Dining alone do you get squashed in the corner?

[amaroo]

I must admit that if i don't have an iphone/ipad, after 5 minutes of sitting by myself at dinner i feel rather self conscious. No idea why...

Your life can be challenged when you continually travel alone. I've been absolutely blessed to be in the same relationship for >60% of my life - I take most things in my stride however, in regards to lone dining - I've failed!

 

[jetlagger]

I do weekly commuting for work and really struggle with lone dining......no worries for breakfast/lunch.

However, I've found a solution that works for me......for some reason I find bench dining acceptable. I'm lucky that my commute is to the CBD of Sydney therefore, I've got plenty of options - Sushi Trains, DJ's food hall, countless cafes/restaurants and a long time favourite - Chinta Ria

Very tasty curry laksa that I enjoyed last night

That looks delicious..

 

[Hvr]

Do I get squashed in the corner? Only if I want to be there. If there are vacant seats I will choose where I want to sit, within reason of course. I'm not going to take the eight seater but I will choose a desirable two or even four seater if the place is quiet.

I am prepared to walk if they don't like my selection.

 

[JohnK]

Your life can be challenged when you continually travel alone.

It is nice to have company but at the same time being alone when travelling can also be beneficial.

 

[Hvr]

It is nice to have company but at the same time being alone when travelling can also be beneficial.

I agree, especially when I used to do work travel with colleagues I always insisted on having my alone time at the end of the day.

I happily travel and work alone.

 

[Austman]

I've done well over 20 years of travel for work - often alone.

On uncomfortable solo dining: the best solutions, for me are:

1. Room service
2. (business) hotel restaurants (they almost embrace it)
3. Take away

I've generally only had an issue on Fri, Sat nights when it looks a bit sad to be dining alone. Then it's 1, 2 or 3.

 

[erkpod]

I've done well over 20 years of travel for work - often alone.

On uncomfortable solo dining: the best solutions, for me are:

1. Room service
2. (business) hotel restaurants (they almost embrace it)
3. Take away

I've generally only had an issue on Fri, Sat nights when it looks a bit sad to be dining alone. Then it's 1, 2 or 3.

Until my trip to Mexico City this year, I was never a room service kinda guy.

It was my first time in a Hilton & I was wrecked from 5 days of heavy metal cruising at 4 hours sleep a night. I was on the top floor in an Exec suite. For the first day, I did not leave the room.

 

[serfty]

Through most of the 90's & 00's a book our paperwork while dining solo would do the job - these days the smartphone is my choice but use can vary dependening on network/wifi availability.

 

[JohnK]

Through most of the 90's & 00's a book our paperwork while dining solo would do the job - these days the smartphone is my choice but use can vary dependening on network/wifi availability.

And this is where I have difficulty understanding.

Why do you need a smartphone while having dinner? Am I missing something important by just sitting around drinking my beer, people watching and relaxing waiting for the meal and then having the meal?

 

[Cynicor]

I'm easily distracted and bored JohnK. I'll use my phone and laptop while watching TV, let alone eating dinner. Plus, I like catching up on the news and my IHT/FT (when i can get it) reading time becomes breakfast and dinner.

Not sure how many single dinners I could put up with if I had no phone nor paper.

 

[serfty]

And this is where I have difficulty understanding.

...

I can do all that too.

Every circumstance can be different, and you don't know exactly what will be the case before arriving so an alternative distraction to pass the time works for me.

In the 90'a it was a book, in the 10's, an electronic device - much easier to carry around with than a book.

YMMV

 

[JohnK]

Not sure how many single dinners I could put up with if I had no phone nor paper.

So what did people do before all these gadgets?

Was life that boring?

 

[titfilou]

Being in the restaurant industry, I can give you many reason for which sometimes you may be seated at the bar or else.

Solo diners almost never make a reservation, even on Friday or Saturday when the restaurant is at capacity. The best way to guaranty a table, is to book it.

Also we often get solo diners that feel uncomfortable seating alone and very often they are the one asking to seat at the bar.

In a restaurant with a view it is always a nightmare. You would be amazed all kind of stories people tell us to get a table on the window "It's my mum's birthday", "I'm bringing friends from interstate', "Our wedding anniversary", "Romantic dinner with my wife", "We are good friend with the owner" etc..

Sometimes we can only accommodate window tables on first booked first served basis, and people get very upset to the point that they threaten to send a complaint or to post bad things all over social media...

 

[Ewing]

Why do you need a smartphone while having dinner? Am I missing something important by just sitting around drinking my beer, people watching and relaxing waiting for the meal and then having the meal?

I'm the same John.

I spend all day on my computer and phone. The last thing I want to do while relaxing at dinner is continue using it.

I love people watching. In fact, one of the favourite weekend rituals is going to my local café, having breakfast and watching what's going on around me. Sometimes I'll take a book, but the phone stays in my pocket.

 

[amaroo]

That looks delicious..

Highly recommended......you should schedule a visit when next in town.

 

[serfty]

So what did people do before all these gadgets?

Was life that boring?

Read a book as I posted ...

 

[freepyjamas]

Never get a poor table when I'm on my own, but it probably helps that I stay away from places with poor service.

i like company, but also happy to chill by myself. When I'm travelling, I usually bring a book (one of those old fashioned paper things from ancient times - penguin classics are cheap and small and do the job very nicely) plus there's the smartphone to check favourite sites, twitter, etc.

After a day of constantly being 'on' and interacting with people (as I do when travelling) having a little solitude over a decent meal is something I not only tolerate, but often enjoy.

I find room service sad and lonely, unless I'm absolutely shagged.

And if it's company you want, as others have said, it's usually only a facebook update away.

If you're in sydney and on your own and hate eating by yourself, the communal table at Sailor's Thai is good - you always end up talking to someone. Well, I do anyway.

 

[Austman]

I personally can't see why room service could be considered "sad and lonely". It's the closest you can get to dining at home when staying in a hotel. Stay in hotels long or often enough and many realise the comforts of it. And it's an easy BYO option at any hotel on the planet!

My longest continuous hotel stay (check-in to check-out) was 13 months. And I still needed to do a formal check-out!

On short stays I'd most likely dine out - but it also depends on the country and the hour. After a long work day, dining out at 10:00pm (or later) is often not so attractive. Never mind corner seats - in many places try finding a convenient place even still open. Even when returning from work earlier, a social drink in the hotel bar followed by room service is a good option for me and not the slightest bit lonely.

 

[boomy]

I personally can't see why room service could be considered "sad and lonely". It's the closest you can get to dining at home when staying in a hotel. Stay in hotels long or often enough and many realise the comforts of it. And it's an easy BYO option at any hotel on the planet!

On short stays I'd most likely dine out - but it also depends on the country and the hour. After a long work day, dining out at 10:00pm (or later) is often not so attractive. Never mind corner seats - in many places try finding a convenient place even still open. Even when returning from work earlier, a social drink in the hotel bar followed by room service is a good option for me and not the slightest bit lonely.

+1

After a long day or if I had 2-3 flights on the same day I'm not always in the mood to eat out. If I arrive to the hotel after the lounge is closed then I'm more then happy to relax in my room and order in. The problem is that usually, even in 5* hotels, the room service is not of good quality and very overpriced.
I don't find eating alone in my room to be sad and lonely. It's very comfortable to sit and relax after a long shower and watch a nice program on TV (although for me it's CNN or BBC, not always relaxing )
If anything, I find it a bit lonely to sit alone in the corner in a crowded restaurant.

My longest continuous hotel stay (check-in to check-out) was 13 months. And I still needed to do a formal check-out!

You managed to bit my record of 10 months of continuous hotel stay when I moved from Sydney to Melbourne

 

[JohnK]

My longest continuous hotel stay (check-in to check-out) was 13 months. And I still needed to do a formal check-out!

I have been staying in a hotel for 5+ years now.

Only I did not check-in and I am highly unlikely to check-out!