What do you think when you see people alone at restaurants?

I don’t think anything, probably because I’ll go to a restaurant by myself from time to time.

I was on a business trip one time and went to an Olive Garden to eat instead of fast food like I usually do when I am by myself. Apparently the waiters felt sorry for me and when a man came in by himself, came over to ask me if they could seat him with me. The restaurant was not crowded. (um, no he can’t sit with me, I don’t know him). I usually think someone must be traveling to be eating by themselves.

I think they’re lonely just as me in this hi-tech society.

I think they are brave.

I eat alone all the time. I actually like it, but usually I bring a book.

My gf is a hostess at Red Lobster. When they ask customers how many and they say “one,” the hostesses aren’t allowed to say “just one?” or “anyone else going to be joining you tonight?” so as not to make the customer feel uncomfortable about eating alone.

I’ve never eaten alone in a restaurant, because I feel bad for people who eat alone. I feel bad for them because it brings public attention to your loneliness or your lack of people in your life that could be eating with you.

Of course just because you’re eating alone doesn’t mean you have no one else in your life to eat with, but that’s what my mind thinks when I see it.

Interestingly, I don’t feel bad for people who bring laptops or a big stack of papers and a pen lol4rl.

When I was younger it used to make me sad, but then I realized that there could be many reasons someone is eating alone, like they simply want to. What’s weird about the entire situation is how weird other people think it is.

I don’t think much of it. Like Andrew, I bring a book, sometimes my iPod and just enjoy my food.

I think it’s sad that some people feel so self-conscious that they won’t go eat by themselves. I do it. It doesn’t mean that I’m single, or lonely, or pathetic. Often, I’ve made an opportunity to treat myself.

@queenzboulevard – Ack! You’ve reminded me. A couple of years ago, I went on a cruise by myself, in sort of an homage to David Foster Wallace’s A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again, but also, I just wanted a few days out at sea. I’d never been on a cruise before.

I was looking to have a perfectly glorious 8 days alone, too. No one from work to pester me, no listening to roomies argue, ocean breezes, beautiful ports of call, yummy food, all inclusive and a couple of fun books to read on the balcony of my cabin, that sort of thing (I’d gotten a sweet deal, too).

Practically every time I stepped out of my cabin, the staff asked me, “Just one?” “Will it just be you this evening?” I even got, ” Why are you not getting a couples massage with your boyfriend? No boyfriend? A pretty girl like you? No good, no good.” from the masseuse in the salon. Way to kill the stress, lady. Well, she was awfully talky anyway, despite my asking if I could please have a quiet session.

I was appalled at the rudeness. But it reminded me that this is, for the most part, a couples’ world. I am glad that Red Lobster has the policy you describe. While I didn’t feel bad because I was alone, I did feel like I was being judged. That lessened the enjoyment of my trip for me, and I haven’t considered another cruise since.

If I think about it at all, it is apt to be something like “There’s someone else who isn’t afraid to enjoy her own company.” I usually eat out with someone (just because eating out is what we’ve made the date to do), but have been at ease dining alone since my early twenties, which was a long time ago now. I travel alone, too, and went to Europe by myself when I was 24. No reason not to. (And in those days, any friend I’d have gone with would have wanted to go shopping. I wanted to go to museums.) I loved my trip and didn’t care if anyone thought it was odd.

It’s a shame when people don’t feel okay by themselves; ultimately each of us is alone, and I feel sorry for people who can’t get comfortable with that.

[Edit] P.S. There are definitely places that are hospitable to single diners and places that aren’t. Living in Boston and Cambridge, I found quite a few that were, including nice ones, and visited them frequently. And I didn’t have to take tiny half-tables just outside the kitchen or the rest room, either. Here’s a tip: hotel dining rooms are usually easy on single diners.

I thinks its ok! I dont give it too much of a thought because I believe eating alone is as normal as going to the movies alone. Why should we be shun out of society if we like to spend some time on our own? Why do we have to go to this places with someone if we dont feel like it? I think its great that people eat alone, its very independent.

I see nothing wrong with it. I am kind of a loner myself. I actually enjoy it. I just know what everyone is thinking about that poor woman who has to dine alone! I too, will take a book with me. I really like going to the movies by myself.

i usually don’t think about what the person is doing if they’re alone. if it’s in a hotel i think that they might be traveling alone.

as for me doing it, i don’t think that there’s anything wrong with it, but i usually don’t do it because i don’t think it’s much fun unless i have something to read. i would rather get food to go and eat it at home, or if i’m traveling, take it to my hotel room.

I love eating by myself ! Like some others here, I sometimes treat myself to a fancy restaurant as a reward for hard work. Then I can finish my novel, people watch, ponder about the week’s events, make one of my many lists (Things to Do, Groceries to buy etc etc…I am sort of a list freak). I’ve never felt like I am being judged when I am eating out alone, or maybe I am just too oblivious of my surroundings to know or care. But whenever I see someone else sitting alone at restaurants, I think nothing of it.

I think, “They must be sorry they didn’t think to bring a book like I did.” :)

Dining alone is nothing to feel sorry for someone about. It simply means they’re hungry.

I definitely agree with all of you here. I asked because I hopped on my bike and rode for pizza and beer by myself last night. I was excited and brought a book to read. I got the “Oh, just one?” I just got this weird vibe from the staff and a few of the patrons. Might have just been all in my head though. I’ve actually gone for beers, to dinner and to movies by myself many time, and never thought people might consider this weird, or sad, until last night.

Now I’m recalling that I used to head off a frosty “Just one?” query (usually asked at broadcast volume, as if to make sure all the other patrons would turn and look) by speaking first, in a quiet but clear tone: “Table for one, please.”

I also made sure to tip decently, to help counter the stigma attached to women in general and single women in particular, but not excessively, as if begging for acceptance.

well I use to eat and go to the movies by myself and things like that but to me it is just not as fun as enjoying it with someone so I stopped. I went to Vegas after I got divorced and you would think that wouldn’t be a problem and people there was feeling sorry for me so when I would go on tours there was always a couple that would take me in as to not be alone so I came to the conclusion everything is evolved around couples so I just don’t do anything any more sad but true.