Eating at a restaurant alone

vienna_h
vienna_h Posts: 428 Member
in Chit-Chat
How weird is it to eat at a restaurant alone?

I used to live in the city, and would often go out for Pho for lunch. I'm now living in a smaller town, and they don't have Pho as fast food, just at real sit-down restaurants. I'm having a really serious Pho craving. How weird is it to be the only single person in a restaurant full of families and couples? Is that weird?

I do it all the time when I'm travelling, but this isn't the kind of town a tourist would ever come to lol, and I live here now.

How bad would your craving for a certain food have to get before you went alone to a sit-down restaurant?
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Replies

  • bridgie101
    bridgie101 Posts: 817 Member
    Take a book. :)
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    I eat alone in restaurants all the time. I take my a Kindle and an perfectly content to have some time to myself.
  • dynamitegalxo
    dynamitegalxo Posts: 299 Member
    I just take a book or tablet and go! Doesn't make me feel weird at all, if I'm in the mood for something I can't make or get at home, I'm willing to go out by myself!

    Unless it's something like Cheesecake Factory or a steakhouse, that I'd feel a little weird about haha
  • spookiefox
    spookiefox Posts: 215 Member
    How weird is it to eat at a restaurant alone?

    I used to live in the city, and would often go out for Pho for lunch. I'm now living in a smaller town, and they don't have Pho as fast food, just at real sit-down restaurants. I'm having a really serious Pho craving. How weird is it to be the only single person in a restaurant full of families and couples? Is that weird?

    I do it all the time when I'm travelling, but this isn't the kind of town a tourist would ever come to lol, and I live here now.

    How bad would your craving for a certain food have to get before you went alone to a sit-down restaurant?

    I do it all the time.
  • apinknightmare
    apinknightmare Posts: 11 Member
    I used to feel so self-conscious eating out alone, so I made myself do it more. Like the other users replied, I usually bring a book or a magazine. I used to think everyone was staring at/judging me, and then I realized that I'm just not that interesting!
  • ihateyoga
    ihateyoga Posts: 111
    The place where serves Pho is usually ethnic restaurant. It's not a hangout place like a bar. So people go there to eat and get out. No one would look around and care who is eating alone. Nothing wrong with eating Pho alone. Damn, I think I'm going to have some tomorrow.
  • icimani
    icimani Posts: 1,454 Member
    Yep - take a book. I tend to always have my Barnes&Noble Nook with me.

    But eating out is one of my downfalls, and I've found that if I don't have a book with me I'm less likely to eat out so I'm carrying my Nook with me less and less.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    I always feel like an *kitten* when I eat alone. And a bigger *kitten* because I'm on my phone the whole time.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    For humans, eating is often a social experience. It has been throughout our evolution. Eating alone while surrounded by strangers is an awkward, unsettling experience, there is nothing wrong with feeling uncomfortable about it. That said, if you really want a specific food and have to go to restaurant to get it, being something that will distract you from the other customers. A book, a tablet, even your phone can be enough.
  • TMLPatrick
    TMLPatrick Posts: 558 Member
    I don't really get uncomfortable eating alone... although I'm not particularly uncomfortable doing a lot of things alone. I guess it is different for everyone.
  • annette_15
    annette_15 Posts: 1,657 Member
    I go out to eat by myself all the time and I really enjoy my alone time. I go to the movies by myself too fairly often. And yes I've been to both cheesecake factory and outback during dinner hours asking for a table for 1 :P
  • kiwigal41
    kiwigal41 Posts: 1,059
    I went out to a Chinese buffet tonight on my own......I had a hankering for a big plate of Chinese food and I had no one to go with so I just took my book and off I went.....I don't worry about it at all.....:)
  • fivethreeone
    fivethreeone Posts: 8,196 Member
    I take myself out to eat all the time.

    I am terrific company.
  • TMLPatrick
    TMLPatrick Posts: 558 Member
    I take myself out to eat all the time.

    I am terrific company.

    I was thinking the same thing.... I'm better company than pretty much anyone, so why wouldn't I want to eat with me? :glasses:
  • GwennyH
    GwennyH Posts: 80 Member
    I bring a book or my iPad and have myself a Me Party! (See link below to my favorite Muppets song)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpE8CdH6fdE

    (Sorry, i wish I knew how to link to this better!)
  • Pink_turnip
    Pink_turnip Posts: 280 Member
    I do it all the time, sometimes it's nice to get out alone
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    Bring a notepad and take photos of your food. Make everyone think you are a food blogger. :flowerforyou:
  • dakotababy
    dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
    I always feel so liberated, independent and strong when I go to the theatre, restaurant by myself. Do not be afraid, I think most people do not do this out of fear of judgement. Just look like you had the choice to go alone :)
  • djeffreys10
    djeffreys10 Posts: 2,312 Member
    I do it all the time when my kids are visiting their mom. It's either go alone, or don't go. It is the only time I can go places they don't like. I refuse to let being eternally single keep me stuck in my house and prevent me from dining out, seeing movies, etc. Generally, I just sit at the bar in a restaurant and watch TV while I eat.
  • poponastick302
    poponastick302 Posts: 77 Member
    It's fine. Bring a book or something if you think that'll make it less awkward. Get that Pho!
  • 1horseygirl1
    1horseygirl1 Posts: 98 Member
    pretend to be a food critic :)
  • Groovyca2022
    Groovyca2022 Posts: 21,378 Member
    I've been to the movies alone...I ♥ it! No kids, no husband , yak, yak, yak. I believe that if I really wanted to get Pho. I would go alone.

    Go for it!
  • FindingAmy77
    FindingAmy77 Posts: 1,268 Member
    Its not weird at all, I do it often because my hubbie works days and I am not working right now. I just take my ipod or a book and enjoy myself. Nobody cares.
  • skadoosh33
    skadoosh33 Posts: 353 Member
    I eat Thai alone. It isn't as bad as going to the movie theatre alone.
  • vienna_h
    vienna_h Posts: 428 Member
    pretend to be a food critic :)

    I would probably get better service too!!

    Ok, you've convinced me... I'm treating myself to a sloppy bowl of Pho. I'll bring a book for back-up. Maybe my class notes.. I'll make it look like I'm soooo busy studying I didn't have time to cook...

    I've traveled for months on my own, and never felt weird eating at restaurants alone. But for some reason eating alone in a small town is so much more intimidating! It's all in my head though...
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    If it helps, when I see people at restaurants eating by themselves I don't give it a second thought. As someone else said, they're just not that interesting. That being said, I do remember a guy that sat at a table beside me once (maybe it was Wheird) who spent his entire meal calling apparently everyone he knew just to loudly say hi and chat a little. He also kept looking around as if to make sure we were all seeing that he wasn't a friendless loser. It actually made him seem much more sad (and obviously more memorable) than if he'd just brought some reading material and enjoyed his own company.
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    Absolutely nothing wrong with eating out alone, but as an option if you call them and ask they might be able to do a takeaway pho for you
  • ziggiezambi
    ziggiezambi Posts: 253
    Most sit in restaurants do take out. Usually when you walk in they ask if you want a table and you can say no I want to order a to go box of blahblahblah. But I go almost everywhere by myself and it’s no biggie! :wink:
  • megabyt23
    megabyt23 Posts: 580 Member
    done it. would do again. lol not a big deal.
  • Candi_land
    Candi_land Posts: 1,311 Member
    I lived in New York all of my life up until a few years ago, and became quite comfortable with going out to eat alone.

    It doesn't seem to be as common here in Florida, but I don't mind it. I'm glad to sit by myself sometimes just eating what I want and catching up on my reading, writing, studying..whatever.

    I even go to the movies alone.

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