as noon). That lead to the only awkward part of the meal, sitting at a big assed 4-top table in the middle of the room when a discreet 2-seater against the wall would have been fine.

[ForrestBlack]

I enjoy eating alone just fine. Obviously if I were expecting people to join me and they didn't show, I'd be bummed, but I don't really have any problem with a table for one. I wouldn't avoid a table for two though.

[Amelia G]

I'm actually with BP on this one. It's not always my first choice. Usually I'll get some random impulse. A week ago it was to check out the Brazilian Steakhouse that opened up a year or so ago and I've been meaning to get to ever since.

Well at some point last week I just said, "Fuck it, I'm going to the steakhouse on Thursday for lunch." I made a few calls, sent a few texts along the lines of, "I'm going to be at this place at this time. If you want to eat with me, you're welcome to join."

Most people got back to me about, "I'll be in work." or "I have no money" or the other usual excuses not to do something. But 2 of my buddies said they'd be there. Since I showed up a little earlier than I expected to I told the woman at the front desk I'd need a table for 3 and that my friends should be arriving soon. I left my name and asked her to kindly direct anyone asking for me towards my table.

The two guys never showed (I found out later they were both too hungover to function as early as noon). That lead to the only awkward part of the meal, sitting at a big assed 4-top table in the middle of the room when a discreet 2-seater against the wall would have been fine.

Was it one of those places where they carry around the skewers of meat and shave them onto your plate?

[Rockwulf]

Yeah, and it was awesome!

[Rockwulf]

I enjoy eating alone just fine. Obviously if I were expecting people to join me and they didn't show, I'd be bummed, but I don't really have any problem with a table for one. I wouldn't avoid a table for two though.

Unfortunately most tables have 4 sides, usually with one against a wall. So unless you want to sit facing the wall, I don't see how you do a table for one.

[VoltaireBlue]

I like going to dinner by myself sometimes. I also like going to bars by myself sometimes, and if I don't feel like talking to someone, I shut them down quick. it might be bitchy of me, but I don't care.

[Rockwulf]

It turns out that my propensity for lonerism might have just gotten me a shot at fame. I don't want to spoil anything yet by talking about it but later this month something super cool should be happening.

[Buster Friendly]

It turns out that my propensity for lonerism might have just gotten me a shot at fame. I don't want to spoil anything yet by talking about it but later this month something super cool should be happening.

DId you lose a toe?

[Rockwulf]

What?

[Buster Friendly]

Do they speak English in What motherfucker?

Did.You.Lose.A.Toe?

Is that why you might have a shot at fame?

Your toe got chopped or blown off, and landed in the martini of some D-List celeb?

[Rockwulf]

Uh no.

I'm completely intact...

[Buster Friendly]

Well then.

Some valentine's day this is turning out to be.

[Mr Karl]

used to, all the time.................when you dine alone there's more room on the table for things like a newspaper............I also don't really like eating with other people

[nathanmbailey]

I dine alone all the time, I don't see a problem. I actually prefer to eat alone because I don't like to talk during meals. When I eat with other people, conversation (at least on my end) stops when the food arrives (appetizers and/or soup not included in this rule) and doesn't start up again until everyone is done with eating and it's just down to finishing drinks.

I eat at restaurants quite often when I'm in the states, but usually I eat at small hole-in-the-wall restaurants anyway, and if it is a big chain (Chili's, Texas Roadhouse, etc) I just eat at the bar.

[Pull~My~Hair]

i dunno...I guess it's just me. I dont think it's weird when someone is eating alone, I just really don't like to. But I don't like to do anything alone...i liked to be surrounded by people all the time...so I am sure this is just my own issue.

[Thistle Harlequin]

Always..i'm friendless (locally)

[keiko]

I adore big gathering and family dinners, but sometimes it's nice to have quiet to think while eating. I have yet to end up anywhere but a Taco Bell by myself as far as dining out goes, but I have made my own meals and sat quietly in an otherwise unoccupied room in the house to just eat and think.

Might have to try that some time though.

~K

[Aza]

I don't dine alone as often as I used to. (Since K and I like much of the same food, and spend much of our time together, there's no need to.) I used to dine out alone at least three times a week, to hold personal writer's meetings with myself. I'd bring along a pen and a pad of notebook paper, if the place wasn't laptop-friendly, and just create while I ate.

I should probably start that tradition back up again... once I have money.

[One Eyed Cat]

Yeah, why not? It's relaxing. More fun in coffeeshops and diners. I don't mind chatting with folks now and again.

OEC

[Deadly Envy]

Yeah, why not? It's relaxing. More fun in coffeeshops and diners. I don't mind chatting with folks now and again.

OEC

Sound good, if I ever bump into you somewhere, I'll be sure to say hi

[theDragon_svDragcos]

more than 94-97'% of the time,..I EAT Alone.

[SyntheticShock]

Yea, most of the time when I do eat alone, it would be on my lunch break at work, and just at casual places.

[Morning Glory]

If I didn't eat alone, then I would never eat.

I live by myself, so basically 98% of my meals are done alone. I don't invite people over and eat in front of them, that would be even weirder.

[toxicat]

Sure. I love to travel alone, too.