Does anyone have a problem with it?

I used to not like it, but now I have no problem doing it, even if it's at a pretty fancy restaurant.

I have a friend who absolutely cannot eat by himself in public. Even if he's getting something to go he won't go in, he'll have to use the drive-thru.

5/19/2008 9:13:33 PM

i don't mind it.

it's kind of nice sometimes.

5/19/2008 9:14:21 PM

used to hate it

travel enough on business by myself it becomes a necessity

however i still end up just eating dinner at the bar if it's possible, even at nicer joints

5/19/2008 9:14:48 PM

i prefer company but i don't need it

[Edited on May 19, 2008 at 9:16 PM. Reason : i don't eat a 'nice' places by myself though]

5/19/2008 9:15:34 PM

it can be great... love doing it at work for lunch a couple times a week just to unwind and relax, read the paper etc.

5/19/2008 9:18:32 PM

I use to really hate it. It would freak me out. I got over it with my job. Little kids aren't so interested in spending a lot of time conversing -- they're usually too busy running off to play. I've gotten use to eating while reading a book and keeping an eye on little ones. Just today I ate alone while my kiddo napped in his carrier at Chikfila.

5/19/2008 9:20:00 PM

i can't stand it... the only time i ever do it is if i have something i need to be working on (and even then, i'll probably just get it to go)

5/19/2008 9:20:23 PM

i only really like it if i can read

even watching tv is kinda uncomfortable

5/19/2008 9:21:20 PM

what makes you hate it? i used to always feel that everyone was looking at me, wondering how pathetic i would have to be to not have anyone to eat with me.

but then i realized no one gave a flying flip about me, and i dont care what they think even if they do.

ive had some really good meals by myself, plus I only have to pay for one person

5/19/2008 9:22:24 PM

I dont mind it at all, sometimes prefer it....

5/19/2008 9:23:25 PM

Same as joe numbers above.

But there would also be this added dimension of everyone was watching me just to see what I would eat because I was overweight. I felt like everyone was thinking, "Man, no wonder she is fat. Look at her eat that!" I am ashamed to admit that I probably felt that way because I sometimes think that way about other people.

5/19/2008 9:25:01 PM

it's a little different at chick-fila than say a nice steakhouse.

5/19/2008 9:26:01 PM

If i'm alone and at a nice restaurant, I'll head to the bar and make sure I can eat there. If it's slow talk to the bartender, if it's busy people watch. I agree with joe#'s some of the best meals I've had have been by myself.

5/19/2008 9:35:22 PM

as a general rule, if you pay before you get your food, then i'll eat there by myself. if you pay after you get your food AND its more than $10, then i won't eat there by myself. I feel like a loser if i go to a 'nice' place alone.

5/19/2008 9:47:10 PM

i used to really not like it. I have no problems going into a place for lunch and grabbing a sandwhich and reading the paper and taking some personal time.


dinner, i dont usually run into this often, but i wouldn't have an issue going to a nice restaurant but i would almost certainly eat at the bar rather than a table. Just my nature

5/19/2008 9:50:29 PM

i do it when traveling sometimes and have no problem with it - i try to sit at the bar if there is one but if not it's not the end of the world - i love to people watch though

5/19/2008 9:57:51 PM

I was in DC last year on a business trip by myself, and I ate at this wonderful steakhouse called Bobby Vans. It was probably the nicest restaurant I've eaten at by myself, and it was slightly awkward because I was the only guy there by myself.

My waitress was so sweet and would come by, carry on small chit chat and try to make me feel comfortable. She got a great tip that night

I think dinner ended up costing me like $150 but the 2lb steak was totally worth it

5/19/2008 10:01:13 PM

i don't mind it.

5/19/2008 10:02:52 PM

I can do it.

5/19/2008 10:04:08 PM

better than seeing a movie alone

5/19/2008 10:04:38 PM

I do it if I can sit at the bar area.

5/19/2008 10:05:09 PM

i'm usually never in a situation in which this ever comes up, but when it does:

Quote :

"i can't stand it... the only time i ever do it is if i have something i need to be working on (and even then, i'll probably just get it to go)"

Quote :

"i used to always feel that everyone was looking at me, wondering how pathetic i would have to be to not have anyone to eat with me."

Quote :

"But there would also be this added dimension of everyone was watching me just to see what I would eat because I was overweight. I felt like everyone was thinking, "Man, no wonder she is fat. Look at her eat that!" I am ashamed to admit that I probably felt that way because I sometimes think that way about other people."

tr00f

5/20/2008 12:26:38 AM

wow $150 while alone. nice tab.

5/20/2008 12:31:30 AM

Its only ok to do if you sit at the bar. If you sit by yourself at a table, then you just look like a loser.

5/20/2008 12:32:24 AM

hell yeah man

free refills are enough for me to not give a shit whether or not I'm with someone

5/20/2008 12:33:15 AM

At least every 2-3 days I LOVE to eat alone. Let's me catch up on the paper, gather thoughts, solve problems. Plus it's 10x faster.

If I'm at a nicer place I will usually invite a friend to go with me and pay their way just cause I like someone to idly chat with.

Less than $15/plate, no problem solo.

5/20/2008 12:34:29 AM

it's a good time for crossword puzzles

5/20/2008 12:38:48 AM

I really like eating alone outside in rural areas.

Backwoods mountains of NC ftw.

5/20/2008 12:39:52 AM

oh snap.


i guess you said restaurants.

5/20/2008 12:40:47 AM

i don't even consider "nice" places if i am gonna eat solo. but any other place is fine.

5/20/2008 12:42:31 AM

To me, paying for a nice sit down meal isn't worth it if I'm just going to be by myself. I'd rather save the money. Going out to eat is a social thing to me.

5/20/2008 2:20:07 AM

I do it all the time. It lets me enjoy my meal without having to feel like I need to entertain someone at the same time.

5/20/2008 3:24:48 AM

When I was working in Florida I would go to the Outback across the street for a steak every now and then. The staff would always ask me questions like "Do you eat by yourself a lot?" and look at me like I was Jame Gumb.

I'm still not sure if it was because I was sending off the weird loner vibe or if the fat waitresses were trying to go back to the Best Western with me.

5/20/2008 3:34:58 AM

I never cared at fast food places. I used to care at sit down places but recently I've started to get over it.

5/20/2008 4:34:20 AM

I kindof like it once in a while. I'll never go to a NICE place alone, but I've eaten at places like Jack Astor's alone. Sit at the bar though, so I don't know if that counts.

5/20/2008 4:46:41 AM

Lunching alone is straight baller.

I've also noticed that I tend to eat healthier, smaller, and tastier meals when I eat out alone.

5/20/2008 5:53:41 AM

I'm not a huge fan of eating out alone. I'll do it in some circumstances (like if I'm between classes), but I'd rather have the company. If I'm going to eat alone, I might as well just cook something for myself at home.

5/20/2008 8:10:54 AM

illl eat on my lunch break solo all the time, I get tired of talking to folk and I hate when people from work ask...its like motherfucker i'm with you for 9 hours a day lemme have some me time

Never went to a resturant solo for dinner though....seems weird

5/20/2008 8:22:09 AM

It makes no difference to me at all. What people think matters even less.

5/20/2008 8:23:52 AM

i do it quite frequently. it's a naice!

5/20/2008 8:34:46 AM

I can do it at lunch only because I have to, but for some reason I can't do it at dinner.

I would love to be able to go out to dinner or to a bar by myself. I think it's pretty baller!

ONE DAY!!!

5/20/2008 8:38:27 AM

Its only ok to do if you sit at the bar. If you sit by yourself at a table, then you just look like a loser.

5/20/2008 8:39:18 AM

maybe at a fast food place. I would skip the fancy restaurant if i had to go alone

[Edited on May 20, 2008 at 8:39 AM. Reason : save some money...i am cheap ]

5/20/2008 8:39:22 AM

I enjoy eating at restaurants alone. I just never do it because I would spend money at a restaurant for a "special occassion"

5/20/2008 9:02:11 AM

i don't mind it as long as I have something to read or my laptop

5/20/2008 9:05:29 AM

Haven't read the thread

but I used to do it all the time. All my friends in school were super broke and I ate out at nice places a lot..so I ended up going alone a lot when my gf wasn't in town (most of my gf's in college lived an hour away)

I really liked it.. the waiters/waitresses usually were a lot more talkative and I could get in and out of there as fast or slow as I wanted to...

had a few random hookups from it too

5/20/2008 9:12:43 AM

I do it for lunch all the time, doesn't bother me a bit. I too will opt for the bar if it's an option though....more for the laid back atmosphere / ease of service

5/20/2008 9:37:29 AM

Quote :

"ravel enough on business by myself it becomes a necessity however i still end up just eating dinner at the bar if it's possible, even at nicer joints"

+1

5/20/2008 9:40:07 AM

yeah, I actually like it. I mean, not every single time, but I enjoy being able to think and relax and not worry about having to talk to anyone. That goes for a lot of things I do though

5/20/2008 9:40:24 AM

i used to do this all of the time.

it was especially nice if i got a boy waiter cause they were extra nice to me (i guess they thought i was out of a recent break up or something)

now i prefer the company of cody.


havent done it in a while

5/20/2008 10:08:54 AM