Dining alone do you get squashed in the corner?

[aupirate]

Apologies in advance if this has been discussed before.

Like many others on this forum I travel alone on business. I`m curious to know what other members experiences are when dining alone. My travel is all domestic in Australia to both capital cities and regional areas. I often find when being seated I`m directed to a small table in the corner or squashed up against the wall. If there is a view at all, no chance especially if there are tables that seat more than 2 people. Now I realise that restaurants and cafes need to maximise every opportunity to put bums on seats, however I often find I`m being directed to the cheap seats even when the restaurant is all but empty. It seems like I`m treated like a second class citizen because I`m eating alone. I don`t eat in expensive restaurants, even if I did I suspect the result would be the same, or maybe I`m just being precious?

 

[JohnM]

I seldom, if ever, find it an issue.

If there are better tables vacant, simply ask to sit at one of those.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Always get stuck in the corner or at the bar. Matter of fact, stuck at a table right now by the entrance door in a restaurant.

At least in the USA, all of the single diners sit at the bar together.

 

[aupirate]

I seldom, if ever, find it an issue.

If there are better tables vacant, simply ask to sit at one of those.

Hi John, I often do ask for another table, however why should I have to ask? Also have had my request turned down on occasion, usually in the only 1/2 way decent café/restaurant in town so looking elsewhere isn`t in option.

 

[horseman]

I don't mind, its often quieter and away from traffic

 

[blackcat20]

At least in the USA, all of the single diners sit at the bar together.

That's been my experience too; then I spend my meal being hit on by an old drunk :shock:

 

[aupirate]

I don't mind, its often quieter and away from traffic

Yes that's very true and often I would rather be in the corner, however its the principal more than anything of being treated as if your money is worth less than someone else's.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Yes that's very true and often I would rather be in the corner, however its the principal more than anything of being treated as if your money is worth less than someone else's.

Well with only one diner, they will get less money than if there were more!

 

[k_sheep]

It works both ways ... when I was slightly younger and fitter, if I went out for dinner with a girlfriend, we'd always be put "on display" - front and centre, no chance of a nice quiet table!

I know, first world problems ... but being hung out as "bait" is somewhat demeaning. Luckily I'm older and uglier now

 

[aupirate]

It works both ways ... when I was slightly younger and fitter, if I went out for dinner with a girlfriend, we'd always be put "on display" - front and centre, no chance of a nice quiet table!

I know, first world problems ... but being hung out as "bait" is somewhat demeaning. Luckily I'm older and uglier now

So which would you rather, younger, fitter and bait in the display cabinet or out the back in the bain-marie?

 

[flyingfan]

I find that the top restaurants (two/three hatters in the Good Food Guides), perhaps not too surprisingly, won't push me to a poor table when I'm dining by myself. It's more the cheaper cafés and such which might seat lone diners 'out of the way.' If the good restaurants do seat me in a corner, it's where I can see all the action of the venue rather than being the odd one out amidst a row of tables of two and four.

When there's a bar available I'll usually ask if not offered to sit there instead of at a table - not only do I feel less guilty of depriving them of a seat at a table, but the bar is a much more exciting place at which to be perched.

 

[boomy]

When I travel on business I usually have dinner in the hotel lounge. I feel more comfortable there. I had many interesting conversations with single travelers like myself. If there is no one to talk to then I just work on my laptop.

It's not a good feeling to eat alone in a restaurant, sit in the corner and look at couples holding hands while you miss home. I'm sorry to hear that the OP is treated like second class citizen. When people eat alone they should be seated in good locations and get the best service like everyone else in the restaurant.

 

[RB]

Apologies in advance if this has been discussed before.

Like many others on this forum I travel alone on business. I`m curious to know what other members experiences are when dining alone. My travel is all domestic in Australia to both capital cities and regional areas. I often find when being seated I`m directed to a small table in the corner or squashed up against the wall. If there is a view at all, no chance especially if there are tables that seat more than 2 people. Now I realise that restaurants and cafes need to maximise every opportunity to put bums on seats, however I often find I`m being directed to the cheap seats even when the restaurant is all but empty. It seems like I`m treated like a second class citizen because I`m eating alone. I don`t eat in expensive restaurants, even if I did I suspect the result would be the same, or maybe I`m just being precious?

I am interested to know how big the regional centres are that you travel to. Do you ever consider going to a club where you can just sit where you please?-the staff & diners tend to be oblivious to any perceived social standing

 

[vertisol]

Not withstanding where I am seated I really find it a chore getting excited about dinner alone, drinking alone or watching the tele from the bed. It's the worst bit of travel for me.
Occasionally I find someone up for a chat.

Anyone at the Melbourne Airport Parkroyal on Monday/ Tuesday next week, look me up..

 

[Ewing]

Always get stuck in the corner or at the bar.

I love sitting at the bar. I like watching what's going on and often have a bit of a chat to the bartender(s) as well. Quite often that's turned into tasting what coughtails they're experimenting with, or trying wines they're looking at putting on the menu.

It's less common here, but when I've been in the US alone for work eating alone at the bar has usually resulted in chatting to others at the bar and I've made some friends out of that. Unfortunately we don't seem to be social like that in this part of the world.

I won't tolerate being put at the undesirable table in the corner near the kitchen though. If I'm at a table, part of the enjoyment of dining out is watching what's going on around you and if they can't do that then I'll find somewhere else.

 

[aupirate]

I am interested to know how big the regional centres are that you travel to. Do you ever consider going to a club where you can just sit where you please?-the staff & diners tend to be oblivious to any perceived social standing

Hi RB, by club do you mean RSL etc?

Haven`t really been into clubs, maybe I should. Mainly travel to Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and occasionally places like Tamworth, Dubbo, Mackay, Fraser Coast. Tonight I was in a Pub/hotel restaurant with loads of empty tables at 6 pm. The tables with an ocean view mainly seat 4 pax, I`m always shown a small table without the view, bet if I walked in there with my wife I would be shown a table with the view.

 

[JohnK]

I am usually alone and if I go out to dinner I like to choose where I sit not where someone wants me to sit.

That's been my experience too; then I spend my meal being hit on by an old drunk :shock:

What is with the old? At least you get hit on!

 

[RB]

Hi RB, by club do you mean RSL etc?

Haven`t really been into clubs, maybe I should. Mainly travel to Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and occasionally places like Tamworth, Dubbo, Mackay, Fraser Coast. Tonight I was in a Pub/hotel restaurant with loads of empty tables at 6 pm. The tables with an ocean view mainly seat 4 pax, I`m always shown a small table without the view, bet if I walked in there with my wife I would be shown a table with the view.

If you are getting to places like Tamworth & Dubbo & other NSW country places (don't know about Qld) & experiencing the hassles of your OP then I would be getting to the RSL, Leagues club type spots. You are going to be able to pick your spot & you are pretty likely to come across others in the same situation as yourself. You can get pretty good tucker and a reasonable choice of drinks in most of the clubs/pubs these days.
No matter where you are you need to void eating at pensioner hour (6pm)

 

[Princess Fiona]

When I travel on business I usually have dinner in the hotel lounge. I feel more comfortable there. I had many interesting conversations with single travelers like myself. If there is no one to talk to then I just work on my laptop.

It's not a good feeling to eat alone in a restaurant, sit in the corner and look at couples holding hands while you miss home. I'm sorry to hear that the OP is treated like second class citizen. When people eat alone they should be seated in good locations and get the best service like everyone else in the restaurant.

+1 I can always make a meal out of the most meagre Exec Lounge canapés (and quaff some dodgy wine I wouldn't look twice at in Vintage Cellars) and I don't feel silly browsing on my iPad.
I'm happy to do breakfast or lunch alone but prefer to retreat to the Lounge if there's nothing organised for dinner.
Perhaps I need to get out more

 

[JohnM]

I find that the top restaurants (two/three hatters in the Good Food Guides), perhaps not too surprisingly, won't push me to a poor table when I'm dining by myself. It's more the cheaper cafés and such which might seat lone diners 'out of the way.' If the good restaurants do seat me in a corner, it's where I can see all the action of the venue rather than being the odd one out amidst a row of tables of two and four.

When there's a bar available I'll usually ask if not offered to sit there instead of at a table - not only do I feel less guilty of depriving them of a seat at a table, but the bar is a much more exciting place at which to be perched.

I agree.

Often when I travel, I've made way-ahead reservations at very serious restaurants (being the only way to get in, and often degustation), food & wine being a hobby of mine, so there's no issues.

If I chance upon a serious place with no notice, I'm happy to sit at the bar or in a corner for the joy of getting in.

The main funny (irritating) thing I find with some (very few, generally mid-low range) restaurants when dining alone is that the waiter may keep proffering a magazine to read. I'm happy to watch the passing parade - including quite often, I'm sad to say, the obviously wealthy married couples who afford to dine high-level but can no longer find anything to talk about .

My biggest annoyance is the, thankfully very few, restaurants that obviously rush the service when I'm dining alone. My feeling is that once I hit the top echelon of the wine list, all restaurants know precisely how to respond :!:.

With that good bottle of wine, or the very spread degustation, I can sit for hours dining alone. Love it .

Of course, YMMV.