Table Talk

By Lville girl

August 20, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

I don’t mind going to eat lunch by myself, it gives me a chance to read a book, but dinner is another subject.

By Drew

August 20, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this

I had my first experience in a long while dining by myself just last week. While on business, I was in a small town in Alabama on a Tuesday night. The restaurant was actually pretty good, but it’s in a dry county = no bar. I sat by myself at the table and I most certainly felt a bit out of place. It’s almost like you want to tell the waiter/waitress, “Hey, I’m here from out of town, I have friends, really! ;-)” Of course, then you’d just feel dumb by making such a statement, so you sit, be quiet and wait for the entree.

By Solo Diner

August 20, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

My boyfriend is broke, so we often have to come up with “cheap dates.” However, sometimes I’d like a nice meal, so I go alone. I can eat at the bar or a table. Most often, I’ll eat at the bar. Service is usually faster that way.

A lot of my girlfriends can’t dine alone, but I can. I like myself, so I don’t mind eating with myself. It takes a level of security to do so.

By Jo

August 20, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this

ARE YOU KIDDING??? That’s one of my chief guilty pleasures, eating out alone with a book. B’fast, lunch, brunch, dinner…it’s all good, super-relaxing, & I have NO qualms about sitting at a table or booth. I actually feel sorry for people who are so co-dependant & insecure they can’t go anyplace without their entourage.

By truthfully

August 20, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this

Im not that mature. I have to get more in touch with myself before I do that. But that’s just me.. but when I do see “that person” alone I’m always like whew… glad thats not me..When its a women ,which that I almost can guareentee to see ( unless its an older person..(golden years) which is seems even worse. Makes you wonder did the spouse die? was ther EVER a spouse or is this just an old spinster..I feel like should we ask if they want some company, but then again will they look at me & my party like we’ve lost our damn minds an tell us to kick rocks? And then there is the person by themself… with a book.I read too I like to be able to concentrate also but sheesh…If Im gonna curl up with a book eating i’d rather be at the villa with a glass of wine or a menage’ a tois….aka Ben & Jerry.

By Hmmmm....

August 20, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this

I frequently dine alone but do still sometimes feel a bit awkward about it. For breakfast or lunch, reading at a table is the preferred way, for the evening meal, definitely the bar!! I’m a people watcher and it’s a great seat, most bartenders are chatty so you get the conversation and you absolutely get quicker, better service!

By Beth

August 20, 2007 7:03 PM | Link to this

This is going to sound bad — OK, it is bad. But I have purging anorexia. I’m weird about eating, especially in front of people that I know. But if I’m going to eat, it’s going to be alone, and then off to the stalls to purge every morsel. Sorry, I’m that girl — there’s one in every restaurant…

By Not a problem

August 21, 2007 7:29 AM | Link to this

I have absolutely no problem dining out alone. I actually prefer it some days. I can eat and read a book or just sit back and relax. I am very confident with just me, myself and I. I also enjoy going to the movies alone for a matinee or morning show.

I actually know people who would rather starve than eat alone or go to the movies alone. Someone actually told me that they feel sad for people that dine alone. How weird is that?

By Yeahright

August 21, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this

I have no problem with eating alone. I am the only child so I am use to doing things solo. I do everything alone from shopping to going to the movies. I don’t care if people look or talk about me. I enjoy spending time with myself and I think it’s sad that people can’t even go to the bathroom without an audidence. I have friends who won’t even go pump gas alone. Now I think that is sad. I don’t plan on ever having a boyfriend so doing things by myself is something I am use too. I am even going to a concert on Saturday by myself. I also go on vacation by myself as well. It’s no big deal!

By Squid

August 21, 2007 8:54 AM | Link to this

Breafast and lunch, I’ll eat alone. But for dinner, I like to eat with a companion, whether it be a date or just a friend. Especially when in a relationship. Dinner is a good time to “bond”.

By me 2

August 21, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

I was one who used to think why would a person eat alone. Surly you can find someone to eat with but now times have changed and I’m the one eating alone. I enjoy it too. At the drop of a hat I will go to one of my favorite restaurants and enjoy a nice relaxing meal without all the ranting and raving of a co-eater with me. Sometimes having a co-eater can make dining a disaster with their complaints about the food, sending it back b/c the order is not correct or other petty stuff.

By Meridith Ford

August 21, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

Hi Beth, I hope you read this. I want you to know something: I’m an anorexic, too. I have been “sober” for nearly 20 years. But in my first years of high school, I almost died at 67 pounds. I got help from my family and therapy — and went to lots of OA meetings. I work the 12 steps daily. PLEASE get into a program — you are endangering your life and taking a very selfish stance towards the people who love and care for you. Please feel free to contact me privately if you’d like some information about programs (mford@ajc.com). The fact that you reached out on this blog is proof that you want and need help —- be brave and take that first step…

By Maria

August 21, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

I’m another one who enjoys having alone time at restaurants. At least one day a week, I take myself and a book out to lunch. It’s a nice break from work. I’m usually one of the few people eating alone, but it doesn’t bother me. I’ve traveled to a number of different countries by myself and eaten alone in all of them. Restaurants are great places for people-watching and/or conversation-listening!

When it comes to dinner, though, I do prefer making it a social meal. My husband and I eat dinner together every night of the week, and go out to dinner together usually once a week.

By Atlanta Pearl Girl

August 21, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this

I enjoy eating out alone. I have encouraged people in the past. Think about it like this…if you are in a restaurant….be it night or day….and you see someone eating alone….. what’s the big deal? I don’t think people are looking at you the way you ‘think’ they are looking at you.

Sometimes its fun to ‘people watch’ if you’re by yourself.

Try it sometime….. you may like it. Do it more than once so you can really get the independence of eating alone.

By gagirl

August 21, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this

Ok, I will freely admit that I am one of those people who is really self-concious about dining alone and have never gone to dinner solo. I know it’s stupid but I’m at least trying to get over it. I just always feel like people will look at me and think I can’t get a date or something. But some of you are killing me by using the excuse that dinner is more social and blah, blah, blah. No, like me, you just realize that more people are out at dinner and you don’t want to be seen alone. Admit it. It is a stupid hang-up, though. There have been several times when I’ve wanted to go to a certain restaurant and have waited on friends to go with me and it never happened. I’m the only one who loses out (like an idiot)so I’ll start hanging solo more often.

By sounds like a good idea

August 21, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this

Hello, Beth. Sorry if this question comes across ignorant or embarrassing, but I’ve never seen the term purging anorexia. Wouldn’t it be bulemia if someone went to a restaurant alone for the purpose of eating and purging? Because it would seem that an anorexic would never willingly go eat unless it’s for appearances around other people. Now if someone wanted to enjoy the food then get rid of it to avoid gaining weight, that I could understand, and wouldn’t that be called bulemia? Anyway, as for me, I have nothing against dining out alone. In fact sometimes when I go to lunch with the girls on a special occasion I will see someone dining alone and feel envious of their serenity. Once I went to Piccadilly on my lunch hour with a book and loved the experience of savoring the food and the book all by myself. My husband would love to eat out more than I do; we don’t go very much because we can never decide where to go so we end up at home. My fantasy is to go out and order three desserts instead of a meal and enjoy every single decadent bite by myself, feeling no guilt about having to make explanations.

By kgirlatl

August 21, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

I am like Yeahright, only child, independent, been abroad alone. I eat by myself all the time, as well as go to the movies. I get the weird looks. I used to live in Cumming, and one night I went to Mellow Mushroom to have a pizza and a coke, and read my book. I got that prickly feeling, like I was being stared at. This mother and daughter were staring at me, and I couldn’t tell if it was because I was eating alone, or reading a book as thick as “Lord of the Rings”. On a different occassion, at a movie, I had a guy come up to me when he saw I was alone and ask, “Don’t you have any friends?” After the movie, he asked me out for a drink. Needless to say, I said no.

By good option

August 21, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

I don’t have that many friends anyway so eating out alone makes sense. I wouldn’t mind having breakfast out, or lunch. I’ve dined out alone between work and an evening meeting. Nothing wrong with savoring the food and the ambience without interruption. In fact I have fewer and fewer choices for lunch companionship since no one at work can ever go because of workloads, so maybe lunching out alone somewhere nice is a good option.

By sharon

August 21, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

Are you kidding me? I’m like Jo, not only will I eat breakfast lunch or dinner in a restaurant by myself, but I also go to the movies by myself. I love my me time. If there’s a movie I want to see, I’ll go by myself rather than take my husband who will sleep or complain that the movie didn’t have enough action. However, I’ll never go to a 4 or 5 star restaurant alone for dinner.

By Johnny Reb

August 21, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

None of the comments I have read are better stated than that Bella. My hat is off to you. Very well satated from the beginning to the end. And that one I agree with. Thanks……..

By itsmorenamorena

August 21, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

No issues with it whatsoever. I’ve gotten accustomed to it with my travels and will dine out for any meal solo. Sometimes at the bar, sometimes at a table. Sometimes I have reading materials, or work, sometimes I people watch. I’m on my own time, I’m enjoying my own company, it’s good stuff, indeed!

By FCM

August 21, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

Yep. I dine alone too…usually with a book. I also watch some movies alone, shop alone, and so forth.

I love the ‘family’ time too.

By BPJ

August 21, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

A good meal and a good book go together well; don’t worry about what other diners think. They generally don’t care what YOU think, especially the loud ones.

Another option would be to go to a place with one or more “communal tables,” where people are seated at long tables, with other parties they don’t know. The Smith House in Dahlonega is all communal tables; Shaun’s in Inman Park (excellent!!!) has one.

By UT96

August 21, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

Dining alone isn’t my preference but I’ll do it since I enjoy trying new restaurants and there isn’t always someone around to dine with.However, I’ve noticed you do get treated differently. They tend to want to seat you at a corner table and the staff isn’t as attentive.

By Noelle

August 21, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this

I have no problem eating out alone. I’ve always had a wide loner streak, plus I’ve done quite a bit of business travel and prefer to keep my meals separate from the job as much as possible.

When I go out alone, I sit at a table, never the bar — if I’m going out alone, I probably don’t feel like chatting, even with a bartender. Usually I take some kind of reading material, but sometimes I’ll just relax, maybe people-watch.

I do tend to stick with places like diners or bar-and-grills and save the high-end places for nights out with friends or family.

By SOMA

August 21, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this

WOW! - dinning alone is GREAT! I can dress up or down and enjoy the resturant, people and looking at others. Even at the movies, I have been the ONLY person watching a movie. “GO FOR IT PEOPLE”. If there is no date, I want sit around waiting for one…be creative and enjoy.

By REALLY?

August 21, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

Solo Diner - REALLY? You complain about your boyfriend being broke, and having to go on cheap dates, and you won’t even treat him to a nice meal once in a while? Are you one of those who think that HIS money is yours but YOURS is not his?

That’s a whole new level of rude, if you ask me.

By Leah

August 21, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

I used to travel by myself a lot for my last job and subsequently ended up dining alone in the evenings. It never bothered me EXCEPT for the occasional, very awkard situation when another patron would buy me a drink. Not offer to buy — that I could politely turn down — but just walk over with one or have the bartender deliver it to me. This was actually a big factor in my decision to get a traditional, plain, gold wedding band when I got married months later. Something that screamed, “I’m taken!” rather than the ambiquous keyring-with-a-rock style that’s so popular nowadays. Other than this one pet peeve though, I have no problem at all with dining alone

By Solo Diner

August 21, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

To REALLY

You should feel dumb for jumping to so many silly conclusions.

First of all, I wasn’t “complaining” - I was simply what the situation is. Clearly it’s not a problem as I am still with him.

Second, I never said I don’t treat him to nice dates. Of course I do! I’d rather dine with him than alone. But I know that it makes him (as well as most men who are GENTLEMEN) uncomfortable for their lady to fit the bill.

Thirdly, how ironic you talk about folks being rude when you post rudely to people and situations you know nothing about. Get a life.

By Tim

August 21, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

I only eat out alone if it is a fast food restaurant. If it is a sit down place, I always go with my friends. I guess it’s because of the way I grew up and just what I’m used to. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable eating at a sit down restaurant alone.

By K. Allen

August 21, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this

I have dined alone before and had a great time doing it. I wouldn’t sit at a table alone, but I have sat at the bar and had lots of fun. I have seen women sit at a table by themselves and to me it looks like they have been stood up for a date or something. That is why I prefer to sit at the bar where you can get the same meal while mingling with other people and you don’t look lonely.

By Becky

August 21, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this

gagirl, did you ever stop to think that most restaurants dim their lights at night, so it’s not some stupid hang up..I have no problem with eating out alone…I’ve done it several times while my husband was out of town..Plus, I grew up with 9 brothers & sisters, so quiet dining is a treat to me..

By Shelly

August 22, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

I’m laughing a bit at how holier-than-thou so many of you are getting with regards to the fact that you can eat out by yourself. Trust me, it doesn’t make you better person—it simply means you have worked through the kinks and insecurities society has naturally put on the population. Humans move in herds, and the eating experience is always tied to groups. Breaking away from what is a societal norm isn’t easy.

By Jazoit

August 22, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this

to BETH and MF… i’m a guy and i purge only if i over eat. you don’t really noticed how much you eat until a few minutes later..then i feel bloated and need to get that out. i like to fit into my pants w/o my belly hanging off. As for dining SOLO…OH YEAH, why not? who cares? the only bad part is that you can’t try as many dishes as you like to and being an ex-chef from nyc, its hard not to go over board ordering everything. its just that some restos are not designed that great for solo diners. and yes, eating at the bar is the best…on service and food.

By meridith ford

August 22, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this

Hey Jazoit, If you’re for real, then please get some help. If you’re making fun of people with eating disorders, then shame on you. About 2% of those with anorexia survive and live normal lives. I’m one of them….

By pinkbunny

August 22, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

I love dining alone, any kind of restaurant, any time of day. I have several places where I am a “regular,” and I also try new places. Had you told me when I was a little girl that I would be doing this someday, I would not have believed it, because I was always nervous and worried about what others thought of me. It took me a number of years to realize that Galileo was right; the earth revolves around the SUN, not around me. As much as I was positive everyone was thinking and obsessing and talking about me and my life story, it was more likely they had their own conversations going on at their tables that did not concern me at all. Now that I am in my 50s, I am learning to go on somehow, despite the lack of others’ fascination with my life! I can have a meal, read, check my text messages, or even take a few moments to relax and plan the rest of my day. I promise, it’s a good life!

By diana

August 24, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this

I am trying to learn to like dining alone. Where are some “single diner” friendly spots in Gwinnett? Where are some of your favorite spots for dining alone? I went to the Dillard house alone once and they called my name and then said “party of one”. Sounded lonely and pathetic! I haven’t been back there since.

By Jazoit

August 24, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

MF, no one is making fun of anyone about purging. it is an illness…byproduct from society. what you say we go out and eat somewhere so we don’t have to dine alone? ;)

By Creole Girl

August 24, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

I have no problem at all dining alone or doing anything else for that matter alone (movies, etc…). I really enjoy my ME time. You must be comfortable with yourself before you can be comfortable with or around others. People shop go to work and church alone, dinner or a movie is no different.