Eating out alone: yea or nay?
13currently at Applebee's having a frozen margarita and about to pig out on bottomless fries and I can stare at my phone the whole time and decompress from work.
I did this a lot in NYC but feel like it's less common in a less metropolitan area.
Do you eat out ever by yourself?
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Breakfast yes, other than that, no. Just my personal preference.
@Pavlov Mostly agreed. I don't mind eating lunch or dinner at the bar alone.
@AnnaB I'll begin at the bar alone for dinner sometimes when I'm on the road . . . I'm fairly gregarious and more often than not I'll strike up a conversation and I'll get invited to join a table or I'll eat with other singles at the bar that have gathered together and we'll swap stories and leave friends. I just have always fit in that way. However, I have been told that it is painfully obvious by reading my face when I want to be left alone, which happens occasionally. But when I'm in such a mood as that I'm not eating - I'm just drinkin'. And sometimes, there just isn't enough liquor in the entire world.
@Pavlov It's really hard to picture you being gregarious, or friendly, or talkative in any way.
@Thumperchick lol
Although married to the best guy ever and loving the crap out of my kids, I am one hell of a solitary animal. I love to eat alone, go to movies alone, travel, etc.
@jaremelz Reminds me of one of my favorite lines from Alan Shore in Boston Legal:
I love solitude. I like it best in relationships.
@Bingo Ha! My poor husband has come to understand that although I love him dearly, I also need time alone and that he shouldn't take it personally. I jokingly tell him that I love him, I just do it from another room.
I have qualms about it at all. My work often dictates I do.
Oops..should have said "no qualms" I think faster than I type.
Eating out alone is fine. Applebee's is a borderline decision, but eating out along is great. So is going to movies alone. All excellent escapes from reality.
@ChadP I wanted junk food and it's right by the bike shop. Don't h8!
@ChadP The last time I went to a movie by myself, I was the only person in the theater. Frankly, kind of spooky.
@ChadP I saw The Hobbit: Part 2 when it came out by myself in the middle of the day. I was all alone until this old guy walked in and sat literally two seats away from me in the same row. I was like, WTF man?
@ChadP @HELLOALICe Came here to say the same thing. Eating out alone = great. Eating at Applebee's is an anguished cry for help.
@DaveInSoCal Damn you! You made me spit on my computer.
Yep, all the time! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks--it's all good. As long as I've got a book/tablet and I'm in the mood, it's awesome. I actually really enjoy eating out alone and plan at least one meal out a week, more if timing permits. If I'm doing dinner alone, though, I try to go to places that have a bar at which I can sit, because I don't want to feel rushed or guilty that I'm a one-top taking her time. So it's mostly lunch or that between-lunch-and-dinner time that I go to my favorite bars and restos, since I can go to even the fanciest or most popular places and feel okay to lounge and take my time as it's slower and I'm not taking up anyone's table time nor tips. In the right environments and mood, eating and drinking out alone is superbly indulgent and relaxing and just plain fucking wonderful.
It always felt weird to me. But my friend would take herself out on great dates. She'd go get a good meal, and take herself to the movies.
@Thumperchick And it's guaranteed that when she says no, her date listens! (Or uh, when she says yes...)
Yes all the time (well when I eat out - not doing that right now). If I waited until someone could go with me, I'd never go anywhere. Go to movies alone, travel solo... (well also do it with others too at times).
I think it depends on where. Would I go to Ruth's Chris by myself and enjoy a $75 dinner? No. Would I go to the local gastropub and sit at the bar and eat? Yeah, sure. Taco Bell by myself? Did that Monday evening. The conversation was scintillating.
I eat out alone all of the time - I don't have anyone to eat out with. :(
@juststephen i'll eat out with you!
I do a lot of stuff solo and really enjoy it. Eating out, a trip to Disney World, concerts, movies, whatever. (I once flew cross country for a concert and returned home the next day.) I refuse to miss out on something just because someone else doesn't want to do it.
Eating alone? A resounding yea! Have done everything from extremely casual alone, to ultra formal. Sometimes it's nice to just sit and enjoy the meal.
Also, I've found that I'll try to pick a location that's a little slower, sidle up to the bar and just talk to whomever shows up. Met some really neat people that way. Last time it was a guy who works in a research lab that develops robotic surgery systems. Time before that was someone who designs weapons systems for the air force.
You never know who will show up, but if no one does, enjoy the moment!
PS: Bartenders usually have stories. Strike up a convo! If it's not super busy, they're generally the most genial of people in restaurant service.
It always feels kind of awkward to me, but having been alone for years and being a big enjoyer of the food… It's pretty well worth the awkwards. Mmm, food.
Yea.
Chips, Salsa, someone to keep my pop filled, a good book and me, myself and I. Yes!
Yup. Met a lot of interesting people along the way too.
Chicks like guys who eat out.
i love eating out alone; usually bring a book or magazine since it seems like that's the only way i can find time to read.
Alone is cool, to people watch, sip your coffee, read your Nook and basically not be bothered by anyone.
@Cerridwyn Stop trying to make Nook happen. It's not going to happen.
@marklog Oh Lord, they still make those?
@mfladd Nah, but the one I have still works...
@Thumperchick I use to. I gave it to my BIL. Even he ditched it after a while. I even rooted it.
@mfladd Yes they do. Samsung makes them now and they are still the best reader on the market so meh to you
@Cerridwyn My nook is old as dirt and I still love it. Hours and hours on one charge, loads epubs and PDFs unlike swindle. I mean, kindle.
@HELLOALICE exactly Alice. I have two. the first color reader - Nook Color, bought the week it came out and a Nook HD as that one started not holding a charge as well. It lives in the bathroom :)
I do it often, but I don't like it.
No problem at all, though given a choice I'd rather be with my wife. But when she takes classes, or goes out with a group from her work, its the perfect chance to go to a place I like and she doesn't. Chinese buffet with a flat-top grill or a place with great fried food.
You can get anything you want, @HELLOALICE 's restaurant!
@atannir Walk right in, it's around the back...
Just half a mile from the railroad track...
Week one of working at Mediocre, everyone said "hey let's all go to Raisin' Canes for lunch!" Being a caniac myself, I agreed, but said that I needed to run an errand first and that I would meet them.
"Which Canes are y'all going to? The one to the north or south?" I asked, looking at google maps. "The north one, it's closer" was the reply.
So I run my quick errand and go to Canes. No one I knew was there. "Can I take your order?" "No, I'm waiting for some coworkers..." I say. A minute passes. Two minutes.
Eventually I give up. "Caniac, no slaw extra toast extra sauce, and hot sauce please." My meal comes out. I sit down at a table, plenty of room for those who would soon be joining me. I wait. Still no sign of my new coworkers. Perhaps they got held up? Changed plans? Hazing the new guy?
I ate my chicken in solitude, feeling the judgmental eyes of everyone in the restaurant. "Look at that guy, so weird... why doesn't he have any friends? He doesn't have a single person in his life that he can eat with!"
I finish and wait a moment more before driving back to the office.
"Change your mind on Canes?" they ask. And then I discovered that they had gone to the Canes to the south and it was all a big misunderstanding and we laugh about it still to this day and I'm not bitter at all!
@Moose I stood up a friend for lunch once in similar fashion. The restaurant had 2 locations basically on the same road; I went to one and she went to the other. Turned out I didn't have her number so I messaged her on Facebook, but that wasn't as good of a way to instantly reach people back then.
@Moose Right. It was a "misunderstanding". They laugh about it still to this day.
@Moose and to this day he won't eat lunch with us because of this.
When I used to travel for work I had to eat by myself quite often. It used to be really awkward. Just sitting there staring around the restaurant, waiting for my food to come. I would often eat at the bar because there were usually TVs or something to keep me occupied.
I don't travel for work anymore, but it wouldn't be such a big deal now that smartphones are so pervasive.
@jsh139 Back when I'd travel for work (also pre-smartphone) I'd eat cheap for a couple days then blow three days' per diem on eating by myself at the best restaurant it would cover. I'd do the whole thing: cocktail, appetizer, wine, dinner, dessert, after-dinner drink. It was awesome.
@SSteve I did the same thing. Or, instead of a nice restaurant, I'd blow it all on a night of binge drinking with some of the local guys from work, lol.
@jsh139 When I used to travel for work, I kept getting sent to places like beautiful Milton Field FL, and Athens GA, and very small places in AL and MS. I did get to San Juan, before we closed the base, but we worked 16 hour days the whole time. I got to Huntsville AL once, but we had a tornado come through while I was there. I never had a problem eating by myself, but often I'd get takeout or room service and work. I love being retired.
@OldCatLady I went out to Seattle (Bellevue, actually) more often than not. I really grew to like it out there.
I often go alone. I like the solitude and also lots of smelly stuff DH does not like. I take a book or something. I sometimes end up chatting with others around me but usually prefer to keep to myself.
I take myself out all the time... sex is guaranteed at the end of the date.
I'm not brave enough to eat out alone. I have pretty bad social anxiety so I need my husband for a buffer in public.
i eat out alone often. i bring a book to read or read form my phone/tablet, just depends on which book i'm currently reading. it is either eat out alone, or sit at my desk at work, which is super depressing if you do it too many days in a row. i decided long ago, i eat out every day for lunch because otherwise i get stuck at my deck all day and spiral into depression. also, assholes kept stealing my food from the fridges at work.
100% agree on the bar/bartender story. I don't travel as much any more, but when I do I prefer to grab a seat at the bar, get a drink (or two) and then do something from the menu. My wife and I will sit at the bar any time .. frankly I don't understand why people will wait 30 minutes for a table when you can just go to the bar, grab two seats or a high-top, and enjoy.
@Sarahsda I'm just a lot more comfortable with my feet on the floor.
@pooflady True for a lot of reasons .. including sitting at a high-top invites bad posture and back problems. I guess moderation in all things still is good advice.
@helloalice I went to Applebee's, had a $3 Lemondrop and some dinner by myself. Thanks for the reminder that even though I was by myself, I am worth more than drive-thru.
Totally depends who you're eating out.
@thepink you'd be alone, though. So the answer to your version of the question is: difficult.
@Thumperchick @thepink This could be another Donner Party situation. Let's think outside the box here.
@editorkid I think some already did...