Table For One – Tips for Eating Alone in Restaurants

Traveling solo often involves eating meals in restaurants by yourself. Many women (and men for that matter) feel awkward about going to a restaurant alone. I’ve found that many restaurants are quite solo friendly, especially if you follow a few simple suggestions.

First, think about what setting makes you the most comfortable. Many restaurants have several seating options:

• The two-person table – this is a good option if you want to minimize interaction with others and you’d rather read a book or surf the net on your small electronic device. The extra room gives you more space to spread out.
• Eating at the bar or long counter – I learned this trick when I traveled alone for business. Many restaurant bars have TVs tuned to different channels and are a good option for having casual conversations with those sitting on either side of you, or just catching up on the news or sports event. Ask if the bar area has a separate menu or whether you can order off the regular menu. Also, many bar areas have small tables in a casual setting that you can use alone or join another person.
• Communal tables – This is my favorite option, where you share a table with multiple other diners, each on their own separate check. Just like at a family meal, you have multiple people to talk with or as an alternative, listen quietly to the conversations around you.

Secondly, try to avoid the busiest times. I find a late lunch or early dinner works well. The pace is slower and the servers are often more able to accommodate your request for a single table near the window or the patio. Keep in mind that lunch is a better value in most areas. As you stake out places to eat, ask about when the menu changes from lunch to dinner or about any early evening specials. Also, if you are trying to order in a different language and/or have questions about various dishes, the servers have more time to interact with you when you come at a less busy time.

Third, bring something to do to occupy your time while you are waiting for your meal if you are sitting by yourself. Bring a book, some tourist brochures, word or number puzzles, or simply surf the net or read on your phone. Many restaurants have wi-fi available. Some people use their computer on the table. If you choose to do this, make sure you’ve chosen a seating option that gives you enough room to do this without encroaching on your neighbor at the bar or counter.

Finally, because you are on your own, you can choose whatever courses you wish without worrying about impacting your fellow diners. Sometimes I’ll order one or two appetizers and dessert. Tell your server your plans and whether you want all your selections at once or sequentially.

Experiencing local cuisine is an important part of travel. If you are new to solo dining, try a few trial meals at your local restaurants to find out which approach is right for you.